Mao woman receives Akademi young talent award in tribal culture

Our Correspondent
Imphal, March 3 (EMN): A 27-year-old Mao woman named Kaisii Athine from Manipur’s Senapati district received Akademi young talent award in tribal culture along with 26 others for their exemplary works in various arts and culture activities in north-eastern state.

Athine, who six siblings, is the 6th daughter of P Kaisii and a resident of Maopungdong village, about 90 km north of Imphal.

The keyboard instructor-turned-popular Mao folk singer Athine was awarded with a cash award, citation, memento and stole.

Speaking to Eastern Mirror, Athine said, ‘Since my childhood, I was so interested in folk songs. Youngsters laugh at us when we sing folk songs and play folk music.’ ‘I started singing folk songs because of the need to keep our tradition for future,” she added.

She said that she started learning Mao folk songs and music from renowned guru A Kholi of tribal culture and Bessi Pfoze Mao, also another guru at Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, and began to perform attraditional festivals such as Chithuni, Saleni, Onuni etc.

She also plays Mao folk musical instruments such as Lokabvii, Khetsii and Solei, and had recorded several Mao folk songs for All India Radio Imphal.

On receiving the young talent award, she said, ‘I feel so happy and proud, and I thank my family, community and gurus for supporting me.’

‘My main focus will be teaching Mao folk songs and folk music to young people,’ she said when asked about her future plans.

Another winner, a differently-abled mime artist named M Inaoton Singh was also honoured with Akademi young talent award in mime. The 32-year-old, who is deafmute by birth, rose above all adversaries to establish himself in the world of mime theatre. He is a resident of Kongba Kshetri Leikai in Imphal East district.

Other four Akademi young talent awardees are Pebam Lilabati Devi (Dance), Lukram Tamphamani Singh (Music), H Shyamkumar Sharma (Traditional Theatre) and Nongmaithem Tombi Devi (Thang-Ta).

It may be mentioned that the Akademi Award 2016-17 included two Akademi fellows, 19 Akademi awards and six young talent awards.

The awards are conferred to artistes for their outstanding contribution in the field of dance, music, theatre, literature, custom designing, Shumang Leela (courtyard play), Thang Ta (traditional martial arts), tribal culture, other art forms such as traditional, theatre, literature, mime and fine arts.