Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Naga (people)
The Naga people of two million is found in Nagaland, parts of Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar. Of mixed Yunnanese, Burmese, Malayan, Aryan and Negroid origin, they speak tribal dialects belonging to the Tibeto-Burman family.
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Tribes
They are divided into 30 odd tribes, many of whom are found outside Nagaland.
- Angami
- Ao
- Chakesang
- Chang
- Katcha
- Khiamnungan
- Konyak
- Liangmei
- Lotha
- Phom
- Pochuri
- Mao
- Maram
- Nocte
- Poumei
- Rengma
- Rongmei
- Sangtam
- Sema
- Tangsa
- Thangkul
- Tutsa
- Wancho
- Yimchunger
- Zemi
- Zeliangrong
History
The Naga have traditionally practiced their Animistic religion and are known for being warlike and barbaric people. Fundamentalist Baptist missionaries first arrived in the 19th century have since then converted the vast majorty of the Naga to Christianity.
Culture
Tatooing and dormitories plays a major role in their traditional culture, although this practice is in decline. Headhunting, which was once widely practiced, has been banned since 1991.
Religion
The Naga are in Manipur and Nagaland are mainly Baptist Christians as a result of British missionaries and the later American intervention, which has led to a tear in their ethnic identity ever since they shed their traditional norms. This has led to formations of Naga fundamentalism and Naga-based militant groups such as those of NSCN, which intends to convert the Animist Naga to Christianity and the formation of a larger Nagaland. As of today, almost all Naga in Nagaland are Christians.
The majorty of the Naga tribes in Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar remains loyal to their Animistic faith, although militant and missionary intervention in the recent years are converting them to Christianity.
Some of the Nocte are followers of an Animistic form of Hinduism. Theravada Buddhism are also followed by a small number of people, notably the Tangsa.
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