Konyak Naga

Konyak Naga

Konyak chief in traditional outfit
Total population
320,000 approx.
Regions with significant populations
India	N/A
Nagaland	N/A
Assam	N/A
Myanmar	N/A
Naga SAZ	N/A
Languages
Konyak language, Burmese
Religion
Christianity and Animism
Related ethnic groups
Wancho, Other Naga Ethnic Groups, Garo

The Konyaks are a major Naga ethnic group native to the Northeast Indian state of Nagaland. They inhabit the Mon District, which is 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.

Culture

A chief of Konyaks in his traditional outfit

Society

The Konyaks are the largest of the Naga ethnic groups. They are found in Tirap, Longding, and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh; Sibsagar District of Assam; and in Naga Self-Administered Zone of Myanmar. They are known in Arunachal Pradesh as the Wanchos ('Wancho' is a synonymous term for 'Konyak'). Ethnically, culturally, and linguistically the Nocte 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 ethnic groups to accept Christianity. In the past, they were infamous for attacking nearby villages, often resulting in killings and decapitation of opposing warriors. The severed 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 ethnic members maintain a very disciplined community life with strict adherence to duties and responsibilities assigned to each of them.

Skill

Other unique traditional practices that set the Konyaks apart are: gunsmithing, iron-smelting, brass-works, and gunpowder-making. Members of a village were asked to urinate in one particular place for months. Urine has potassium nitrate and sulphur. The urine rich soil is then boiled. A black residue floats on top of the water which is collected, dried, mixed with charcoal, and turned into gunpowder. They are also known for making excellent Yanglaü (machetes) and wooden sculptures.

Festival

Aoleang is 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.

Language

The Konyak language belongs to the Northern Naga sub-branch of the Sal sub-family of Sino-Tibetan. Konyak language share similarities with Garo and Bodo languages than it is to other Naga languages.

Notable people

• Chingwang Konyak (b. 1943), Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha (1980–1984)
• N. Bongkhao Konyak (b. 1977), Politician from Tobu constituency
• Phangnon Konyak (b. 1978), Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha (2022–present)
• P. Paiwang Konyak (b. 1977), Cabinet Minister in Nagaland Legislative Assembly
• Noke Wangnao (b. 1948), Member of Nagaland Legislative Assembly
• W. Wangyuh (b. 1963), Former Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha

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.

External links

• Ethnologue profile