Sema Naga
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 300,000 | |
| Languages | |
| Sumi and other Naga languages | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity; Animism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Naga peoples |
The 'Sumi Naga' is one of the major Naga peoples in Nagaland, India. The Sumis mainly inhabit the Zunheboto district, although many have spread out and inhabit in almost all the other districts within Nagaland. Many go outside Nagaland for education and work.
The Sumi are one of the most united and most aggressive Naga tribe. Since times immemorial, other Nagas have feared the Sumi. Despite their ferocity and aggressive nature in warfare, the Sumi are known for their simplicity and honesty.
The Sumis practised headhunting like other Naga peoples before the arrival of the Christian missionaries and their subsequent conversion to Christianity. Anthropological study of the Sumi is documented in the book The Sema Nagas by J. H. Hutton, who was a Professor of Social Anthropology in the University of Cambridge. The Sumi is one of the recognised scheduled tribes of India.
According to the 2011 census of India, Sumi Nagas number around 300000 in population.
The ancestral religion of the Sumis was the worship of nature. With the arrival of Baptist missionaries in the 20th century, like other Naga tribes, today, Sumis are 99.9% Christians. Very few of them still practice animism.
Sumi Nagas mostly inhabit the central and southern regions of Nagaland. Zunheboto is the district of the Sumis and they also live in districts such as Dimapur, Kohima, Wokha, Kiphire, Mokokchung, Tuensang, etc. There are also seven Sumi villages in Tinsukia District of Assam.
Sumis have two different clan-heads, viz. Swu (Sumi) and Tuku (Tukumi).
The Sumis celebrate many festivals which have been carried down from generations. Most of these festivals usually mark the beginning of new seasons, harvesting of new crops or victory at war. The two major festivals that are currently popular among them are:
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Wikipedia