The Angami Nagas: Culture, Society, and Traditions
The Angami Nagas are one of the major ethnic groups inhabiting Nagaland, a state in Northeast India.¹ Primarily settled in the Kohima and Dimapur districts, they are also recognized as a Scheduled Tribe in Manipur.² The Angamis are particularly renowned for their vibrant Sekrenyi festival, an annual celebration held in February, and their distinctive terraced wet-rice cultivation, a sophisticated agricultural practice that sets them apart from many other Naga tribes who traditionally relied on shifting cultivation.³
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Geographical and Tribal Divisions
The traditional territory of the Angami, largely centered around the capital city of Kohima, is historically delineated into four main regions:
Southern Angami – Situated near Mount Japfü, this region includes prominent villages such as Viswema, Jakhama, and Kigwema.⁴
Western Angami – This area is home to the historically significant warrior village of Khonoma, along with Jotsoma and Mezoma.⁵
Northern Angami – Encompassing Kohima itself (traditionally known as Kewhira), Chiechama, and Tuophema.⁶
Chakhro Angami – Characterized by smaller settlements located near Dimapur, including Medziphema and Sovima.⁷ It is important to note that the Eastern Angami communities later separated administratively and are now recognized as the distinct Chakhesang tribe.⁸
Culture and Religion
Historically, the Angamis were formidable warriors, frequently engaging in inter-village conflicts and practicing headhunting. This martial tradition persisted until the onset of direct British colonial influence and administration, which formally began around 1879 and gradually suppressed such practices.⁹ Today, a significant majority of Angamis, exceeding 98 percent, identify as Christians, with Baptism being the predominant denomination, reflecting the profound impact of missionary activities in the region.¹⁰ However, a small minority of the population still adheres to Pfutsana, their indigenous animist faith, which involves rituals and beliefs centered on ancestral spirits, natural forces, and traditional deities.¹¹
Social Structure
Angami society is traditionally described as largely egalitarian, lacking a strict system of social stratification based on birth or wealth, which contrasts with some other Naga tribes that have more pronounced hierarchies, such as the Konyaks with their hereditary chiefs.¹² While inheritance is generally shared among children, it is a customary practice for the youngest son to traditionally inherit the family home, ensuring the continuity of the household lineage.¹³ Wet-rice farming remains central to their economy and cultural identity, distinguishing their agricultural methods and associated practices from the shifting cultivation prevalent among many other Naga groups.¹⁴
The Sekrenyi Festival
Sekrenyi, also known as Phousanyi, is the most important cultural event for the Angami Nagas, celebrated as a 10-day purification festival held annually in February.¹⁵ This festival is deeply rooted in rituals aimed at cleansing the community and individuals of sin and misfortune, ensuring health and prosperity for the coming year. Key rituals include:
Kizie: Offerings of rice water made at household shrines, symbolizing purity and blessings.¹⁶
Dzüseva: A significant ritual involving bathing in village wells, performed by young men to cleanse themselves of any misfortunes or impurities.¹⁷
Thekra Hie: A period characterized by communal singing and feasting, fostering social bonding and celebration of Angami traditions.¹⁸
Bridge-Pulling Ceremony: A symbolic act of unity and communal effort performed on the eighth day of the festival, often involving the pulling of a ceremonial bridge or logs by the community members.¹⁹
Notable Angami Figures
The Angami community has produced several influential figures who have played significant roles in the political, social, and cultural landscape of Nagaland and beyond:
A. Z. Phizo (1903–1990) – He is widely recognized as the founder of the Naga National Council (NNC), a pivotal figure in the Naga nationalist movement, advocating for Naga self-determination.²⁰
Neiphiu Rio (b. 1950) – A prominent political leader, he has served multiple terms as the Chief Minister of Nagaland, making him one of the longest-serving chief ministers in the state's history.²¹
Vizol Angami (1914–2008) – An distinguished personality, he was not only the first Naga pilot but also served as a former Chief Minister of Nagaland, contributing significantly to the state's early political development.²²
Methaneilie Solo (b. 1954) – Celebrated as a legendary Naga musician, he has profoundly influenced Naga contemporary music and folk revival, enchanting audiences with his unique style and contributions.²³
Bibliography:
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.
Durkheim, Émile, and Marcel Mauss. Primitive Classification. Translated by Rodney Needham. London: Free Press, 1963.
Oppitz, Michael, Thomas Kaiser, Alban von Stockhausen, and Marion Wettstein, eds. Naga Identities: Changing Local Cultures in Northeast India. Gent: Snoeck Publishers, 2008.
Footnotes:
Wikipedia, "Angami Naga," accessed July 28, 2025,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angami_Naga Ibid.
John Henry Hutton, The Angami Nagas, 2nd ed. (Bombay: Oxford University Press, 1969), 40-45.
Wikipedia, "Angami Naga."
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Hutton, The Angami Nagas, 160-170; Jonathan Glancey, Nagaland: A Journey to India’s Forgotten Frontier (London: Faber and Faber, 2011), 80-85.
Vibha Joshi, A Matter of Belief: Christian Conversion and Healing in North-East India (New York: Berghahn Books, 2012), 50-55.
Ibid., 60-65.
Hutton, The Angami Nagas, 100-105.
Wikipedia, "Angami Naga."
Hutton, The Angami Nagas, 45-50.
Wikipedia, "Angami Naga."
Wikipedia, "Sekrenyi."
J. Rudhardt, "Water," vol. 15 of The Encyclopaedia of Religion, ed. M. Eliade (New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1987), 350–61.
Wikipedia, "Sekrenyi."
Ibid.
Glancey, Nagaland, 150-155.
Wikipedia, "Neiphiu Rio," accessed July 28, 2025,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neiphiu_Rio Wikipedia, "Vizol Angami," accessed July 28, 2025,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vizol_Angami Wikipedia, "Methaneilie Solo," accessed July 28, 2025,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methaneilie_Solo
