Konyak Naga

The Konyak people, also known as the

Konyak Naga, are a Tibeto-Burmese
major Naga ethnic group in the Northeast
Indian state of Nagaland.[1] 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.[2]
 Konyak Naga
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

Religion

Christianity and Animism

Related ethnic groups

Wancho, Other Naga Ethnic Groups

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

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 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 ethnic members maintain a very

disciplined community life with strict
adherence to duties and responsibilities
assigned to each of them.

Culture

A chief of Konyaks in his traditional outfit

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.

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

References
1. 'Konyak Nagas' by Christoph von Furer-
Haimendorf, (1969)
2. "Portraits of India's last tattooed
headhunters before they disappear" (http
s://qz.com/india/1136007/the-konyaks-o
f-nagaland-indias-famed-tattooed-headhu
nters-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.

External links
Wikimedia Commons has media
related to Konyak Naga.
Ethnologue profile (http://www.ethnolo
gue.com/show_language.asp?code=n
be)

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