Skip to main content

Angami Naga

By Administrator

The Angami Nagas: Culture, Society, and Traditions

The Angami Nagas are one of the major ethnic groups of Nagaland, a state in Northeast India. Primarily inhabiting the Kohima and Dimapur districts, they are also recognized as a Scheduled Tribe in Manipur. The Angamis are renowned for their vibrant Sekrenyi festival, celebrated annually in February, and their unique terraced wet-rice cultivation, a rare practice among Naga tribes.

Geographical and Tribal Divisions

The Angami territory, centered around Kohima, is traditionally divided into four regions:

  1. Southern Angami – Located near Mount Japfü, including villages like Viswema, Jakhama, and Kigwema.
  2. Western Angami – Home to Khonoma (a historic warrior village), Jotsoma, and Mezoma.
  3. Northern Angami – Encompassing Kohima (Kewhira), Chiechama, and Tuophema.
  4. Chakhro Angami – Small settlements near Dimapur, such as Medziphema and Sovima.

The Eastern Angami later separated and are now known as the Chakhesang tribe.

Culture and Religion

Historically, the Angamis were fierce warriors, engaging in inter-village conflicts and headhunting until British colonization in 1879. Today, most Angamis (over 98%) practice Christianity, primarily Baptism, though a small minority still follow Pfutsana, their indigenous animist faith.

Social Structure

  • Egalitarian society with no strict social stratification.
  • Inheritance is shared among children, though the youngest son traditionally inherits the family home.
  • Wet-rice farming remains central to their economy, distinguishing them from other Naga groups.

The Sekrenyi Festival

Sekrenyi (or Phousanyi), a 10-day purification festival, is the Angamis’ most important cultural event. Key rituals include:

  • Kizie: Rice water offerings at household shrines.
  • Dzüseva: Ritual bathing in village wells to cleanse misfortunes.
  • Thekra Hie: Communal singing and feasting.
  • Bridge-Pulling Ceremony: A symbolic act of unity on the eighth day.

Notable Angami Figures

  • A. Z. Phizo (1903–1990) – Founder of the Naga National Council.
  • Neiphiu Rio (b. 1950) – Long-serving Chief Minister of Nagaland.
  • Vizol Angami (1914–2008) – First Naga pilot and former CM.
  • Methaneilie Solo (b. 1954) – Legendary Naga musician.


Bibliography:

Books Edsman, C. M. Fire. Vol. 5 of The Encyclopaedia of Religion. Edited by M. Eliade, 340–46. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1987.
Glancey, Jonathan. Nagaland: A Journey to India’s Forgotten Frontier. London: Faber and Faber, 2011.
Hutton, John Henry. The Angami Nagas. 2nd ed. Bombay: Oxford University Press, 1969.
Joshi, Vibha. A Matter of Belief: Christian Conversion and Healing in North-East India. New York: Berghahn Books, 2012.
Kunz, Richard, and Vibha Joshi. Naga – A Forgotten Mountain Region Rediscovered. Basel: Merian, 2008.
Oppitz, Michael, et al. Naga Identities: Changing Local Cultures in Northeast India. Gent: Snoeck Publishers, 2008.
Rudhardt, J. Water. Vol. 15 of The Encyclopaedia of Religion. Edited by M. Eliade, 350–61. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1987.
Stirn, Aglaja, and Peter van Ham. The Hidden World of the Naga: Living Traditions in Northeast India. London: Prestel, 2008.
Stockhausen, Alban von. Imag(in)ing the Nagas: The Pictorial Ethnography of Kauffmann and Fürer-Haimendorf. Stuttgart: Arnoldsche, 2014.
Translated Works Durkheim, Émile, and Marcel Mauss. Primitive Classification. Translated by Rodney Needham. London: Free Press, 1963.
Edited Works Oppitz, Michael, Thomas Kaiser, Alban von Stockhausen, and Marion Wettstein, eds. Naga Identities: Changing Local Cultures in Northeast India. Gent: Snoeck Publishers, 2008.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

The Nagas

By Administrator
Introduction The term "Naga" is used to describe groups of tribesmen of Indian and Chinese descent living in the hill country along the border of far eastern India and northwestern Burma. This article delves into the history, culture, and way of life of the Naga people, who were once known for headhunting. The name "Naga" was given to them by the Ahom people in Assam, and its origin remains uncertain. This article explores the Naga people's unique identity, their history, language, religion, traditions, and daily life. Historical Background The origin of the Nagas is still a mystery. Little is known about any group believed to be from China that migrated south of the Himalayas. It is believed that the Nagas and other Indians of Chinese descent originated in a region between the Yellow and Yangtze rivers in northwestern China and migrated to India in waves over several centuries. Their original settlements were around the Irrawaddy and Chindwin rivers in Burma. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Anal Naga

By Administrator
Here is your revised article with all instances of "ā" changed to "a", and the references section formatted in Turabian style (9th edition, Notes and Bibliography format): Anal Tribe of Manipur and Myanmar: History, Culture, and Identity Introduction The Anal tribe is an indigenous Naga community primarily found in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur and across the border in parts of Myanmar . Recognized as a Scheduled Tribe (ST) under the Indian Constitution, the Anal are one of the 66 officially acknowledged Naga tribes inhabiting the ancestral Naga homeland. Their population is distributed between Chandel district in India and Sagaing sub-division in Myanmar . Geographic Distribution In India , the Anal tribe is mainly concentrated in Chandel district , with a smaller presence in neighboring districts like Churachandpur and Thoubal . In Myanmar , the Anal people live in three villages under the administrative region of Sagaing . Historically,...
Post a Comment
Read more