‘Kohima Declaration’ signed at 4th Asia Music Summit closing

KOHIMA — The fourth edition of the Asia Music Summit in Kohima concluded with the festival directors from 12 countries and the Task Force for Music and Arts (TaFMA) signing a ‘Kohima Declaration’ on Saturday at RCEMPA, Jotsoma.

The ‘Asia Music Summit Kohima Declaration 2024’ was signed for the promotion of music and the music fraternity of Asia and beyond.

“The signatories of this declaration commit to promoting perpetual peace, everlasting amity and cooperation that will contribute to mutual strength, solidarity and closer relationships,” the declaration read.

The 13 signatories included Theja Meru, chairman of TaFMA; Jason Mayall from UK/Japan; Alfredo Caxaj from Sunfest, Canada; Alejandro Orellana Quiroz from WOMAD, Chile; Lama Hazboun from Amman Jazz Festival, Jordan; Fabio Scopino from MusiConnect, Italy; Riju Tuladhar from Echoes in the Valley, Nepal; Poom Piyasu Komeradat from Maho Rasop Festival, Thailand; Sungchun Lee from Seoul Music Week, South Korea; Mehreen Mahmud from Bangladesh; Sonam Dorji representing Hidden Kingdom World Music Festival, Bhutan; Franki Raden from Indonesian Music Expo (IIMEX), Indonesia; and Dr. Hovithal N Sothu, project director of TaFMA.

It was signed in the presence of Kaushik Dutta, president of MusiConnect Asia, and Abu Metha, advisor to the Asia Music Summit 2024 core committee.

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio welcomed the “historic Kohima Declaration” signed by representatives of festivals from 12 countries. “It commits to promote peace, amity, and cooperation,” Rio wrote on X.

I welcome the historic Kohima Declaration signed by representatives of Festivals from 12 countries at the 4th #AsiaMusicSummit2024 hosted by India at Kohima, Nagaland, for promotion of music & the music fraternity of Asia & beyond. It commits to promote peace, amity & cooperation pic.twitter.com/mdbZa6tKy7

— Neiphiu Rio (@Neiphiu_Rio) February 3, 2024

Mehta, meanwhile, in a post on X, underscored that it was historic, and generations will carry forward this legacy. “Our youth will promote universal oneness and be ambassadors of humanity. Nagaland has done India proud. And what better city than KOHIMA, where history changed course,” he added.

Highlights of the three-day event included panel discussions, workshops, mentoring sessions, musical showcases, and networking.

Nearly 500 participants, besides festival directors, bands, and artists from Nagaland and beyond, participated in the three-day music summit.

Also read: Asia Music Summit opens global doors for local artistes