Who Are the Naga?
The Naga are a collection of Tibeto-Burman ethnic groups inhabiting the mountainous region where India, Myanmar, and China meet. Approximately 2.5 million Naga live across Nagaland and neighboring Indian states, with significant populations in Myanmar's Sagaing Region. The Naga comprise over 60 distinct tribes, each with its own language, traditions, and territory. Historically fierce warriors known for headhunting, the Naga have fought for independence since India's 1947 partition. Despite conversion to Christianity and modernization, Naga maintain distinctive tribal identities and continue one of Asia's longest-running insurgencies.
Headhunting and Warrior Tradition
Until the early 20th century, Naga warriors practiced headhunting—taking enemy heads as trophies that conferred spiritual power and social status. Success in warfare determined men's standing; elaborate tattoos and ornaments marked kills. Inter-village raids were common, and villages fortified themselves against attack. British colonizers suppressed headhunting, and Christian missionaries condemned it as barbaric. Yet the warrior ethos persisted, channeled into the independence struggle. Naga insurgent groups have fought continuously since 1947, making this one of the world's longest-running guerrilla conflicts.
Tribal Diversity
The Naga umbrella covers remarkably diverse groups including the Angami, Ao, Konyak, Sema, Lotha, and dozens more. Each tribe has its own language (often mutually unintelligible), territory, and customs. Traditional dress, rituals, and social organization differ dramatically. The Konyak were among the most prolific headhunters; the Angami built impressive terraced rice fields. This diversity has complicated Naga nationalism—some tribes prefer autonomy to unity. Yet pan-Naga identity, strengthened through shared Christian faith and political struggle, has grown through the independence movement.
Conversion to Christianity
American Baptist missionaries arrived among the Naga in the 1870s, and today over 90% of Naga are Christian—one of the most Christian regions in Asia. Conversion brought literacy, education, and new social norms that transformed society. Churches replaced traditional morungs (youth dormitories), and Christmas became the year's major celebration. Christianity also provided common ground across tribal divisions. Yet tension exists between Christian identity and traditional practices. Some Naga seek to revive pre-Christian traditions; others see Christianity as authentically Naga after 150 years.
The Hornbill Festival
The Hornbill Festival, held each December in Kohima, Nagaland, showcases Naga culture to domestic and international audiences. Named for the hornbill—a culturally significant bird featuring in Naga headdresses—the festival brings together all Naga tribes for performances, competitions, and displays of traditional culture. Warriors don traditional regalia, tribes perform distinctive dances, and craftspeople demonstrate traditional skills. The festival represents official efforts to preserve and promote Naga heritage while building tourism. It also demonstrates how "tradition" can be performed and marketed in contemporary contexts.
References
- Longkumer, A. (2010). Reform, Identity and Narratives of Belonging: The Heraka Movement in Northeast India
- Joshi, V. (2012). A Matter of Belief: Christian Conversion and Healing in North-East India
- Ao, T. (2006). These Hills Called Home: Stories from a War Zone