Nagaland’s prestigious MykiFest Award 2021-2022 was conferred to Sesino Yhoshü, Zakilhounuo Tepa, Abi Humtsoe, and Sibeule Zeliang at a ceremony held on International Women’s Day at Sakhrie Park, Upper AG Colony in Kohima on March 8.
The awardees were given a cash prize of Rs 40,000 each along with certificates and gift hampers.
MykiFest Award winner Sesino Yhoshü is the proprietor of TakeOne which was started in 2014. TakeOne is an audio-visual production house based in Kohima. Her film, ‘The Pangti Story’ won the best environmental film (non-feature) at the 65th National Film Awards. The same film also won the Golden Beaver Award at the 7th National Science Film Festival 2017. She is also a recipient of the Young Achievers Award in the field of filmmaking conferred by the Dalmia Group. She also won the best director (short film) for the film ‘Story of a House’ at the Northeast Film Festival 2015.
Zakilhounuo Tepa, 47, is a taxi driver by profession from Mima village under Kohima district. She learned to drive at the age of 31 years and in 2014 started driving her taxi. She drives the taxi between BOC Kohima and Jakhama.
Abi Humtsoe is the proprietor of M/S Naga Traditional Corner, Wokha. She is a progressive entrepreneur having a well-established unit dealing in traditional attires and costumes for over 15 years. Having well-acquainted with the choice of demand for material design and style, colour preference, or fiber quality, and to meet the variable demand of the customers, she ensures rich availability of traditional attires and costumes, mainly for Lotha-Naga. She also works with some women’s cultural groups towards promoting the value of traditional attires by helping them to maintain proper cultural dress at nominal cost.
Sibeule Zeliang, 81, is the first lady in Nagaland to contest in assembly elections in 1987 as an independent candidate from 7-Peren constituency. Though she lost the election, she continued as a social worker and helped many women including employing more than 100 women in various fields for self-employment and other sustainable activities. She is presently serving as chairperson, 6 Ward Mdipuiram and 9 Ward chairman, Union president, Peren town.
Commissioner & secretary, women resource development and horticulture, Anenla T Sato, speaking at the event as the special guest, stated that all have equal responsibility for the development of society, and encouraged the women to build a stronger family, society, and the nation.
Director, women resource development, Vilone Sakhrie in the keynote address said that the MykiFest is a continuation of the programme of Hornbill Festival and MykiFest 2021 which was halted due to the unfortunate incident at Oting in Mon district. He stated that MykiFest was initiated in the year 2017-18, since then the event is celebrated every year in December.
