Nagaland Toyota announces Ruopfüzhano Whiso as Ambassador for 2025 HMF

Okusa Automobiles Pvt. Ltd., dealer for Toyota in Nagaland, on Friday announced that Toyota will present the Hornbill Music Festival for the fourth consecutive year and confirmed Ruopfüzhano Whiso as the official Toyota Ambassador for the 2025 edition.
Addressing the media at its showroom in Kohima, Managing Director of Okusa Automobiles, Y. Vikheho Swu, stated that Toyota considered it a privilege to be associated with the Hornbill Music Festival for the fourth year. He informed that the company had earlier announced this partnership and was now formally presenting its ambassador for the upcoming edition. Swu expressed appreciation to the Government of Nagaland for the continued support, particularly under the leadership of the chief minister. He acknowledged the central role of music in the Hornbill Festival, alongside the showcasing of Naga arts, culture, food, creativity and innovation. He also credited the Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA) for elevating the music scene in Nagaland and enabling Naga artistes to engage with performers from across the world. Swu stated that TaFMA had played “a very major role” in connecting Naga musicians with the global community through the festival.
Swu said Toyota “owed a lot” to the state government for the opportunity to present the festival again. He introduced Ruopfüzhano Whiso and stated that she had contributed significantly in the previous year and had inspired many youths. He said the company chose her again because of the identity and influence she had created among young people. Toyota Ambassador Ruopfüzhano Whiso, sharing her experience, said it had been a meaningful association with Toyota. She informed that this would be her second year as ambassador, though she had already been involved with the Toyota Hornbill Music Festival earlier as a host. She described the previous year as an exciting period, mentioning activities such as giveaways of Toyota Hornbill shawls and T-shirts, the proceeds of which were directed towards charity. She also highlighted her interactions with international performance group Drum Tao, who, she said, would be returning to Nagaland this year. Whiso stated that engagement with audiences had been overwhelming, noting that her festival-related videos had crossed over 500,000 views on Instagram, excluding YouTube. For 2025, she said she hoped to offer a fresh perspective, deeper engagement and more content documenting her journey with Toyota. She encouraged the public to follow the upcoming activities, stating that the Toyota Hornbill Music Festival would be “very exciting.”
Responding to media queries, Swu clarified that the praise-and-worship performances seen near the Toyota stall at last year’s festival had not been organised by the company, though he described the occurrence as “a blessing in disguise.”
On engagements planned for this year, he said participants would have opportunities to interact with international artistes. He added that Toyota Ki, a dedicated structure at the festival venue, would once again host artistes from India and abroad on its upper floor, managed by TaFMA, to facilitate cultural and musical interactions. He also informed that Toyota would showcase its vehicles, including flagship models such as the Urban Cruiser and the Camry, as part of its festival presence.
Swu expressed satisfaction with the company’s contribution towards promoting Naga youth, especially in music. He said the increasing participation of international artistes in Nagaland provided exposure for local musicians, and that, going forward, he expected more Nagas to take their performances beyond the state. He noted that the digital reach from the festival—reflected in large online viewership—offered immense opportunities for young artistes to connect with wider audiences. According to him, the platform was now available, and it was up to the youths to step forward and make full use of it. Swu reaffirmed Toyota’s commitment to supporting young talents through the Hornbill Music Festival.