Angami Naga

Angami

Total population
Approx. 200,000 [1]
Regions with significant populations
India
Languages
Tenyidie (Sino-Tibetan)
Religion
Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Other Naga peoples

The Angamis are one of the major Naga tribes ^[2] of Nagaland, India. They are known for the Sekrenyi celebrations that take place every February.

An Angami Naga

Division

The territory of the Angami's is made up of the present Kohima district, which is divided into four regions:

• Southern Angami (Japfüphiki- Viswema, Khuzama, Kidima, Kigwema, Jakhama, Phesama, Mima, Mitelephe, Pfuchama, Kezoma, Chazuba, Chakhaba, Kezo Town) in the south of Kohima on the foothills of Mt Japfü.
• Western Angami (Jotsoma, Khonoma, Mezoma, Sechuma, Secü-zubza, Kiruphema, Peducha, Mengoujuma, Thekrejü, Dzülake) in the West of Kohima.
• Northern Angami (Kewhima, Chedema, Meriema, Chiechama, Nerhema, Chiephobozou, Tuophema, Gariphema, Dihoma, Rusoma, etc.) in the north of Kohima.
• Chakhro Angami (mostly small villages around Dimapur district, with large villages being Medziphema, Chumukedima, Sovima, Razaphe, etc.; other villages include Piphema, Tsiepama, Kirha, Pherima, etc.)

The former Eastern Angami have separated and are now recognised as Chakhesang.

An Angami Village Chief

Culture and Religion

The Angami Nagas are hill people depending basically on cultivation and livestock-rearing. The Angamis are known for terraced wet-rice cultivation; because of this labor-intensive cultivation, land is the most important form of property among the Angamis. Angamis are one of the only two groups of Nagas out of the seventeen who practice wet-rice cultivation on terraces made on the hill slopes. This allows them to cultivate the same plot year after year. They depend, to a very small extent, on slash-and-burn cultivation. Angamis were traditionally warriors, the Angami men spent majority of their time in warfare with hostile villages and taking heads. Since 1879, when the British succeeded in annexing their territory, the inter-village feuds have come to an end. With the introduction of Christianity in the region several Angamis changed their faith to Christianity.

Angami boys engaged in traditional wrestling

Social stratification is not observed in the Angami community. Traditionally, property was divided equally among sons with daughters also receiving a share; in modern families it is shared among children. Among the Angamis, the youngest male in the family inherits the parental home, Kithoki, which also means he is responsible for their care until they pass away.

Sekrenyi

The Angamis celebrate a ten-day festival called Sekrenyi ^[3] (sometimes also called Phousanyi) in the month of February. The term Sekrenyi literally means sanctification festival (sekre = sanctification; nyi = feast; thenyi = festival). The festival takes places after the harvest and falls on the twenty-fifth day of the Angami month Kezei (January–February)

An Angami Naga, all decked up for Sekrenyi the Angami festival of purification. (Nagaland, NE India)

The festival follows a circle of ritual and ceremony, the first being kizie. A few drops of rice water taken from the top of a type of jug called zumho and are put on leaves. These are then placed at the three main posts of the house by the lady of the household. On the first day, all the young and old go to the village well to bathe.

The Naga men huddle before erupting in a blazing of stomping, shouting, whirling for the annual Sekrenyi Festival in February.

In the night, two young men clean the well. Some of the village youth guard the well, as no one is allowed to fetch water after the cleaning. As women are especially not allowed to touch the well water at this time, they must make sure that water is fetched for the household before then. Early the next morning, all the young men of the village attend the washing ritual. The young men wear two new shawls (the white Mhoushü and the black Lohe) and sprinkle water on their chests, knees, and right arms. This ceremony is called dzüseva (touching the sleeping water); in it, the well water symbolically washes away all their ills and misfortunes.

On their return from the well, a rooster is sacrificed. It is taken as a good omen when the right leg falls over the left leg as it falls down. The innards of the rooster are then hung outside the house for the village elders to inspect. A three-day session of singing and feasting starts on the fourth day of the festival.

An Angami with traditional Spear

The most interesting part of the festival is the thekra hie. The thekra hie is a part of the festival when the young people of the village sit together and sing traditional songs throughout the day. Jugs of rice beer and plates of meat are placed before the participants. On the seventh day, the young men go hunting. The most important ceremony falls on the eighth day when the bridge-pulling, or gate-pulling, is performed and inter-village visits are exchanged. All field work ceases during this season of feasting and song.

Famous people

The following is a list of prominent people belonging to the Angami Naga tribe:

• Lhoulienyü Suokhrie (1900-1939), an early Naga leader, also a signatory in the historic Simon Commission pressing for Naga Independence.
• A. Z. Phizo (1903-1990), Father of Naga Nation.
• A. Kevichüsa (1903-1990), the first Naga graduate and recipient of Member of British Empire (MBE).
• T. Sakhrie (d. 1956), Naga Independence leader and General Secretary of Naga National Council.
• T. N. Angami (1913-), the first Speaker of Nagaland Legislative Assembly and Chief Minister of Nagaland (1966-1969).
• Vizol Angami (1914-2008), first Naga Pilot (Indian Air Force during World War 2) and Chief Minister of Nagaland (1974-1975; 1977-1980).
• Samuel Mezhür Sekhose (1918-1989), an Educationist and the only Indian to receive the British Empire Medal (BEM).
• John Bosco Jasokie (1925-2005), Chief Minister of Nagaland (1975; 1980-1982).
• Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu (b. 1936), veteran politician, writer, scholar and president of the Naga People's Front.
• Rev. Dr. Neiliezhü Üsou (1941-2009), influential Baptist preacher, Church musician and public figure.
• Kiyanilie Peseyie (b. 1947), Speaker of Nagaland Legislative Assembly (March 2003- January 2008; March 2008- Present).
• Neiphiu Rio (b. 1950), present Chief Minister of Nagaland (March 2003- January 2008; March 2008- Present).

See also

• Angami Baptist Church Council
• Tati (musical instrument of the Angami Nagas)
• Tenyidie (Angami Language)
• Kohima
• Nagaland

References

Further reading

• Durkheim, E. and Mauss, 1963. Primitive Classification. (trans. R. Needham), London, Free Press.
• Edsman, C.M., 1987. ‘Fire’, The Encyclopaedia of Religion, vol. 5, ed. by M. Eliade. pp. 340–46. New York, Macmillan Publishing Company.
• Hutton, J.H., 1969. The Angami Nagas, Bombay, Oxford University Press. (first published in 1921 by Macmillan & Co. London).
• Rudhardt, J., 1987. ‘Water’, The Encyclopaedia of Religion, vol. 15, ed. by M. Eliade, pp. 350–61. New York, Macmillan Publishing Company.
• 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.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Angami Naga

• Ethnologue profile
• Web India
• The Angami Fire and Water