Nagaland University hosts international workshop on indigenous folklore studies

DIMAPUR — A two-day international workshop on ‘Indigenous folkloristics: methods and approaches,’ organised by the Centre for Naga Tribal Language Studies, Nagaland University, got underway in Kohima on Wednesday.

The workshop would feature three distinguished external resource persons namely Dr. William Westerman, Fulbright International scholar and associate professor at New Jersey City University, USA; Dr. Theyiesinuo Keditsu, renowned educator, poet and scholar, working as assistant professor at Kohima College; and Dr. Sentinaro, folklorist and cultural expert, serving as assistant professor at Baptist College.

An update from the university stated that the resource persons would offer critical insights into the study of indigeneity and folklore, particularly in the context of a rapidly changing global landscape.

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The inaugural ceremony was held on Wednesday at Nagaland University’s Kohima campus, which was chaired by Dr. Imlienla Imchen, wherein she outlined the vision and objectives of the workshop.

The convenor of the workshop, Dr. Yanbeni Yanthan, informed that the goals of the workshop were to explore how other indigenous communities across the world navigate the realities of cultural hegemony and change; encourage Nagas to engage with their own folklore and oral traditions through a multifaceted lens that fosters greater inclusivity and dynamism in current approaches to folklore studies; and advance the call to ‘put the folk back into folklore,’ reframing it as both a scholarly, cultural and social imperative and as a step towards the broader project of decolonisation.

The inaugural concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Laishram Bijenkumar Singh.