The 11th Cultural Day of Baptist College, Kohima and Sechü was organised on the 23rd of April, 2024 at Ura Academy Hall by the Culture Study Centre of the college on the theme “Engaging with Indigeneity”. The theme speaker for the event was Dr. Visier Sanyü, Author and Inaugural Head of the Department of History, Nagaland University, Member, Naga Forum for Reconciliation & Advisor, Naga Global Forum.
Speaking on indigeneity, Dr. Sanyü encouraged the people to know of our rights, customs, culture, traditions and our connection with our land and use them to tell our own stories to preserve our identity as a people, as the easiest way to destroy one’s culture is silencing the narrative.
Dr. Tsenbeni, Convenor, Culture Study Centre, gave a brief introduction to the history of the formation of Culture Study Centre, its goals and events conducted thus far.Culture Study’ Centre has engaged in activities that promote age old cultural values in various forms in the cultural day celebrations held every two years.Engagement in folk dances and songs, display of attires and food has been the most common activity. In addition the centre has organised seminars at the college and national level focussing on dissemination of knowledge on work culture, responsibility towards common property, the impact of foreign culture on Naga culture and balancing tradition and modernity. An important activity in the recent years is the conduct of practical life skills workshops covering areas such as basket making, bamboo crafts, jewellery making, cultural motifs painting and machete sharpening.
Dr. Kewepfuzu Lohe, Interim Principal, Baptist College, in his address also challenged the students present to let such an occasion like the cultural day be the beginning of change through adoption of culture that are good and desirable.
Two short films revolving around the theme of the stone culture of the nagas from the series “Five Stones” were screened by the TakeOneProduction.Folk song by the Chakhesang Students and folk dance by the Zeliang students were also presented. While Mr. Tamreimung Chüsi, Chaplain, Baptist College Fellowship said the opening prayer.
The event’s highlights were the Folk Song Competition and the demonstration of Indigenous Games and Indigenous Music by the resource person Mr. Vipiahu Chücha and team from Khonoma Village.
The winning groups of the Folk song competition were Yimkhiung (First), Sumi (Second) and Khiamniungan (third). The judges for the competition were Mr. Melekhoto Pucho(guest judge), Singer & Musician, Proprietor, Symphony School of music, Kohima, Ms. Kethosenuo Medoze, Assistant Professor, Department of History and Ms. Zhangukhonuo, Department of Sociology.
The event concluded with the Cultural Day Feast.
