The Ao Naga Tribe: A Legacy of Cultural Transformation and Enduring Identity wikipedia The Ao are one of the most prominent and historically significant Naga tribes of Nagaland, located in Northeast India. Distinguished by their early engagement with modernity and Western influences, the Ao were the first among the diverse Naga communities to embrace Christianity. This pivotal conversion, initiated in the late 19th century, not only reshaped their spiritual landscape but also served as a catalyst for widespread literacy and modernization, positioning the Aos as pioneers in various fields across the Naga Hills.¹ Their journey reflects a dynamic interplay between deeply rooted indigenous traditions and the transformative forces of external influences. The Advent of Christianity and Modernization The introduction of Christianity to the Ao territory marks a watershed moment in their history. The American Baptist missionary, Edwin W. Clark, is credited with bringing the new faith to the Ao ...
The origin of the Nagas is not know, believed to be from China that migrated south of the Himalayas. The first record of China people in India is from around the 10th century B.C. Based on linguistic evidence, 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 arrived in India in several waves of migrations that took place over several centuries after Aryans arrived.