Imphal, January 12 2010: Another feather has been added to the cap of Guru Rewben Mashangva, the promoter of Naga folk blues.

Guru Rewben Mashangba was awarded the North East Excellence Award, 2009 in music on January 8 at Hyatt Regency in Kolkata at a gala function during the North East Business Summit organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce.

"In recognition of his innate musical mastery and knowledge of Naga folk music rightly called the king of 'Naga Folk Blues' and Cultural Ambassador of the Nagas' who reinvented the Tangkhul Naga flute called "yangkahui" and modified it to suit the western tonal variety, Guru Rewben is an extremely talented singer, musician, song writer, folk music researcher and maker of musical instruments.His work, which includes two acclaimed albums of his credit, music for an award winning Manipuri film, and collaboration for two film projects, "SONGS of MASHANGVA" and "The Lonely Village" aptly deserve recognition.

He has earlier been honoured with the title of "Guru" under Guru Shisya Parampara Scheme of 2004-2005 by Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and was also the Winner of State Kala Academy Award, 2005," says the certificate awarded to Rewben Mashangva.

Talking to Newmai News Network in Imphal after returning from Kolkata today, Guru Rewben Mashangba said that in his long struggle for acceptance and recognition of the Naga folk blues and other indigenous music many good people and well wishers have been generously helping him in cash and in kind.

"I cherished them from the core of my heart and more particularly I'm grateful to Shillong's Springboard-Surprises chief Keith Wallang and North East Zonal Cultural Centre (NEZCC-Dimapur) who have given me not only moral support but also by being my mentors and guides," said the contented musician.

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