In a bid to promote cooperation and friendship between Myanmar and the northeastern region of India, the Mezzima Media Group of Myanmar is all set to record the different folk songs of the region. The Burmese media group will start shooting and recording songs of different folk artists from the northeastern states in Imphal and will culminate with a festival called “a musical journey, Roots of North East Folk Music and instrument festival” to be held in Imphal on June 26.

The musical festival will be organized jointly by the Department of Art and Culture Manipur, Manipur Tourism Department and Hero’s Foundation in collaboration with the Mizzima media group of  Myanmar.

Renown folk and tribal musician of Guru Reuben Mashangva, Ethnomusicologist of Assam, Prashanna Gogoi, Altered folk independent and solo artist of Karbi Anglong, Assam, Baba Phuninding Kathar, honorary  folk artist from Manipur Mayamglambam Mangangsana, traditional folk performer of Manipur Dingbunglung Panmei, Bauginmuan Zaumi and friend along with other fold artist from northeast and Myanmar will be performing in the event.

“The festival will be a first of its kind in the state. It will be an ideal platform to expose the rich cultural heritage of the northeast. The Mizzima media group Myanmar will be covering the festival to be telecast in Myanmar,” informed Aribam Shivdas Sharma, the director of Art and Culture, Government of Manipur.

Mizzima Media Group, editor in chief and managing director, Soe Myint said that his group has been involved in promoting friendship and understanding between Myanmar and India, particularly between Manipur and Sagaing region of Myanmar.

 “Through the festival we are connecting the north eastern states of India with Myanmar. This way we can promote friendship and understanding between the two regions and countries,” the editor said.

Soe Myint further added that both the countries share very similar cultural and historical heritage, but for various reasons the similarities between the two countries have not been utilized in the past. After the opening of the international highway in August last year through Moreh in India and Tamu of Myanmar, there have been assimilation to bridge the gap between the two countries.

Myint asserted that the latest musical project will help the people of Myanmar to see and understand the folk music of north east.

The Mizzima group has been focusing on promoting a better understanding of culture. Before this experiment, the different cuisines of Manipur were documented and telecast in Myanmar in the Media group. Even a friendly football match was also organised between Sagaing, Mandalay and Manipur recently.