Kohima: Acclaimed Welsh folk singer-songwriters Gareth Bonello and Mari Mathias are set to perform in the upcoming Hornbill Festival at Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, near Kohima.
The 10-day festival in December, nicknamed the “Festival of Festivals”, will be celebrating its 25th year and attracts visitors from all over the world. It is the country’s largest celebration of tribal heritage, with visitors enjoying the rich tradition, music, and folklore of the region.
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 CM Neiphiu Rio in recognition of joint efforts by the British Council, the British Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, the Welsh Government, and Wales Arts International.
Mari Mathias will be performing two solos, besides singing alongside Indian musician Seyievinuo Chuzho.
Mari said, “I’m eager not just to perform in my own language and represent Wales, but for all those conversations that come after when you’ve finished. That’s when I really connect to the audience and share why I’m doing what I’m doing.”
Gareth Bonello, who performs under the moniker of ‘The Gentle Good’ and is known for his enchanting melodies and intricate acoustic guitar arrangements, will be returning to the festival after a gap of 11 years, having performed in 2013.
“I hope that our performances will encourage more people from all over the world to engage with the creativity of Indigenous cultures,” he said.
During his visit Gareth will also record a new music album with his partners from the Khasi-Cymru Collective, combining both Khasi and Welsh languages.
Jack Sargeant MS, Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, said, “Being a partner country at Hornbill offers us the opportunity to share the best of Welsh creativity, music, and arts on one of India’s most prestigious cultural stages – certainly a proud moment for Wales.”
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As part of the Year of Wales in India, the British Council and Wales Arts International have invested in five projects through a dedicated culture fund. These projects will focus on deepening existing cultural relationships between artistes from Wales and India, including those from Nagaland and the northeast in the next six months.
