Adelaide Fringe Festival 2025: Abu Metha and Theja Meru represent Nagaland

Advisor to the Chief Minister and IDAN Chairman Abu Metha, along with TaFMA Chairman Theja Meru, attended the Adelaide Fringe Festival 2025 in Australia on March 14 as official delegates. They were invited by the festival and Honey Pot networking events.

Metha extended appreciation to the Organisers of the event and the Government of South Australia for the invitation and the sponsorship of the visit, which included airfare, stay, logistics and events ticketing.

The Adelaide Fringe Festival is the world’s second largest arts festival that takes place for 30 days in the capital city of South Australia and is commemorating its 65th edition. The festival has more than 1000 events with performances from all over the world. The festival and its related activities contribute more than 100 million dollars as new money to the economy and creates in excess of 13,000 job opportunities while also boosting tourism with arrivals of over three lakh tourists.

As part of the official delegation from India, Metha met with festival leaders to discuss potential collaborations and partnerships. He also engaged with festival directors, industry stakeholders from Australia and beyond, and was hosted by Minister for Arts, Andrea Micheals.

During these meetings, Metha highlighted Nagaland’s appeal as a tourist destination and the growing global recognition of the Hornbill Festival over the past 25 years. He stressed that Nagaland’s “Land of Festivals” vision, culminating in the annual “Festival of Festivals,” plays a key role in boosting the economy while showcasing the region’s rich cultural heritage to the world.

Metha highlighted Nagaland’s potential as an investment destination in line with India’s Act East Policy, noting that India’s $5 trillion economy is now the fifth largest in the world. He spoke about Nagaland’s strategic location as a gateway between the Indian subcontinent and ASEAN, along with its rich human capital and youthful population. He also pointed out Nagaland’s unique strengths, including its biodiversity, scenic landscapes, and the warm hospitality of its people.

He shared the historical and cultural ties between India, Nagaland, and Australia as fellow Commonwealth nations, emphasizing Nagaland’s role in the iconic Battle of Kohima during World War II.

TaFMA Chairman Theja Meru showcased Nagaland’s growing music, arts, and entertainment sector, highlighting the Hornbill Music Festival as one of the largest in India and beyond. He engaged with festival directors and built on discussions from the Asia Music Summit, previously hosted in Kohima. Meru also outlined TaFMA’s initiatives, including industry collaborations and efforts to promote music and arts as a sustainable sector, which received positive responses from industry representatives.

The Nagaland government’s decision to establish a dedicated ministry for music and the arts was seen as a forward-thinking policy that fosters creativity and strengthens the creative economy.

Metha and Meru attended WOMADELAIDE, an international expo on music, arts, and dance, where they met with Ian Scobie, Director of WOMADELAIDE, to discuss future collaborations and exchanges. They also connected with industry leaders, festival directors, and attended various performances and showcases.

As delegates at HONEYPOT, a global networking and industry event, they explored partnerships with arts, festival, and entertainment leaders from around the world.

Metha expressed appreciation for the Nagaland government, under Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s leadership, for its support in fostering collaborations and promoting youth initiatives. He was confident that these international engagements would open new opportunities for Nagaland’s talent in the years ahead.

The delegation also visited sports and arts facilities, performance centers, exhibitions, libraries, and public infrastructure, gaining insights into design, operations, and long-term sustainability in these sectors.

MT