Naga people - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

See Naga people (Sri Lanka) for the semi-mythical people of Sri Lankan tradition.

The term Naga people ' onMouseout='HidePop("20149")' href="/topics/Hindi">Hindi

Hindi

Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...

: नागा) refers to a conglomeration of several tribes inhabiting the North Eastern part of India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

and north-western Burma. The tribes have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority ethnic group in the Indian state of Nagaland

Nagaland

Nagaland is a state in the far north-eastern part of India. It borders the state of Assam to the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam to the north, Burma to the east and Manipur to the south. The state capital is Kohima, and the largest city is Dimapur...

. Some of the prominent Naga tribes are Angami, Ao, Chakhesang

Chakhesang

Chakhesang is a Naga tribe found in Nagaland, India.The word Chakhesang comprises three tribes: cha - Chakri, Khe - Khezha, Sang - Sangtam.Chakhesangs are the former Eastern [Angami], who have separated from the Angami Naga tribe, and are now recognized as a separate tribe. It is a major tribe in...

, Chang

Chang Naga

Chang is a Naga of Nagaland, India. It is one of the recognized Scheduled Tribes.The tribe was also known as Mazung in British India. Other Naga tribes know the Changs by different names including Changhai , Changru , Duenching , Machungrr , Mochumi and Mojung .- Origin :According to oral...

, Khiamniungan, Konyak

Konyak

The Konyak are a Naga people, and are recognised among other Naga by their tattoos, which they have all over their face and hands. They are called the land of Angh's. They have the largest population among the Nagas....

, Lotha, Pochury, Phom

Phom Naga

Phom is a Naga tribe from Nagaland, India. Their traditional territory lies between the territories of Konyak in the north-east, the Ao in the west and the Chang in the south. Yongnyah is the largest Phom village.- Economy :...

, Poumai, Rengma

Rengma

Rengma is a Naga tribe found in Nagaland and Assam states of India. According to the 2001 census of India, the Rengma population in Nagaland was 50,966 i.e. 2.9% of the total Naga population.-History:...

, Rongmei, Sangtam

Sangtam

The Sangtam is a Naga tribe living in the Tuensang district of Nagaland. They are believed to have migrated from Myanmar.Like many other tribal groups in Northeast India, they practice jhum, or shifting cultivation. Unlike other Naga tribes in Nagaland, many of the Sangtam have retained their...

, Sema

Sema

Sama is a Sufi ceremony performed as dhikr. Sama means "listening", while dhikr means "remembrance". These rituals often includes singing, playing instruments, dancing, recitation of poetry and prayers, wearing symbolic attire, and other rituals...

(Sumi), Mao

Mao Naga

The Maos are one of the major tribes constituting the Nagas, a group of tribes spread over the eastern most part of India and the western border region of Burma...

(Memai), Zeliang, Yimchunger,.

There are 16 officially recognized tribes in the Nagaland state of India. The other Naga tribes can be found in the contiguous adjoining states of Manipur

Manipur

Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...

, Assam

Assam

Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...

, Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...

and across the border in Burma. Some of these tribes are: Zeme, Liangmai, Mao (Memai), Nocte, Phom, Pochuri, Poumai Naga, Rongmei, Tangsa, Tutsa, and Wancho

The Naga tribes practised headhunting

Headhunting

Headhunting is the practice of taking a person's head after killing them. Headhunting was practised in historic times in parts of China, India, Nigeria, Nuristan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Borneo, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Micronesia, Melanesia, New Zealand, and the Amazon Basin, as...

and preserved the heads of enemies as trophies before the 19th century.

Geography

The Naga tribes live in the Indian state of Nagaland

Nagaland

, Assam

Assam

Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...

, Manipur

Manipur

and Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh

and the northwestern hill tracts of Burma such as the Naga Self-Administered Zone

Naga Self-Administered Zone

Naga Self-Administered Zone , as stipulated by the 2008 Constitution, is a self-administered zone consisting of three townships, Leshi, Lahe and Namyun townships, formerly administered as pat of Hkamti District, Sagaing Division. Its official name was announced by decree on 20 August 2010. The zone...

formerly in Sagaing Division. The Nagas, though they have no common language, speak many varieties that belong to the Tibeto-Burmese language group of the Sino-Burmese language family. A language known as Nagamese creole is commonly spoken in Nagaland, and adjacent Indian states. It is a language based on Assamese

Assamese language

Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...

and does not truly reflect the various languages and dialects spoken by the different Naga tribes in Nagaland and acts as a binding force to the different tribes of Nagaland. However, the present official language of the Nagaland state is 'English' with which a majority of the urban people are fluent but rarely spoken in the rural areas where Nagamese is popularly used to communicate between villagers of different tribal districts. The Kaccha Nagas of Manipur communicate with their fellow kaccha Nagas in Meitei language. According to the oral folktales(Prominent among the Nagas) it is believed that the Kaccha Nagas and the Meiteis who have a long history with each other were actually brothers with a common ancestry, language and customs.

Organization

The Naga people traditionally are tribally organized, with a strong warrior tradition. Their villages are sited on hilltops and until the later part of the 19th century, they made frequent armed raids on the plains below. Although the tribes exhibit variation to a certain degree, considering the diversity in their languages and some traditional practices, they have many similarities in their cultures which set them apart from the neighboring occupants of the region. Almost all these tribes have a similar dress code, eating habit, customs, traditional laws etc. However, one trait that sets them apart from the other groups in the region is their Head Hunting Custom (Which was prevalent at one point of time in Nagaland and among Naga tribes in Myanmar) Though they no longer practice head hunting at present, there is enough evidence to prove that they once used to practice head hunting. The Nagas people today number around 2 million in population.

Contact with the outside world

Apart from cultural contacts with the neighboring Ahoms, the rulers of Assam

Assam

Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...

from 1228, the Nagas had little or no contact with the outside world. Real exposure to the outside world came with the British annexation of Assam

Assam

Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...

in 1828 following the Treaty of Yandabo

Treaty of Yandabo

The Treaty of Yandabo was the peace treaty that ended the First Anglo-Burmese War. The treaty was signed on 24 February 1826, nearly two years after the war formally broke out on 5 March 1824, by General Sir Archibald Campbell on the British side, and by Governor of Legaing Maha Min Hla Kyaw Htin...

. In the 1830s, the British sent expeditionary forces, and in 1845, the colonial power succeeded in concluding a non-aggression pact with Naga chiefs who used to attack the bordering areas in Assam. But the Nagas violated the agreement time and again and their war and peace tactics continued.

Attempts by the British after the 1830s to annex the region were met with sustained and effective guerrilla resistance

Guerrilla warfare

Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...

from Naga groups, particularly the Angami Naga tribe. The British responded by dispaching numerous military expeditions until they succeeded in establishing a foothold by building military post in some areas in 1851. The conflict culminated in 1878 when the Angamis mounted raids on British camps. The response was brutal with the burning of several rebel villages by the British forces. The resistance met with failure and eventually the region fell under the administeration of the British.

The advent of Christianity

The most important landmark in the history of the Naga people with considerable social, cultural and political ramifications is the arrival of missionaries and the spread of Christianity among the Naga tribes. The acceptance of Christianity marks a departure from their many tribal customs and traditions, and along with the spread of English education, heralds the arrival of modernity in the Naga hills. The first missionary to arrive the Naga hills is believed to be Rev. Miles Bronson

Miles Bronson and the Noctes

Miles Bronson and the Noctes in the Namsang Hill Miles Bronson, one of the pioneer American Baptist missionaries worked in Assam, arrived at Sadia in Assam on 8 July 1838. In the previous year, Nathan Brown and O.T. Cutter landed at Sadia with their families with an object to go to Northern...

in 1841 although he stayed only for a short period. In the 1870s, Dr. & Mrs. E.W. Clark

Edwin W. Clark

- Ministry in Nagaland :E. W. Clark and his wife sailed from Boston on October 20, 1868 under the Baptist Missionary Union as Missionaries and Printers. They arrived in Sibsagar in March 1869.The hills beyond their Sibsagar mission were the Naga Hills...

worked among the Ao people

Ao people

The Ao are a Naga people of Nagaland in northeast India. Their main territory is from Tsula Valley in the east to Tsurang Valley in Mokokchung District...

and with the help of Mr.Godhula, an Assamese Christian, established the first Church in Molungkimong in 1872.

The missionaries served as an agent in forging a greater "Naga" identity which is a radical departure from the age old set up of warring village republics. The dreaded custom of head hunting slowly declined and disappeared as more and more Nagas embraced Christianity in the early 20th century. Today, more than 95% of Naga people claim to be Christians. Christianity has changed the Naga society entirely and it bears little semblance to the tribal society that it was a century ago. The Christian missionaries interfered in the social and cultural practices to a far greater extent than the government. The new educational system and religion disrupted the indigenous pattern of life as both the British administration and the Christian missionaries brought about dramatic changes among the Naga tribes thereby effecting the tribes to discard their age old social patterns, cultural practices and traditional political setup without providing functional substitutes.

Resistance and struggle for identity

From the arrival of the British till date, the Naga hills have been an area of constant strife and turmoil. However the case of the kaccha Nagas of Manipur were totally different from that of the Nagas. In fact these kaccha Nagas were used by the British and the Meitei rulers to try to defeat the Nagas(Angamis in particular) in the present Nagaland, however they failed to do so completely as parts of Nagaland were never conquered and were left on their own. The Tribes are a fiercely independent people and they have resisted any incursions into their territories using brute force. The dawn of a spirit of nationalism and a common identity, however, are relatively new concepts among the Naga people. This is because, according to the people, every village is a republic, free from all outside domination and their desire had been to preserve the status quo. With the coming of modern education, the politicization of Naga ethnicity began. The first instance was the formation of the Naga Club in 1918 by a group of educated Nagas(From present Nagaland). The club submitted a memorandum to the Simon Commission

Simon Commission

The Indian Statutory Commission was a group of seven British Members of Parliament that had been dispatched to India in 1927 to study constitutional reform in Britain's most important colonial dependency. It was commonly referred to as the Simon Commission after its chairman, Sir John Simon...

in 1929 with the demand that "Nagas should not be included within the Reformed Scheme of India"
After India's independence from British rule, the 'Nagas' were the first ethnic group from north east India to rise up against accession to India. The legendary Naga leader Zapu Phizo spearheaded the initial movement with the Naga National Council

Naga National Council

The Naga National Council was a political organization of Naga people, active from the late 1940s to the early 1950s. Under the leadership of Angami Zapu Phizo in the 1940s, it unsuccessfully campaigned for the secession of the Naga territory from India and creation for a sovereign Naga...

(NNC). In the dying days of the British Raj

British Raj

British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...

, hectic parleys were led by him for a sovereign Naga nation. Consequently, in June 1947, a 9-point agreement was signed which promised bringing the Naga tribes under a single administrative unit and the Naga' right to self determination after 10 years. However, disputes arose over the interpretation of the agreement, and many in the NNC opposed it. Under Phizo, the Nagas declared their independence from the British on 14 August 1947, a day before India. In May 1951, the NNC claimed that 99 per cent of the tribals supported a referendum to secede from India which was summarily rejected by New Delhi. By 1952, the NNC which consisted mostly of Nagaland Nagas led a guerrilla movement which resulted in a violent crackdown by India's armed forces. Phizo escaped from region through East Pakistan

East Pakistan

East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...

and went on an exile to London where he inspired the movement till his death in 1990.

Statehood, factions and ceasefires

In 1960, the Naga People's Convention (formed in 1957 supposedly as a people's forum but dubbed by Naga groups as India's creation) signed a 16-point agreement with the Indian government through which statehood was granted to Nagaland

Nagaland

in 1963 and the kaccha Nagas from Manipur refused to join the state as during that time they enjoyed their status as hill tribes of Manipur and did not want to be a part of the tribal government of Nagaland.

A ceasefire was signed between the NNC and the Indian government and they had six rounds of talks till 1972 with no real progress. The first ceasefire and talks broke down in 1972 when an assassination attempt was made on the Chief Minister of the state. In November 1975, a delegation of the NNC signed the infamous Shillong Accord through which the revolutionaries agreed to unconditional acceptance of the Indian Constitution and surrender of arms. The accord was condemned by many Nagas and it marked the beginning of factionalism among the revolutionaries. An immediate repercussion was the formation of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) in the late 1970s by Thuingaleng Muivah, Isaac Swu and S.Khaplang. The NSCN later splintered into two with the breaking away of Khaplang. The 1990s were marked by fratricidal violence between the revolutionary groups. The mid-1990s were a time of turmoil especially around Manipur

Manipur

as ethnic violence erupted between the Kaccha Nagas and Kukis, inflicting hundreds of casualties on both sides.

On January 23, 1993, the NSCN(IM)(a mouth piece organisation for the Kaccha Nagas) was admitted to the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization

Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization

The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization , formed in 11 February 1991, in The Hague, is an international organization of political organisations and governments representing self-proclaimed "indigenous peoples, minorities, and unrecognised or occupied territories". The organization...

(UNPO), which was seen then as a step towards gaining more international attention to the Naga issue. In 1997, the NSCN(IM) signed a ceasefire with the Indian government and negotiations continue till date. The NSCN(I-M) leaders also enjoy the hospitability of the Indian government whom they accuse of being insensitive to the Kaccha Naga issue. They are presently enjoying Z+ security from India and staying in bungalows provided to them by the Indian Government while at the same time profess to be working for the "Naga" people. Recent trends in talks indicate that the NSCN(IM) have mellowed on their demand for sovereignty and instead strengthened the demand for autonomy and unification of all Naga areas in Manipur, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh with Nagaland which triggered strong protests in Manipur. According to the UNPO, the biggest impediment in the peace process, as the NSCN sees it, is the refusal of the government of India to officially extend the ceasefire to all Naga-inhabited areas outside of Nagaland. The Indian government has shown little enthusiasm in solving the Naga issue considering the fact that little progress has been made in the last 12 years of talks. On the other hand, the ambiguity about the territorial scope of the ceasefire agreement is resulting in continuing clashes between the Indian army and the NSCN cadre.

Society

The people are simple, straight-forward, hard-working and honest people with a high standard of integrity. They possess a strong sense of self respect and rarely submitted to anyone who roughshod over them. A hallmark of their character was their hospitality and cheerfulness. The Naga tribals have an egalitarian society, and the village is a closely knit unit consisting of households of different clans.In fact the Naga tribes don't have a common language, one clan communicate with other either by broken English or Nagamese.Nagas of Manipur communicate with each other in meitei language which serves as the lingua franca of the Manipuri Nagas or the Nagas as well as their fellow meitei brothers.

The village

They traditionally live in villages. The village is a well-defined entity with distinct land demarcation from neighboring villages. Each has a dialect of its own and as such there is a strong sense of social solidarity within it. Almost every home rear pigs as pigs do not need much caring and provide meat.The people in it are held together by social, economic, political and ritual ties. The villages have their own identity but not in isolation as there are interdependent relationships with neighboring villages. The impact of modernization is slowly but steadily eroding the centrality of villages as a social unit as large commercial towns are rapidly coming up in every region of the Naga hills. This is bringing about drastic changes in the values, lifestyles and social setup of the people.

The family

The family was the basic unit of the Naga society. Marriages were usually monogamous and fidelity to the spouse was considered a high virtue. Marriage within the same clan is not permitted and it amounts to incest. Incestuous couples used to be ostracized from the villages. The family was the most important institution of social education and social control. There used to be a deep respect for parents and elders. Material inheritance, such as land and cattle, is passed on to the male offsprings with the eldest son receiving the largest share (indicating that the society was pseudo-egalitarian).

Status of women

In the classless, caste-less Naga society, women have traditionally enjoyed a high social position, with a pivotal role in both family and community affairs. However, being a patriarchal society with strong warrior tradition, it is considered an honor to be born as a man. The traditional culture and customs expect a Naga woman to be obedient and humble; also expect her to perform the roles of wife, mother, child bearer, food producer and household manager. She also supplements the household income by weaving colorful shawls, an activity which is done exclusively by women/ Women are highly respected and given a great deal of freedom, however, they are traditionally not included in the decision-making process of the clan or the village.

The Morung system

The Morung, or the bachelor dormitory system, used to be an essential part of Naga life. Apart from the family, it was the most important educational set up of the people. The Morungs are grand buildings, constructed at the village entrance or a spot from where the village can be guarded most effectively. On attaining the age of puberty, young boys and girls were admitted to their respective dormitories. The morungs of the Lothas(Kyong),Aos,Angamis and the Semas are the most prominent as these are the major naga tribes with population far exceeding other tribes in Nagaland. The Naga culture, customs and traditions which were transmitted from generation to generation through folk music and dance, folk tales and oral tradition, wood carving and weaving, were conveyed to the young in the Morungs. Announcements of meetings, death of a villager, warnings of impending dangers, etc., were made from the Morungs with the beating of log drums. With the onset of modernity, the Morung system is no longer in practice among the Tribes.

Headhunting

One of the most striking social characteristics of the Nagas was the practice of headhunting

Headhunting

. Ursula Graham Bower

Ursula Graham Bower

Ursula Violet Graham Bower MBE , was one of the pioneer anthropologists in the Naga Hills between 1937–1946 and a guerrilla fighter against the Japanese in Burma from 1942-45....

described the Naga hills as the "paradise of headhunters." Most villages had a skull house and each man in the village was expected to contribute to the collection. The taking of a head is symbolic of courage and men who could not were dubbed as women or cows. There is nothing more glorious for a Naga than victory in battle by bringing home the severed head of an enemy. There is however, no indication of cannibalism

Cannibalism

Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...

among the Naga Tribes. This practice is now entirely eradicated with the spread of modern education in the region.

Transformation and challenges

The Naga society is undergoing tremendous transformation. The spread of Christianity, the growth of education and developmental programs undertaken by the government have all unleashed forces which are churning up the tribal society and rapidly changing its complexion and character. The modern set up of detached nuclear families is fast catching up with the people as they have greater intercourse with the modern world. This is leading to the erosion of the role of the clan and the village as agents of social control

Social control

Social control refers generally to societal and political mechanisms or processes that regulate individual and group behavior, leading to conformity and compliance to the rules of a given society, state, or social group. Many mechanisms of social control are cross-cultural, if only in the control...

Art and crafts

The Naga tribes are expert craftsmen. Their dwellings are made of wood and straw and these are ornately carved and arranged. Each tribe has a unique way of constructing their huts. A common thing about all the tribes is that they decorate the entrances of their dwellings with heads of buffaloes. The Naga people love colour and this is evident in their colorfully designed shawls and headgear. Here again, the designs on the costumes are unique to each tribe. They use beads with variety, profusion and complexity in their jewellery along with a gamut of materials like glass, shell, stone, teeth or tusk, claws/horns, metal, bone, wood, seeds, hair, fibre, etc.

According to Dr.Verrier Elwin

Verrier Elwin

Verrier Elwin was a self-trained anthropologist, ethnologist and tribal activist, who began his career in India as a Christian missionary...

, the arts and crafts of this group of tribes reflect their self-sufficient lifestyle - “they have made their own cloth, their own hats and rain-coats; they have prepared their own medicines, their own cooking-vessels, their own substitutes for crockery.“. The various craft-work done by the people include basketry, weaving, wood carving, pottery, metalwork, jewellery and bead-work.

Weaving of colorful woolen and cotton shawls is a central activity for women of all Naga tribes. One of the common features of Naga shawls is that three pieces are woven separately and stitched together. Weaving is an intricate and time consuming work and each shawl takes at least a few days to complete. Designs for shawls and wraparounds (commonly called meghala) are different for men and women. Among many tribes the design of the shawl denotes the social status of the wearer. Some of the more known shawls include Tsungkotepsu and Rongsu of the Ao tribe; Sutam, Ethasu, Longpensu of the Lothas; Supong of the Sangtams, Rongkhim and Tsungrem Khim of the Yimchungers; the Angami Lohe shawls with thick embroidered animal motifs etc.

The Indian Chamber of Commerce has filed an application seeking registration of traditional Naga shawls made in Nagaland with the Geographical Registry of India for Geographical Indication

Geographical indication

A geographical indication is a name or sign used on certain products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin...

Folk song and dances

Folk songs and dances are essential ingredients of the traditional Naga culture. The oral tradition is kept alive through the media of folk tales and songs. Naga folks songs are both romantic and historical, with songs narrating entire stories of famous ancestors and incidents. There are also seasonal songs which describe various activities done in a particular agricultural season. The early Western missionaries opposed the use of folk songs by Naga Christians as they are perceived to be associated with spirit worship, war and immorality. As a result, translated versions of Western hymns were introduced, leading to the slow disappearance of indigenous music from the Naga hills.

Folk dances of the tribals are mostly performed in groups in synchronized fashion by both men and women, depending on the type of dance. Dances are usually performed in festivals and religious occasions. War dances are performed mostly by men and are athletic and martial in style. All dances are accompanied by songs and war cries by the dancers themselves. The various indigenous musical instruments used by the people are bamboo mouth organs, cup violins, bamboo flutes, trumpets, drums made of cattle skin, and log drums.

Festivals

Some of the major Naga festivals include:

Festival	Tribe	Time	Major center
Sekrenyi	Angami Angami The Angamis are one of the major Naga tribes of Nagaland, India. They are known for the Sekrenyi celebrations that take place every February.-Division:...	February	Kohima Kohima Kohima is the hilly capital of India's north eastern border state of Nagaland which shares its borders with Burma. It lies in Kohima District and is also one of the three Nagaland towns with Municipal council status along with Dimapur and Mokokchung....
Ngada	Rengma Rengma Rengma is a Naga tribe found in Nagaland and Assam states of India. According to the 2001 census of India, the Rengma population in Nagaland was 50,966 i.e. 2.9% of the total Naga population.-History:...	November (last week)	Kohima Kohima Kohima is the hilly capital of India's north eastern border state of Nagaland which shares its borders with Burma. It lies in Kohima District and is also one of the three Nagaland towns with Municipal council status along with Dimapur and Mokokchung....
Nga-Ngai	Zeliang	December (last week)	Kohima Kohima Kohima is the hilly capital of India's north eastern border state of Nagaland which shares its borders with Burma. It lies in Kohima District and is also one of the three Nagaland towns with Municipal council status along with Dimapur and Mokokchung....
Mimkut	Kuki Kuki Kuki can refer to:* Kuki, Saitama, a city in Japan* one of the Kuki peoples who live in northeastern India * one of the Kukish languages spoken by the Kuki and related peoples...	January 3rd week	Kohima Kohima Kohima is the hilly capital of India's north eastern border state of Nagaland which shares its borders with Burma. It lies in Kohima District and is also one of the three Nagaland towns with Municipal council status along with Dimapur and Mokokchung....
Tsukhenyi	Chakhesang Chakhesang Chakhesang is a Naga tribe found in Nagaland, India.The word Chakhesang comprises three tribes: cha - Chakri, Khe - Khezha, Sang - Sangtam.Chakhesangs are the former Eastern [Angami], who have separated from the Angami Naga tribe, and are now recognized as a separate tribe. It is a major tribe in...	March/April	Phek Phek Phek is a town and a town Council in Phek district in the Indian state of Nagaland.-Demographics: India census, Phek had a population of 12,863. Males constitute 57% of the population and females 43%. Phek has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male...
Nazu	Pochury	July/August	Phek Phek Phek is a town and a town Council in Phek district in the Indian state of Nagaland.-Demographics: India census, Phek had a population of 12,863. Males constitute 57% of the population and females 43%. Phek has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male...
Moatsu Moatsü The Moatsü Mong festival is celebrated by the Ao people of Nagaland, India.Moatsü is celebrated in the first week of May every year. Various rituals are performed during this period. The Aos observe Moatsü Mong after the sowing is done...	Ao AO -Science and technology:* .ao, top-level Internet domain code for Angola* Adaptive optics, an astronomical imaging technology* Arctic oscillation, a climate pattern* The AMSAT-OSCAR satellite naming convention...	May (first week)	Mokokchung Mokokchung Mokokchung is a town and a municipality in Mokokchung district in the Indian state of Nagaland. It is the district headquarter as well as the main urban hub of Mokokchung district. Mokokchung is the cultural center of the Ao people and is economically and politically the most important urban...
Aoling	Konyak Konyak The Konyak are a Naga people, and are recognised among other Naga by their tattoos, which they have all over their face and hands. They are called the land of Angh's. They have the largest population among the Nagas....	April (first week)	Mon Mon, India Mon is a town and a town area committee in Mon district in the Indian state of Nagaland.-Geography:Mon is located at . It has an average elevation of 655 metres .It is situated at an altitude of 2,945 ft above sea level...
Monyu	Phom Phom Naga Phom is a Naga tribe from Nagaland, India. Their traditional territory lies between the territories of Konyak in the north-east, the Ao in the west and the Chang in the south. Yongnyah is the largest Phom village.- Economy :...	April (first week)	Tuensang Tuensang Tuensang [District Headquarter - Tuensang], the easternmost and the largest district of Nagaland bordering with Myanmar. The town was founded in 1947 for the purpose of administrating the erstwhile North Eastern Frontier Agency that comprised the present day Tuensang, Mon, Longleng and Kiphire...
Miu	Khiamngan	May (second week)	Tuensang Tuensang Tuensang [District Headquarter - Tuensang], the easternmost and the largest district of Nagaland bordering with Myanmar. The town was founded in 1947 for the purpose of administrating the erstwhile North Eastern Frontier Agency that comprised the present day Tuensang, Mon, Longleng and Kiphire...
Naknyu Lem	Chang Chang Naga Chang is a Naga of Nagaland, India. It is one of the recognized Scheduled Tribes.The tribe was also known as Mazung in British India. Other Naga tribes know the Changs by different names including Changhai , Changru , Duenching , Machungrr , Mochumi and Mojung .- Origin :According to oral...	July (second week)	Tuensang Tuensang Tuensang [District Headquarter - Tuensang], the easternmost and the largest district of Nagaland bordering with Myanmar. The town was founded in 1947 for the purpose of administrating the erstwhile North Eastern Frontier Agency that comprised the present day Tuensang, Mon, Longleng and Kiphire...
Metemneo	Yimchunger Yimchunger - History :According to the Yimchunger tradition, the tribe emerged at a village called Moru, and then came to the Jure village. The Yimchungers and the Khiamungans are believed to have migrated to the present-day Nagaland from Upper Burma as one group, in one wave...	August (second week)	Tuensang Tuensang Tuensang [District Headquarter - Tuensang], the easternmost and the largest district of Nagaland bordering with Myanmar. The town was founded in 1947 for the purpose of administrating the erstwhile North Eastern Frontier Agency that comprised the present day Tuensang, Mon, Longleng and Kiphire...
Amongmong	Sangtam Sangtam The Sangtam is a Naga tribe living in the Tuensang district of Nagaland. They are believed to have migrated from Myanmar.Like many other tribal groups in Northeast India, they practice jhum, or shifting cultivation. Unlike other Naga tribes in Nagaland, many of the Sangtam have retained their...	September (first week)	Tuensang Tuensang Tuensang [District Headquarter - Tuensang], the easternmost and the largest district of Nagaland bordering with Myanmar. The town was founded in 1947 for the purpose of administrating the erstwhile North Eastern Frontier Agency that comprised the present day Tuensang, Mon, Longleng and Kiphire...
Tokhuemong	Lotha	November (first week)	Wokha Wokha Wokha is a town and a town area committee in Wokha district in the Indian state of Nagaland.-Geography:Wokha is located at . It has an average elevation of 1313 metres .-Demographics:...
Tuluni	Sema Sema Sama is a Sufi ceremony performed as dhikr. Sama means "listening", while dhikr means "remembrance". These rituals often includes singing, playing instruments, dancing, recitation of poetry and prayers, wearing symbolic attire, and other rituals...	July	Zunheboto Zunheboto Zunheboto is a town and a town area committee in Zunheboto district in the Indian state of Nagaland.-Geography:Zunheboto is home to the Sumi Naga....

List of Naga tribes

The definition of the term Naga is vague. Following are some of the tribes classified as Naga:

Angami
Ao
Chakhesang
Chakhesang
Chakhesang is a Naga tribe found in Nagaland, India.The word Chakhesang comprises three tribes: cha - Chakri, Khe - Khezha, Sang - Sangtam.Chakhesangs are the former Eastern [Angami], who have separated from the Angami Naga tribe, and are now recognized as a separate tribe. It is a major tribe in...
Chang
Chang Naga
Chang is a Naga of Nagaland, India. It is one of the recognized Scheduled Tribes.The tribe was also known as Mazung in British India. Other Naga tribes know the Changs by different names including Changhai , Changru , Duenching , Machungrr , Mochumi and Mojung .- Origin :According to oral...
Khiamniungan or Khiamungan
Konyak
Konyak
The Konyak are a Naga people, and are recognised among other Naga by their tattoos, which they have all over their face and hands. They are called the land of Angh's. They have the largest population among the Nagas....
Lotha(Kyong)
Phom
Phom Naga
Phom is a Naga tribe from Nagaland, India. Their traditional territory lies between the territories of Konyak in the north-east, the Ao in the west and the Chang in the south. Yongnyah is the largest Phom village.- Economy :...
Pochuri
Mao
Mao Naga
The Maos are one of the major tribes constituting the Nagas, a group of tribes spread over the eastern most part of India and the western border region of Burma...

(Memai)
Poumai
Rengma
Rengma
Rengma is a Naga tribe found in Nagaland and Assam states of India. According to the 2001 census of India, the Rengma population in Nagaland was 50,966 i.e. 2.9% of the total Naga population.-History:...
Sangtam
Sangtam
The Sangtam is a Naga tribe living in the Tuensang district of Nagaland. They are believed to have migrated from Myanmar.Like many other tribal groups in Northeast India, they practice jhum, or shifting cultivation. Unlike other Naga tribes in Nagaland, many of the Sangtam have retained their...
Sumi (Sema)
Sumi Naga
The Sümi or Sema Naga is one of the major Naga tribes in Nagaland, India. The Sümis mainly inhabit the Zunheboto district, although many Sümis have migrated outside Nagaland for work and education....
Wancho
Wancho
The Wancho are a tribal people inhabiting the Patkai hills of Tirap district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, India. They have a population of 35,000. Culturally Naga, they are ethnically related to the Nocte and Konyak Naga of the Mon and Tirap districts...
Yimchunger
Yimchunger
- History :According to the Yimchunger tradition, the tribe emerged at a village called Moru, and then came to the Jure village. The Yimchungers and the Khiamungans are believed to have migrated to the present-day Nagaland from Upper Burma as one group, in one wave...
Zeliang

The Kuki

Kuki

Kuki can refer to:* Kuki, Saitama, a city in Japan* one of the Kuki peoples who live in northeastern India * one of the Kukish languages spoken by the Kuki and related peoples...

are a non-Naga tribe living in Nagaland among the Nagas. The Kukis are included in the Naga tribes by Dr. Rev Dozo (in The Cross over Nagaland) and Renthy Keitzar. The Kukis were also the signatories of the first Memorandum in the history of the Nagas, submitted to the Simon Commission in 1929. The Kukis have good relations with the Nagas of Nagaland however the NSCN(I-M) which a a rebel group for the kaccha nagas have been assaulting and intimating the Kukis, however the people of Nagaland standby the Kukis and no major accident has taken place in Nagaland.

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Geography

Organization

Contact with the outside world

The advent of Christianity

Resistance and struggle for identity

Statehood, factions and ceasefires

Society

The village

The family

Status of women

The Morung system

Headhunting

Transformation and challenges

Art and crafts

Folk song and dances

Festivals

List of Naga tribes

Further reading

External links