Konyak Naga


The Konyaks are a major Naga ethnic group native to the Northeast Indian state of Nagaland. They inhabit in 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

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. 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'. 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, brasswork, and gunpowder making. Members of a village were asked to urinate in one particular place for months. Urine contains 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. The Konyaks are also known for making excellent machetes and wooden sculptures.

Festival

Aoleang is a festival celebrated in the first week of April to welcome the spring and also to invoke the Almighty's 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.

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