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Our Correspondent
Zapami, Jan. 12 (EMN): Setting a trend towards reviving culture, residents of Zapami village in Phek district celebrated the ‘Zapami village women’s day’ on Wednesday. The dress theme of the event was ‘Thebvo Nah,’ an age-old practice of weaving made from yarn of stinging nettle plants.
The deputy commissioner of Phek, Razouvolie Dozo, who graced the occasion as the special guest, expressed delight to be part of the women’s day celebration. He termed it ‘unique’ in setting aside a separate day for the village women apart from the conventional celebration of International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day.
He said that the celebration of village women’s day has showcased an array of cultural and traditional significance for youngsters to learn and upkeep the practices for the future generations. As the Zapami Village Cultural Day on January 11 and the Women’s Day on January 12 were celebrated on the theme ‘Thebvo Nah’, the deputy commissioner lauded the organisers for reviving the age-old practices.
Stating that culture is a social behaviour of a particular group or society, Dozo outlined that ‘when a culture is lost, the people lose its identity.’ He also expressed concern over the younger generations starting to adopt ‘cultureless culture.’
Meanwhile, Dozo also told the women to be the keepers and guardians of tradition while pointing out that everything starts from home. Towards this, he urged the Zapami people to be trendsetters for others to emulate.
While urging the community members to come forward and avail the vaccines to prevent from Covid-19, he reminded them to follow standard operating procedures (SOP) and follow all directives of the government.
Lamenting the mismanagement of public funds even at the village level, Dozo called upon the village leaders to be accountable and maintain transparency with public funds. He further lauded the leaders of Zapami village for making best use of government programmes.
SK Kenye, retired director of Geology and Mining, lauded the women and described them as ‘pillars and strength’ of the village for enabling to organise events such as the Chakhesang Public Organisation’s conference and cultural day. He stressed on the need for women to encourage and build each other, both in words and deeds, which according to him are crucial for the village, community and society at large to see and experience holistic progress.
He also called upon the villagers to be good to others saying, ‘When we do good to others, we also receive kindness and goodness from others.’
A welcome address was delivered by Kedu-ü Kreo, chairperson of Zapami women society, while a folk song ‘Lübou Lü’ was presented by Awele and friends as well as by other women.
Cultural display such as Thebvo Doh (Thebvo weaving demonstration), Menah Sütsah (a play on an age-old practice in pre Christian era), Nedoleh Lü (folk song sang during work), Thohli Ketshü (women’s game played with dried seeds of St Thomas beans) were other highlights of the programme.
Thebvo is an indigenous variety of stinging nettle plant abundantly found in the surrounding forests in Zapami village due to favourable climate and vegetation. This indigenous variety is also known as the giant Asian stinging nettles (Girardinia spp.), stated a publication of Zapami village council.
It maintained that ancestors extracted the organic fiber from the stinging nettle plant to weave Thebvora (Thebvo shawls). The fiber is processed through different levels to produce yarn for weaving.
“Zapami village is one of the early and the original traditional knowledge holders and producers of Thebvo weaves,” it claimed.
This year, the theme dress for Zapami cultural day and women’s day was ‘Thebvo Nah’ which translates as Thebvo weaves and it stated that ‘it is because Thebvo signifies the beginning of the village and bears the symbol of equality in Zapami village- equality in terms of gender, of socio-economic and cultural differences, and across all ages and walks of life’.
The process of extraction of raw fiber from stinging nettle plants follows multiple process. Thebvo weaves are appropriated into modern designs and modern traditional wears for various uses and occasions besides using Thebvora as a shawl by men and women alike. The recent adaptation included women wrap-around and shawls, blazers for men, waistcoat, neck ties, sashes, etc for all age groups.