Amazing Gospel Band from Zunheboto has won the “Band Competition” of the two-day “All Sumi Music Fest” held at Sumi Baptist Church Kohima Saturday evening. The band from Zunheboto outclassed seven other bands in the competition and won the prize money of Rs 40,000.
The band sang “Ampeu ye kije eno sheqhe kuzue” (Great is the Lord and worthy of praise), the theme under which the Music Fest is being held. Honito Yeputho of the Amazing Gospel Band won the best vocalist award.
“Headlines” bagged the second prize and pocketed Rs 25,000 while “The Formula” came third and won Rs 20,000 as prize money. The individual winners for Best Guitarist are Bokato Kiho (The Formula), Best Bassist to Toluto Shohe (Adam’s Note) and the Best Drummer went to Vivito Lohe (Headlines).
The judges for the competition were Alobo Naga, music artist, Toboka Achumi, music secretary, Nagaland University Christian Fellowship and Vihuto Assumi, principal, Immanuel School, Zunheboto.
Earlier, before the competition began, T. Kiheto Sema, Secretary, Food and Civil Supply, exhorted the gathering. Sema said music had no boundaries and no language and it is enjoyed universally. However, he urged the Sumi community to preserve and promote Sumi language not only in writing and speaking but in singing as well.
Alobo and the Band enthralled the gathering with their songs. The Music Fest is being organised by the Youth Department of the Sumi Baptist Church Kohima. On Sunday, a choral competition will be held at the same venue where six choirs will compete to win the first prize that will carry a cash reward of Rs 50,000.
