Akashvani Kohima marked 90 years of Akashvani’s service to the nation with a musical concert held this evening at the Nagaland College of Music and Fine Arts Auditorium, T. Khel, Model Village, Kohima.
The programme featured performances by the Nagaland College of Music and Fine Arts Choir and Manchai Phom, runner-up of NE Body Can Body Sing 2017, runner-up of Fusion of the Band Hindi 2026 organised by the Indian Army (Jack in the Box Band), and winner of Best Vocalist at Fusion of the Band Hindi 2026. She performed the Phom song Lungvang Ba along with Hindi renditions Lakho Hai Yahan and Yeh Dosti.
Singer-songwriter Seyievinuo Chuzho, founder of Seyie_Intrepid Northeast India, delivered a solo rendition of One Moment in Time and also performed with her band Seyie_Intrepid, presenting an unreleased folk-fusion piece titled Legacy. Students of JNV Kohima presented the National Anthem.
Delivering the welcome address, Head of Programme (HoP) Ella Kayina highlighted the distinctiveness of tribal music broadcast on Akashvani Kohima, noting its difference from Hindi film and Western music. She said, “Tribal music carries the voice of our land, our traditions, and our identity,” adding that exposure to both genres creates a balance between modern entertainment and cultural roots.
Ms Kayina stressed the need to strengthen tribal music through mentoring and grading of artists. She underlined that music is a collaborative process involving lyricists, composers, and performers, who should receive equal recognition. She observed that in many tribal contexts, a single individual often undertakes all three roles, which may limit artistic quality.
Citing A.R. Rahman and Bhupen Hazarika as examples, she noted that stronger outcomes emerge when roles are specialised. She said Akashvani Kohima plays a key role in grooming artists through auditions conducted by Audition Boards at every station and urged Dialect Assignees to identify and support emerging talent.
She also highlighted the Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan as a prestigious annual festival promoting Indian classical and folk music since 1954. She noted that Meghalaya remains the only Northeastern state with higher-graded tribal folk artists and called for greater efforts in this area.
The programme was attended by Padma Shri Neihunuo Sorhie, officials of the Press Information Bureau Kohima, staff of the Nagaland College of Music and Fine Arts, Akashvani Kohima, casual assignees, and well-wishers.
