View source for Angami Naga

{{Short description|Major Naga ethnic group}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group            = Angami Naga
| image            = 
| caption          = 
| total            = 141,732 (2011 Census)
| total_year       = 
| langs            = [[Angami language#Tenyidie|Tenyidie]], [[Angami language#Keyho|Keyho]], [[Angami language#Dzu-o|Dzu-o]]<br>(Sino–Tibetan)
| rels             = [[Christianity]] (98.22%),  <br>[[Pfütsana]] (0.71%).<ref>Table ST-14, Indian Census of 2001</ref>
| related = other [[Naga people|Naga Ethnic Groups]]
}}
The '''Angamis''' are a major [[Naga people|Naga]] [[ethnic group]] native to the state of [[Nagaland]] in [[North-East India]]. The Angami Nagas are predominantly settled in [[Kohima District]], [[Chümoukedima district|Chümoukedima District]] and [[Dimapur district|Dimapur District]] of Nagaland and are also recognized as one of the ethnic groups in the state of [[Manipur]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes): Order, 1950|publisher=[[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)]]|url=http://lawmin.nic.in/ld/subord/rule9a.htm|access-date=23 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920212634/http://lawmin.nic.in/ld/subord/rule9a.htm|archive-date=20 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Angamis are divided into four regions namely Chakhro Angami, Northern Angami, [[Southern Angami]] and Western Angami. The now separated [[Chakhesang Naga|Chakhesangs]] were previously known as the Eastern Angamis.

== Division ==
The territory of the Angamis is mostly located in the present Kohima, Chümoukedima and Dimapur District of Nagaland with a part of its territory also lying in the [[Senapati District]] of Manipur. The territory is divided into four regions :

=== Southern Angami ===
{{main|Southern Angami}}
This region also known as ''Japfüphiki'' is bounded on the south by the [[Mao Naga]]s, on the southwest by the [[Maram Naga]]s, on the west by the [[Zeliangrong]]s, on the northwest by the Western Angamis, on the north by the Northern Angamis, on the northeast by the [[Chokri language|Chokri Chakhesangs]] and on the southeast by the [[Kheza language|Khezha Chakhesangs]].

'''The towns and villages are :'''
* [[Viswema]], [[Jakhama]], [[Kigwema]], [[Khuzama]], Phesama, Kidima, Mima, Mitelephe, Pfuchama, Kezoma, Kezo Basa, Kezo Town and Sakhabama (formally Chakhabama).

=== Western Angami ===
This region is bounded by the Zeliangrongs on the west, on the southeast by the Southern Angamis, on the east by the Northern Angamis and on the northwest by the Chakhro Angamis.

'''The towns and villages are :'''
* [[Khonoma]], [[Jotsoma]], [[Dzüleke]], [[Sechü Zubza]], Mezoma, Kiruphema, Peducha, Mengoujuma and Thekrejüma.

=== Northern Angami ===
This region is bounded by the Western Angamis on the west, on the south by the Southern Angamis, on the east by the Chakhesang Nagas, the northeast by the [[Sümi Naga]]s, on the north by the [[Rengma Naga]]s and on the northwest by the Western Sümis.

'''The towns and villages are :'''
* [[Kohima]], [[Kohima Village]], [[Chiephobozou]], Chiechama, Nachama, Tuophema, Zhadima, Kijümetouma, Tsiemekhuma, Chüziema, Chedema, Meriema, Nerhema, Gariphema, Dihoma, Rüsoma, Tsiesema, Tsiesema basa, Seiyhama, Botsa and Phekerkrie.

=== Chakhro Angami ===
Mostly settled in the flatlands around the Districts of Chümoukedima and Dimapur.

'''The towns and villages are :'''
* [[Chümoukedima]], [[Medziphema]], [[Sovima]], [[Kirha]], Tenyiphe, Virhazouma, Vidima, Kuda, Rüzaphema, Tsiepama, Pherima, Piphema, Tsiepama, Sirhima, Toulazouma, Phevima, Diphupar and Sodzülhou.

=== Former Eastern Angami ===
The former Eastern Angamis have separated and are now recognised as the [[Chakhesang Naga]]s.

== Culture ==
[[File:Capt. Butler and assembled Nagas.jpg|thumb|Captain Butler and assembled Nagas; seated left to right: Lt. Ridgeway, Capt. Butler, Angami Naga interpreter Sezele of Chephama, Mikir coolie. Standing left to right: Angami Naga, Inspector of Police, Angami Naga Dotsole of Chedema, Angami Naga, [[Rengma Naga]], Commander in Chief Manipur Army, (sacred tree with skulls), ?, 2 Rengma Nagas, Dr Brown - Political Agent, Manipur]]
Traditionally, the Angami Nagas are [[Hill tribes of Northeast India|hill people]] depending basically on cultivation and livestock-rearing. The Angamis are known for [[Terrace (agriculture)|terraced wet-rice cultivation]]; because of this labor-intensive cultivation, land is the most important form of property among them. They are one of the only two groups of [[Naga people|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.

[[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. The youngest male in the family inherits the parental home, ''Kithoki'', which means he is responsible for their care until they pass away.

=== Cuisine ===
[[Rice]] is the [[staple food]] of the Angamis. [[Meat]] is a common main dish served with boiled vegetables as side dishes.

''[[Galho]]'' is a popular Angami cuisine made from a mixture of rice, vegetables and various meats. It uses different kinds of ingredients such as [[Rice]], [[Persicaria chinensis|Chinese knotweed]], [[Pork]] or [[Beef]], various vegetables and so on.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/nagaland/naga-cuisine-organic-is-a-way-of-life-for-nagas-5122068/|title=Naga cuisine: Organic is a way of life for Nagas|date=3 April 2018|website=[[Indian Express]]|access-date=4 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rootsandleisure.com/recipe-of-naga-dish-galho/|title=Recipe of Galho – Yummy Rice Dish from Nagaland|date=30 July 2017|website=Roots and Leisure|access-date=4 May 2022}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
==== Christianity ====
The Angami Christians are composed of five major denominations: [[Baptist]], [[Christian revival|Revival]], [[Roman Catholic]], [[Pentecostal]] and [[Seventh-day Adventist]]. Baptists constitute more than 80% of the total Angami Christian population and all the Baptist churches in their region are under the [[Angami Baptist Church Council]].

==== Other religions ====
Although more than 98% of the Angamis are Christians, they are one of the last Naga tribes having an animist population. The Angami animists practice a religion known as ''[[Pfütsana]]''. According to the 1991 census, there were 1,760 Angami practitioners, but 10 years later the figure had halved to 884.<ref>Table ST-14, Table ST-14a, Census of India 2001</ref> Currently there are several hundred adherents of the ''Pfütsana'' religion, scattered in nine villages of the Southern Angami region of Kohima District.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nscn.livejournal.com/201698.html |title=nscn: Japfuphiki Pfutsana annual feast |publisher=Nscn.livejournal.com |date=2006-03-26 |access-date=2014-06-10}}</ref> A religious organization, ''Japfüphiki Pfütsana'', was founded in 1987 to streamline indigenous religious practices among the Angamis. According to the 2011 Census, 98.62% of the Angami are Christian, 0.47% are Buddhist, 0.37% Hindu, 0.24% Muslim and 0.19% Pfütsana.

=== Festivals ===
==== Sekrenyi ====
{{main|Sekrenyi}}
The Angamis celebrate a ten-day festival called ''Sekrenyi''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nagaland.nic.in/profile/festivals/angami.htm |title=Festival of Angami Naga |publisher=Nagaland.nic.in |access-date=2014-06-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620045852/http://nagaland.nic.in/profile/festivals/angami.htm |archive-date=2014-06-20 }}</ref> (sometimes also called ''Phousanyi'' and ''Sokre–n'' in [[Southern Angami]] ) in February. The term ''Sekrenyi'' literally means sanctification festival ({{transl|njm|sekre}} = sanctification; {{transl|njm|nyi}} = feast; {{transl|njm|thenyi}} = festival). The festival takes places after the harvest and falls on the twenty-fifth day of the month ''Kezei'' (January–February).

==== Te–l Khukhu ====
{{main|Te–l Khukhu}} 
''Te–l Khukhu'' is a festival that falls on 13 July (''Chünyi''). It is a time of giving and sharing of food with each other. This is the only festival dedicated for girls. Gone were the days when different animistic rituals were performed but with the advent of Christianity the rituals were no longer performed. Today it is celebrated as a time of get-togetherness and sharing with the dear and near ones.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://easternmirrornagaland.com/viswema-village-celebrates-te-l-khukhu-festival/|title=Viswema celebrates Te–l Khukhu festival|date=7 July 2017|website=Eastern Mirror Nagaland|access-date=22 December 2020}}</ref>

== Language ==
{{further|Angami language}}
There are several dialects of the Angamis, the most prominent being [[Khonoma|Khwüno Dialect]] (around Western Angami area), [[Kohima Village|Kewhi Dialect]] (in the Northern Angami area) and [[Viswema|Viswe Dialect]] or Keyho Dialect (in the [[Southern Angami]] area). Others include Dzu-o, Chakhro, Mima, Nali, Mozome. Tenyidie is the [[prestige dialect]], used for publications and taught in the schools.

== Notable people ==
{{main|List of people of Angami descent}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File: Angami Naga girl.jpg|Angami Naga girl in her [[Lohe (clothing)|traditional attire]]
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Angami Baptist Church Council (ABCC)|Angami Baptist Church Council]]
* [[Tati (musical instrument)|Tati (musical instrument of the Angami Nagas)]]
* [[Tenyidie language|Tenyidie (Angami Language)]]
* [[Kohima]]
* [[Nagaland]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* 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}}.
* 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.&nbsp;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).
* Joshi, Vibha. ''A Matter of Belief: Christian Conversion and Healing in North-East India'' (Berghahn Books; 2012) 298 pages; a study of Christian conversion and the revival of traditional animist culture among the Angami Naga.
* Rudhardt, J., 1987. ‘Water’, The Encyclopaedia of Religion, vol. 15, ed. by M. Eliade, pp.&nbsp;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.
*Jonathan Glancey.2011.Nagaland- A journey to India's Forgotten Frontier :Faber and Faber .

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Angami Naga}}
*[http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=njm Ethnologue profile]
*[http://www.webindia123.com/nagaland/festival/festivals.htm Web India]

{{Naga tribes}}
{{Hill tribes of Northeast India}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in South Asia]]
[[Category:Naga people]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Manipur]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Northeast India]]