Kommune’s Spoken Fest, a cultural melee of words, voices and stories, is expanding beyond its Mumbai roots this 2024-2025 season to make its much-anticipated debut in Shillong. This bold move reflects a deepening commitment of the premier spoken word festival to embrace and amplify diverse Indian voices, further enriching the country’s storytelling traditions on an unprecedented scale. The capital city of Meghalaya will host the festival on November 20, 2024.
Spoken Fest will arrive for the first time in Shillong partnership with Meghalaya Tourism, as part of the Meghalaya Autumn Calendar 2024. The dynamic, multi-stage celebration of creativity, converges storytelling, poetry, music, theatre and dance to form a vibrant mosaic of artistic expression. With a strong commitment to inclusivity and diversity, the festival strives to create an accessible space for the performing arts – welcoming artists from various linguistic groups, ethnicities, and cultures. From immersive performances to hands-on workshops with seasoned masters, and opportunities to witness budding talents, Spoken Fest taps into the creative spirit of all participants. It provides a platform for artists to showcase their craft in a fresh light while elevating Indian storytelling and spoken word onto the global map.
The festival will add to Shillong’s blend of local traditions and modern influences while showcasing the local talent and unique stories from across the nook and cranny of the city’s meandering streets. Spoken Fest will invite the rest of India to experience the distinct artistic expression of the Northeast, highlighting the region’s creative evolution and further solidifying Shillong’s role in India’s cultural landscape.
Roshan Abbas, Festival Director, emphasised the strategic importance of this expansion: “Spoken Fest is more than just performances; it’s a tapestry of diverse voices and backgrounds, where poetry meets prose to create magic. By expanding to Shillong, we’re not only providing a platform for local artists to shine but also inviting audiences to connect with the city’s cultural richness. Our festival celebrates the world of words, bringing together heart-rendering tales, laughter, and tears. Each artist adds a distinct flavour of creative expression, leaving our audience with an aftertaste to savour and regale in. It’s a place for those in love with words, where stories are woven into unforgettable experiences.”
Mr Cyril Diengdoh, Director of Tourism, Shillong, stated, “Hosting Spoken Fest in Shillong is a landmark moment for Meghalaya. Our state, often called the ‘Scotland of the East’, has a rich tradition of music and storytelling. By bringing this nationally acclaimed festival to Shillong, we’re not just showcasing our local talent but also inviting India to experience the unique cultural tapestry of the Northeast. Spoken Fest aligns perfectly with our vision of promoting Meghalaya as a hub for arts and culture. We’re excited to see how the festival will blend our indigenous narratives with contemporary expressions, creating a truly immersive experience for both locals and visitors.”
