Tribes of Nagaland

Major communities of Nagaland

• Angami

  Also written: Tenyimia (wider grouping)

  Where:

  Kohima district — Khonoma, Kohima Village, Kigwema, Viswema, Tuophema, Dzüleke

  Language:

  Tenyidie (Angami), a Tibeto-Burman language

  Livelihood:

  Wet terrace rice cultivation, alder-based jhum, horticulture

  The Angami are known for stone-walled terrace farming on steep slopes and for Khonoma's community forest, established after the village banned hunting in 1998. Sekrenyi, in February, is the Angami purification festival. Kohima Village is one of the largest villages in Asia by household count.

• Ao

  Where:

  Mokokchung district — Ungma, Mopungchuket, Longkhum, Chuchuyimlang

  Language:

  Ao (Chungli and Mongsen dialects)

  Livelihood:

  Jhum and terrace cultivation, weaving, education and government service

  The Ao were among the first Naga communities to take up Christianity and formal schooling in the late nineteenth century, which shaped Mokokchung's role in Naga public life. Moatsu, in the first week of May, marks the end of sowing; Chuchuyimlang hosts the state-level celebration and keeps the Ancha tradition of inviting neighbouring villages.

• Konyak

  Where:

  Mon district — Longwa, Shangnyu, Chui, Hongphoi and the villages around Mon town

  Language:

  Konyak, a Tibeto-Burman language with strong village-level variation

  Livelihood:

  Jhum cultivation, woodcarving, gunsmithing, opium-substitution horticulture programmes

  Konyak villages are led by an Angh, a hereditary chief whose authority in some villages extended over several settlements; Longwa's chief's house straddles the India–Myanmar boundary. Konyak history includes headhunting, which ended with Christian conversion and administration in the mid-twentieth century; the tattooed elders who are sometimes photographed were young men in that period, and their history deserves to be explained rather than sold as a thrill. Aoleang, in the first week of April, is the Konyak new year.

• Sumi

  Also written: Sema (older spelling)

  Where:

  Zunheboto district and parts of Dimapur and Kiphire

  Language:

  Sumi, a Tibeto-Burman language

  Livelihood:

  Jhum cultivation, horticulture, cattle and mithun rearing

  Sumi villages were historically expansionist chiefdoms under a hereditary Akukau. Tuluni, in July, is a mid-year festival of feasting held when the harvest work is done.

• Lotha

  Where:

  Wokha district — Pangti, Okotso and neighbouring villages

  Language:

  Lotha, a Tibeto-Burman language

  Livelihood:

  Terrace and jhum farming, horticulture

  Pangti is internationally known for the Amur falcon: after mass hunting of the migrating flocks was reported in 2012, the village councils of Pangti, Ashaa and Sungro banned it outright and the area is now a roost site protected by the community. Tokhu Emong, in November, is the Lotha post-harvest festival.

• Chakhesang

  Where:

  Phek district — Khezhakeno, Chizami, Pfutsero area

  Language:

  Chokri, Khezha and Sapo dialects

  Livelihood:

  Terrace rice farming, weaving, indigenous seed conservation

  Chakhesang weaving is among the most recognisable in the state, and the Chizami weaves initiative has given village weavers a direct market. Khezhakeno is named in the oral histories of several Naga communities as a dispersal point.

• Zeliang

  Where:

  Peren district — Benreu and the Barail range villages

  Language:

  Zeme and Liangmai dialects

  Livelihood:

  Jhum and terrace cultivation, bamboo work

  Benreu, on the slopes of Mount Pauna, keeps a traditional village layout with morung-style houses. Mileinyi and Hega are among the community's seasonal festivals.

• Sangtam

  Where:

  Kiphire and Longkhim–Chare areas; Chungliyimti is linked to Sangtam settlement history

  Language:

  Sangtam, a Tibeto-Burman language

  Livelihood:

  Jhum cultivation, terrace paddy

  Chungliyimti is remembered in Naga oral history as an early settlement site associated with the dispersal of several communities, and is maintained today as a heritage village.

• Yimkhiung

  Also written: Yimchunger (older spelling)

  Where:

  Kiphire and Shamator districts — Thanamir and the Mount Saramati approaches

  Language:

  Yimkhiung, a Tibeto-Burman language

  Livelihood:

  Jhum cultivation, apple orcharding at Thanamir, high-altitude farming

  Thanamir is the base village for treks to Saramati, Nagaland's highest peak, and has built an apple-growing economy at altitude.