Dimapur: Two Welsh artists are set to perform at the upcoming Hornbill Festival at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, 10 km from the state capital Kohima, this December.
Folk singer-songwriters Gareth Bonello and Mari Mathias have been chosen to perform for crowds at the festival.
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The 10-day festival, nicknamed the ‘Festival of Festivals,’ will begin on December 1 and is celebrating its 25th year, attracting visitors from all over the world.
It is India’s largest celebration of tribal heritage, where visitors are immersed in the rich traditions, music, and folklore of the region.
Mari Mathias performs in the Welsh language, bringing her own contemporary approach to traditional folk melodies.
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She will be performing two solo sets as well as singing alongside Indian musician Seyievinuo Chuzho, writing a Welsh verse to one of her songs as part of the performance.
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Gareth Bonello performs under the moniker of The Gentle Good and is known for his enchanting melodies and intricate acoustic guitar arrangements. Gareth is returning to Hornbill after performing in 2013.
During his visit, Gareth will also record new music with his partners from the Khasi-Cymru Collective, creating new music and poetry in Khasi and Welsh languages.
This year, Wales has been made a designated partner of Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival marking the end of Wales in India 2024, a year-long series of celebrations and events to strengthen ties between the two countries.
The partnership was announced during a recent visit to Wales by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in recognition of the joint efforts by the British Council, the British Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, the Welsh Government and Wales Arts International.
As part of the Year of Wales in India, the British Council and Wales, Arts International has invested in five projects through a dedicated culture fund.
These projects will focus on deepening existing cultural relationships between artists from Wales and India, including those from Nagaland and the Northeast, in the next six months.