Morung Express News Kohima | June 30 Bringing alive the oral tradition of storytelling, Ozone Café was vibrant with stories of yore on Friday evening as Nzanmongi Jasmine Patton and Kangzangding Thou read from their books, and took the minds of keen visitors back to the olden days. To a time when “all animals and insects could talk, and streams could babble, and all creation had the gift of language” as noted poet and writer, Easterine Kire put it in the foreword of Patton’s book. Nzanmongi Jasmine Patton and Kangzangding Thou are authors of “A girl swallowed by a tree” and “Roots, a collection of Zeliang Folktales” respectively. With tales from the Lotha community and the Zeliang tribe, both the authors also sang in their traditional tune while narrating their stories. During the reading, Nzanmongi Jasmine Patton noted that ‘there are so many stories but insufficient writing’ while asserting that “we come from an oral culture.” She also enlightened that she has intentionally used “indigenous words” in her book to engage and initiate people into a world of our culture. In her concluding remarks, Easterine Kire commented that the two authors have opened up another category of literature by not only reading their stories but “singing” their stories. She said that, “it is even more wonderful to have stories in songs” and while thanking them for their participation added that “you are both treasures” in respect of the Naga literature. The 3-day Barkweaver Days will feature more readings from authors, book signings, and discounts on Barkweaver books especially for students, and other literary events in the next two days.
