Wales to partner with Nagaland for Hornbill Festival 2024
Dimapur: Wales is now a partner for the Hornbill Festival for its 25th anniversary celebrations this year at Kisama Heritage Village under Kohima district of Nagaland.
The annual festival is celebrated from December 1 to 10 to showcase the culture and traditions of different ethnic groups of Nagaland for which it is also called the Festival of Festivals.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio visited Wales this week to sign the country as a partner for the Hornbill Festival.
This year, Wales has been made a designated partner of the festival, marking the end of Wales in India 2024.
Wales in India is a 12-month series of events celebrating the links between the two countries, especially across art and culture, education, health, and business and human rights.
The Welsh government, the British Council, and Wales Arts International representatives met with Rio at the British Council offices in Cardiff on Monday to sign the partnership agreement.
Rio also met with deputy first minister of Wales and cabinet secretary for climate change and rural affairs Huw Irranca-Davies MS.
As part of his visit to Wales, Rio held talks with the newly-appointed minister for culture, skills and social partnership, Jack Sargeant MS.
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Rio expressed his appreciation to the Welsh government and the British Council for the opportunity to visit Wales to discuss their partnership for the Hornbill Festival.
“We have confidence that this partnership will strengthen ties between our two countries and increase people-to-people contact and open opportunities for young people,” he said.
The Chief Minister said Nagaland looks forward to welcoming Wales to experience the land of festivals for the 25th edition of Hornbill.
Rio and his delegation also visited the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the School of Sport and Health Sciences at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
“We will be exploring avenues for students from Nagaland to embark on courses at these impressive universities as well as for musicians and artists to perform in Wales,” Rio added.
The delegation met with students and discussed opportunities during a tour of the facilities.
Director India of British Council, Alison Barrett MBE, said, “We are delighted that the Hornbill Festival is part of the Wales in India 2024 celebration of two nations of culture and innovation.”
“We have had a long association with the festival and are looking forward to bringing artists and speakers from Wales for the festival to collaborate, exchange ideas and inspiration, and showcase their work to audiences in Nagaland as one of India’s most spectacular festivals celebrates its 25th anniversary,” she added.