The collaboration will pave the way for dialogue on tribal music, art, culture and converge in one of most prominent and contemporary platforms in India
Jamshedpur, November 18: Samvaad – one of the largest platforms on tribal identity in India, enabled by Tata Steel Foundation has captivated the people of Jamshedpur in their celebration of tribal art and culture. Over 25,000 people have attended the Samvaad conclave at Gopal Maidan, Jamshedpur, over the first four days.
A major highlight from the fourth day of Samvaad was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Tata Steel Foundation and Kala Ghoda Association to participate in the Kala Ghoda Art Festival, which has been taking place in the posh locality of South Mumbai, Kala Ghoda Fort for the last 20 years. Nearly 2 million people converge at the Kala Ghoda Art festival each year bringing the best of talent to the forefront. The festival will mark its silver jubilee year in January 2024 and has been a crucial promoter of art, culture, music, dance, theatre, and other creative manifestations. The collaboration will enable newer dialogues and conversations around the preservation and promotion of tribal art which runs the risk of being obliterated. The MoU is also expected to create avenues to create an engaging platform where tribal artisans can learn about the commercialization of art and share their wisdom on their traditional practices.
Speaking about this important collaboration, Sourav Roy, Chief Executive Officer, Tata Steel Foundation said: “Last year we started the Samvaad X collaboration. We tried to reach out and create partnerships with various platforms who share similar ethos. We signed the MoU with Hornbill festival last year which opened a gateway to opportunities for tribal musicians, singers, and bands to showcase their unique heritage on a major national platform. We have seen and experienced the cultural convergence that Kala Ghoda Art Festival has done over the past two decades, and that has encouraged us to join hands with them to take tribal art, music, and culture to the posh urban locality of South Mumbai. We are thankful to the Kala Ghoda Association for giving us a space to put up installation, a stage for Rhythms of the Earth (ROTE, a tribal ensemble of 48 musicians 11 artists from India) and an opportunity for tribal artisans to market their creativity.”
Resonating his thoughts, Brinda Miller, Festival Director, Chairperson of Kala Ghoda Association, said: “We are very grateful to be a part of Samvaad. We appreciate music, dance, and other cultural expressions beyond art. We are always looking for opportunities to do more and extend our network of artists and artisans. We are happy to merge our association with Samvaad.”
After a spectacular performance by the Rhythms of the Earth, the fourth day of Samvaad 2023 saw more tribes showcasing their music and dance forms. The Tripuris comprising 19 tribes of Tripura performed Mamita dance, which they usually do to express the joys of good harvest. The Dongar Koli tribe of mostly fishermen and women, from Maharashtra made the audience tap their feet to the Koli dance, which they have performed at over 50 national tribal festivals organized by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The Kolam and Gond tribe of Telangana expressed the ritual of marriage through the dance form, donning peacock feather headgears and carrying musical instruments. From the hills of Nagaland, the folkloric troupe narrated the ancient Naga tales through vibrant dance postures and rhythmic beats. This folkloric group consists of two representatives from each of the 17 tribes of Nagaland. Tribal cuisine set up in a stall at Gopal Maidan, Aatithya, has seen a surge of people pouring in to taste every dish on the menu.