Konyak Naga

The Konyaks are one of the major Naga[1] ethnic groups. In Nagaland, they inhabit the Mon District—also known as 'The Land of The Anghs'. The Anghs/Wangs are their traditional chiefs whom they hold in high esteem. Facial tattoos were earned for taking an enemy's head.[2]

Konyak
Total population
320,000 approx. (India and Burma)
Regions with significant populations
Nagaland and Naga Self-Administered Zone
Languages
Konyak language
Religion
Christianity and Animism
Related ethnic groups
Wancho, Other Naga people
A chief of Konyak tribe in his traditional outfit

Other unique traditional practices that set the Konyaks apart are: gunsmithing, iron-smelting, brass-works, and gunpowder-making. They are also adept in making 'janglaü' (machetes) and wooden sculptures.

Festival

Aoleng, a festival celebrated in the first week of April (1-6) to welcome the spring and also to invoke the Almighty's (Kahwang) blessing upon the land before seed-sowing, is the biggest festival of the Konyaks. Another festival, 'Lao Ong Mo', is the traditional harvest festival celebrated in the months of August/September.

A ceremonial basket of the Konyak tribe with a skull and two human heads carved from wood. This basket is a status symbol.

Society

The Konyaks are the largest of the Naga tribes. They are found in Tirap, Longding, and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh; Sibsagar District of Assam; and also in Myanmar. They are known in Arunachal Pradesh as the Wanchos ('Wancho' is a synonymous term for 'Konyak'). Ethnically, culturally, and linguistically the Noctes and Tangsa of the same neighbouring state of Arunachal Pradesh, are also closely related to the Konyaks. The Konyaks were the last among the Naga tribes to accept Christianity. In the past, they were infamous for attacking nearby villages, often resulting in killings and decapitation of the heads of opposing warriors. The decapitated heads were taken as trophies and usually hung in the 'baan' (a communal house). The number of hunted heads indicated the power of a warrior. The headhunting expeditions were often driven by certain beliefs, such as code of honour and principles of loyalty and sacrifice.

The tribal members maintain a very disciplined community life with strict adherence to duties and responsibilities assigned to each of them.

Language

The Konyak language belongs to the Northern Naga sub branch of the Sal subfamily of Sino-Tibetan.

See also

References
  1. 'Konyak Nagas' by Christoph von Furer-Haimendorf, (1969)
  2. https://qz.com/india/1136007/the-konyaks-of-nagaland-indias-famed-tattooed-headhunters-are-a-vanishing-tribe/

Further reading
  • Stirn, Aglaja & Peter van Ham. The Hidden world of the Naga: Living Traditions in Northeast India. London: Prestel.
  • Oppitz, Michael, Thomas Kaiser, Alban von Stockhausen & Marion Wettstein. 2008. Naga Identities: Changing Local Cultures in the Northeast of India. Gent: Snoeck Publishers.
  • Kunz, Richard & Vibha Joshi. 2008. Naga – A Forgotten Mountain Region Rediscovered. Basel: Merian.
  • Alban von Stockhausen: Imag(in)ing the Nagas: The Pictorial Ethnography of Hans-Eberhard Kauffmann and Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf. Arnoldsche, Stuttgart 2014,.
  • ISBN 978-3-89790-412-5.
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