It was in the late summer of 1991. News began to circulate in our neighborhood that Methaneilie was going to give a two-night musical concert at the Kohima Village Council hall. (I think during those years this Kohima Village Council hall was simply known as panchayat hall). This concert was being organized in aid of the Khedi Baptist English School situated in the middle of L. Khel, Kohima Village. This Khedi school was still in its infancy needing much financial help for its infrastructural development. When tickets began to be sold for this concert, it seemed like rush hour for everyone. It seemed like this was an event nobody wanted to miss. The fact that Methaneilie was staging a stage show after a gap of some few years was one factor which was responsible for the huge enthusiasm and widespread interest in the upcoming musical event. Another factor was that Methaneilie had released his 7th musical album in the early part of 1991 and the nine songs featured in this album had already captivated the hearts of the listeners and these songs were now being played and heard in every nook and corner of Kohima village and Kohima town. The fact that the Kohima Village Council hall had a sitting capacity for only about 600 people made the rush for the tickets even more desperate and urgent.
In the year 1991 I was still a student of class 8 at the Baptist English school (now Baptist High) Mission Compound Kohima. When I heard about this upcoming concert, I also became desperate to witness the event - not because everybody was going for it but because I was yet to see Methaneilie perform on stage despite the fact that I had spent my entire childhood listening to his songs. But I knew that chances of getting tickets for the concert were not that good.
However, through some well-connected friends of my mother, I was lucky enough to get tickets not only for myself but also for two of my childhood friends who were also my next-door neighbors. The tickets we bought were Rs.100 per head. In 1991, concert – tickets costing Rs.100 per head was quite extra-ordinary. But nobody seemed to be complaining.
On the night of the concert when I reached the venue at around 5:00 in the evening, the sight that greeted me was one no different from the regular traffic jams which we witness everyday in Kohima town today. Of course there were no altos, boleros, scorpios and I-10s back then. It was only mahindra jeeps, ambassador cars, gypsies and maruti 800s. But the stretch of the vehicles leading to the Kohima Village Council hall had to be seen to be believed. And on top of the vehicles I also saw numerous people walking towards the KVC hall. Many of these people were coming to witness the event with their small kids and children.
Finally myself and my two friends entered the hall and took our seats. However, we had to wait for some more time for the concert to start as the people gathered at the entrance of the hall were slowly guided to their seats by the ushers. In the meantime the announcer kept announcing to the already seated people not to let their kids and children occupy the seats of others as there were still many waiting outside with legitimate tickets.
One thing which I also remember very vividly about this concert is that many of the people who came to witness the musical event came with their own tape recorders and blank cassettes to record the songs and the proceedings of the concert first-hand. When I saw these people I thought to myself that I should have done the same.
Before Methaneilie and his band members took over the stage, a special song was presented by some senior students of the Khedi Baptist English school wearing their school uniform.
Then the concert started with an introductory speech by the singer-cum-songwriter himself. As the event progressed the audience became convinced that they were going to have their joy-ride of magical lyrics and melody-filled musical accompaniments after-all. Be it the presentation of the singer’s all time favorite songs, the new unreleased songs, the rib-tickling jokes that were cracked in between the presentation of the songs or the brief introductory speeches before the presentation of each songs, it was certainly a night of Methaneilie unlimited.
Along with his old songs and the all-time favorites, Methaneilie also presented a couple of new and till then unreleased songs. These new songs were:
1. Nouchünounyüo 2. Rükra Rükra 3. Hai Zodi
4. Raka Nyiekenie 5. Luga Krü 6. Nte Nte.
Among the songs that were presented on the evening, my personal favorite turned out to be the sentimental love – balled ‘Rükra Rükra’. To this day, this song remains as one of my favorite songs ever written and sung in Tenyiedie. Over the years this song has touched my heart in more ways than I could ever imagine.
Apart from the songs that were presented in such a fantastic manner, what really impressed me about Methaneilie this particularly evening was his presence of mind – how he said the right thing at the right time, how he kept the audience engaged in between the presentation of the songs and how diplomatically he conveyed the messages he wanted to convey both in his songs as well as in his sayings. On this particular evening, Methaneilie certainly proved to one and all that he was not only a songwriter and singer but also a man of wisdom and insights and a diplomatic speaker as well. At least I could see in him how much he loved what he was doing and what commitment was all about.
There was no doubt about the brilliance and outstanding performance of Methaneilie this particular evening. However, the musical event would not have been a success without the contributions from his band-members all of whom wonderfully lived up to the expectations of the audience. On this particular evening, Methaneilie was accompanied by some of the most seasoned and versatile musicians of Kohima Village. The musicians who brilliantly gave musical accompaniments to Methaneilie this evening were Mr. Kekuolhouthie Dzüvichü, Mr. Boulieo Sekhose, Mr. Diethosilie, Miss Khriezokhoü Tseikha, Miss. Akho-ü and a few others. It has been about 20 years since this musical event was staged and therefore it is really worth giving thanks to the Almighty that all these music enthusiasts are still alive and well leading happy and prosperous lives here in Kohima. As for me, I will always remember these people for being a part of one of the most memorable events I ever experienced during my high school years.
After about 3 hours of unbelievable musical melodies, the magical journey came to its end. However, some of the new songs were presented again by Methaneilie and party as per the request of the people in attendance that evening. And as I walked away from the KVC hall that night, all doubts that I might have had about the talent and genius of this extra-ordinary man evaporated, which I am sure is true of all the other people who witnessed this concert.
Early the next morning, as I lay awake in my bed I could hear in the neighborhood people already playing the songs and sounds recorded from the previous night’s concert. This would turn out to be just the beginning as from then on I would come across many homes in Kohima Village playing the songs and sounds recorded privately at the concert.
Finally, let me conclude by mentioning why I felt like writing about this musical event. During my high school years and college years I witnessed many musical concerts and performances staged by many musicians and bands here in Kohima. However, none of these has turned out to be as memorable and impressive as the one given by Methaneil ie and his party on this evening in late summer of 1991. To this day, witnessing this musical concert remains as one of my most memorable and unforgettable experiences of my high school years. And this performance which Methaneilie gave at the KVC hall in 1991 remains engraved in my memory and in my heart and mind as the Methaneilie I will remember for all time to come. He was never in better shape or in better voice and he marvelously exhibited all his innate qualities and talents that have made him a legend in his own lifetime…….
(The writer is from Kohima Village)
In the year 1991 I was still a student of class 8 at the Baptist English school (now Baptist High) Mission Compound Kohima. When I heard about this upcoming concert, I also became desperate to witness the event - not because everybody was going for it but because I was yet to see Methaneilie perform on stage despite the fact that I had spent my entire childhood listening to his songs. But I knew that chances of getting tickets for the concert were not that good.
However, through some well-connected friends of my mother, I was lucky enough to get tickets not only for myself but also for two of my childhood friends who were also my next-door neighbors. The tickets we bought were Rs.100 per head. In 1991, concert – tickets costing Rs.100 per head was quite extra-ordinary. But nobody seemed to be complaining.
On the night of the concert when I reached the venue at around 5:00 in the evening, the sight that greeted me was one no different from the regular traffic jams which we witness everyday in Kohima town today. Of course there were no altos, boleros, scorpios and I-10s back then. It was only mahindra jeeps, ambassador cars, gypsies and maruti 800s. But the stretch of the vehicles leading to the Kohima Village Council hall had to be seen to be believed. And on top of the vehicles I also saw numerous people walking towards the KVC hall. Many of these people were coming to witness the event with their small kids and children.
Finally myself and my two friends entered the hall and took our seats. However, we had to wait for some more time for the concert to start as the people gathered at the entrance of the hall were slowly guided to their seats by the ushers. In the meantime the announcer kept announcing to the already seated people not to let their kids and children occupy the seats of others as there were still many waiting outside with legitimate tickets.
One thing which I also remember very vividly about this concert is that many of the people who came to witness the musical event came with their own tape recorders and blank cassettes to record the songs and the proceedings of the concert first-hand. When I saw these people I thought to myself that I should have done the same.
Before Methaneilie and his band members took over the stage, a special song was presented by some senior students of the Khedi Baptist English school wearing their school uniform.
Then the concert started with an introductory speech by the singer-cum-songwriter himself. As the event progressed the audience became convinced that they were going to have their joy-ride of magical lyrics and melody-filled musical accompaniments after-all. Be it the presentation of the singer’s all time favorite songs, the new unreleased songs, the rib-tickling jokes that were cracked in between the presentation of the songs or the brief introductory speeches before the presentation of each songs, it was certainly a night of Methaneilie unlimited.
Along with his old songs and the all-time favorites, Methaneilie also presented a couple of new and till then unreleased songs. These new songs were:
1. Nouchünounyüo 2. Rükra Rükra 3. Hai Zodi
4. Raka Nyiekenie 5. Luga Krü 6. Nte Nte.
Among the songs that were presented on the evening, my personal favorite turned out to be the sentimental love – balled ‘Rükra Rükra’. To this day, this song remains as one of my favorite songs ever written and sung in Tenyiedie. Over the years this song has touched my heart in more ways than I could ever imagine.
Apart from the songs that were presented in such a fantastic manner, what really impressed me about Methaneilie this particularly evening was his presence of mind – how he said the right thing at the right time, how he kept the audience engaged in between the presentation of the songs and how diplomatically he conveyed the messages he wanted to convey both in his songs as well as in his sayings. On this particular evening, Methaneilie certainly proved to one and all that he was not only a songwriter and singer but also a man of wisdom and insights and a diplomatic speaker as well. At least I could see in him how much he loved what he was doing and what commitment was all about.
There was no doubt about the brilliance and outstanding performance of Methaneilie this particular evening. However, the musical event would not have been a success without the contributions from his band-members all of whom wonderfully lived up to the expectations of the audience. On this particular evening, Methaneilie was accompanied by some of the most seasoned and versatile musicians of Kohima Village. The musicians who brilliantly gave musical accompaniments to Methaneilie this evening were Mr. Kekuolhouthie Dzüvichü, Mr. Boulieo Sekhose, Mr. Diethosilie, Miss Khriezokhoü Tseikha, Miss. Akho-ü and a few others. It has been about 20 years since this musical event was staged and therefore it is really worth giving thanks to the Almighty that all these music enthusiasts are still alive and well leading happy and prosperous lives here in Kohima. As for me, I will always remember these people for being a part of one of the most memorable events I ever experienced during my high school years.
After about 3 hours of unbelievable musical melodies, the magical journey came to its end. However, some of the new songs were presented again by Methaneilie and party as per the request of the people in attendance that evening. And as I walked away from the KVC hall that night, all doubts that I might have had about the talent and genius of this extra-ordinary man evaporated, which I am sure is true of all the other people who witnessed this concert.
Early the next morning, as I lay awake in my bed I could hear in the neighborhood people already playing the songs and sounds recorded from the previous night’s concert. This would turn out to be just the beginning as from then on I would come across many homes in Kohima Village playing the songs and sounds recorded privately at the concert.
Finally, let me conclude by mentioning why I felt like writing about this musical event. During my high school years and college years I witnessed many musical concerts and performances staged by many musicians and bands here in Kohima. However, none of these has turned out to be as memorable and impressive as the one given by Methaneil ie and his party on this evening in late summer of 1991. To this day, witnessing this musical concert remains as one of my most memorable and unforgettable experiences of my high school years. And this performance which Methaneilie gave at the KVC hall in 1991 remains engraved in my memory and in my heart and mind as the Methaneilie I will remember for all time to come. He was never in better shape or in better voice and he marvelously exhibited all his innate qualities and talents that have made him a legend in his own lifetime…….
(The writer is from Kohima Village)
