Fiber Wall Art

650. Authentic rare Naga Khiamungan man’s extra large nettle fiber body cloth
body cloth. The piece is 78 inches long and 51 inches wide. It is in excellent
condition considering its use and age which is estimated to be early to mid
1900’s. It does have ware and some stains commensurate with age and use.

Please note that the designation “Authentic” means that the piece was made by
the Nagas and used by them in their actual ceremonies and not made for tourists.

Nagaland has a rich diversity of ethnic groups, languages and religions. More
than 80% of the population lives in small, isolated villages and practice their
own rituals and traditions that have been existing since centuries. The Nagas
are said to belong to the Indo-Mongoloid stock, a race whose presence was first
noted ten centuries before Christ, at the time of the compilation of the Vedas.
The Nagas are mostly Christians.

Naga Features: The Nagas are usually medium sized. The nose is flat, eyes
curved, complexion fair, and hair straight. Men are muscular and women are
usually short. One unique feature of the Nagas is that they wear conical red
headgear decorated with wild boar canine teeth and white black Hornbill
feathers, the spear with the shaft decorated with red black hairs and the
unique dao with broad blade and long handle. Both men and women wear
traditional Naga jewelry. Naga shawls are very famous among the tribes.
Tattooing is customary among the tribes.
Nagaland Culture

The tribes of Nagaland are unique in their culture and traditions. The tribes
are excellent and skilled craftsmen. Naga tribes are known for being hard
working and laborious. They are known for making exquisite bamboo and cane
products, weaving and wood carving. The Nagas are expert in basketry, weaving,
woodcarving, pottery and metal work. Agriculture is the main occupation of the
people. Rice, millet and Taro potato are grown by the people.

The tribes of Nagaland are very fond of dance and music. Music forms an
essential parts of their lives. There are different traditional dances and
music of the different tribes. The music of is characterized by folk songs and
music accentuated by traditional instruments.

People of Nagaland are also famous for celebrating numerous seasonal fairs and
festivals. All the tribes celebrate their own distinct festivals with dance and
music. The most important festivals celebrated by the tribes include Sekrenyi,
Moatsu Mong, Suhkruhnye, Bushu, Yemshe, and Metumniu among others.

The food of the Naga tribe consist of rice, millet, vegetables, fish, meat,
Naga chilly and chutney.

Nagaland Village System: The tribes live mainly in villages. For the Nagas
family is the most important institution. Women are treated equally with men.
Nagas are traditionally and tribally organized with a strong warrior tradition.
Head hunting is an important aspect of the people. Most of the houses of the
Nagas have skull displaying their warrior qualities.

Different Tribes of Nagaland: Nagaland is home to some 16 different kinds of
tribes with distinct and fascinating cultures. Each of the Naga tribe is
divided into as many as twenty clans. The Nagas speak 60 different dialects.
The prominent tribes are Angami, Ao, Chakhesang, Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak,
Lotha, Pochury, Phom, Poumai, Rongmei Naga, Rengma, Sangtam, Sema, Mao and
Zeliang among many others. The languages of the Nagas may vary from
Angami-Pochury, Ao, Kukish, Sal, Tangkhul and Zeme branches of Tibeto Burman.

Some important tribes are:

Angami Naga: The Angami Nagas are one of the major tribes of Nagaland. The
Angamis mainly celebrate the Sekrenyi festival. They are basically hill people
and depend on agriculture for their mode of livelihood. 98 % of the Angamis are
Christians.

Ao Naga: Ao Nagas are another major tribes in Nagaland. They reside mainly in
Tsula to Tsurang in Mokokchung district. The Ao Nagas are known for the
celebration of different harvest festivals. The Aos are primarily Christians.

Chang: Changs are one of the recognized Scheduled Tribes in India. The
traditional territory of the Chang lies in the Central Tuensang district. About
99 % of the Changs are Christians. They speak the Chang language and the Chang
people are very fond of music and dance. They celebrate Christmas, Naknyu Lem,
Poang Lem, Jeinyu Leam and so many other festivals with fanfare and gaiety.

Konyak: Konyak have the largest populations among the Nagas. They are found in
the Mon district of Nagaland. They are famous for their tattoos all over their
faces and hands.

Lotha: Lotha is also a major Naga tribe and reside in the Wokha district. They
are popular for traditional dance and folk songs.

Sumi: Sumi Nagas are one of the major Naga tribes. They mainly inhabit in the
Zunheboto district. 99 % of the Sumis are Christians. Tuluni and Ahuna are the
most important festivals of the Sumis.

Yimchunger: Yimchunger is a minor Naga group. Metmneo festival is celebrated
by the Yimchunge people.

Khiamniungan: Khiamniungan is comparatively a minor Naga group. They mainly
reside in the Tuensang district in Nagaland. Miu festival and Tsokum festival
are the most important festivals celebrated by this tribal group. (Source:
India on line)

Tangkhul: Tangkhul is a Naga tribe living in the Indo-Burma border area
occupying the Ukhrul district in Manipur, India and the Somra Tangkhul hills
(Somra tract) in Upper Burma. Despite this international border, many Tangkhul
have continued to regard themselves as "one nation".[1]

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.(Source: Times of India)