THE CONVERSATION: Music and the Arts - A Catalyst for Positive Change

An invitation to engage in open and honest dialogue on issues critical to Naga context

Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 26

The Heritage Publishing House, Morung Foundation and The Morung Express will be jointly organizing ‘The Conversation’ on “Music and the Arts - A Catalyst for Positive Change” in Nagaland on February 28 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Dimapur. ‘The Conversation’ will be held at Don Bosco Institute for Development & Leadership, River Belt Colony, Dimapur.

‘The Conversation’ is open to all public and there is no registration fee. 

“As part of the process of creating critical consciousness and enabling contemplative engagement through open and honest dialogue on issues critical to our Naga context, the Heritage Publishing House, Morung Foundation and The Morung Express have initiated ‘The Conversation.’ We hope to be able to facilitate this event on a monthly basis,” the organizers said in a press release. 

‘The Conversation’ is free from any political affiliation, the organizers stated while adding that “It is an independent process that emerged out from our own personal and collective commitment for positive change in our context. We are happy to inform you that the entire process is supported from resources that are self-generated and we have not received any financial support or funding from any other source.”

Arts and Indigenous Nagas 

The arts – music, painting, poetry, movement, dance drama are all powerful means of creative expression that can bring about positive change at the individual and societal levels. All these art forms have the quality and ability to inspire, uplift and transcend differences to bring people together. 

Music embraces differences and impacts the way we perceive the world. Can it be a driving force for positive change?

Nagas are indigenous people who give distinct and unique expression through art, music, storytelling, weaving, handicraft and writing. Music and the arts have profoundly impacted Nagas throughout their history as experienced in our songs, storytelling, dances, images and multiple art forms.

“At our heart, Nagas are a creative and performing society. Our storytelling tradition, music and the performing arts have both represented and shaped transformations in traditional Naga society,” the note stated. 

Music and the arts are not limited to the act of expression. Artistic expression is, in fact, the cumulative representation of one’s values, culture, aspirations, memories, traumas and faith. 

The organizers have extended an open invitation to ‘The Conversation’ to “experience how music and our many art forms are life giving, bring us in touch with our true selves that can contribute to genuine transformations for all of Naga society.”   

Music and the Arts for change 

‘The Conversation’, entitled “Music and the Arts - A Catalyst for Positive Change in Nagaland”, is a step to collectively reflect on the present state of music and the arts in Nagaland.

The organizers hope it will engage with pertinent questions around:

• Do music and the arts still have meaning in the modern Naga society, and are they a catalyst for positive social change?
• Can Naga music and the arts can be a medium for change without the personal commitment to the recovery of originality and creativity? 
• How do we nurture and cultivate Naga music and the arts in an environment of competition and commercialitization?
• To explore together the ways forward towards a dynamic, creative, original and relevant Naga music and the arts contributing to positive social change.