List of Naga tribes
is an umbrella term for several indigenous communities in North-East India and Upper Burma. The word Naga originated as an exonym. Today, it covers a number of tribes that reside in Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh states of India, and also in Myanmar.
Before the arrival of the British, the term "Naga" was used in Assam to refer to certain isolated tribes. The British adopted this term for a number of tribes in the surrounding area, based on loose linguistic and cultural associations.
S. R. Tohring lists 66 Naga tribes whereas Kibangwar Jamir lists 67 tribes. The 1991 Census of India listed 35 Naga groups as Scheduled Tribes: 17 in Nagaland, 15 in Manipur and 3 in Arunachal Pradesh.
Naga tribes
Tribe | Country | Recognized as Scheduled Tribe in | Reference for classification as Naga | Comments |
Angami | India | Nagaland | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Anāl | India, Myanmar | Manipur | S.R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Ao | India | Nagaland | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Chakhesang | India | Nagaland | ||
Chang | India | Nagaland | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Chirr | India | Nagaland | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Chiru | India | Manipur | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Chothe | India | Manipur | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Inpui | India | Manipur | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Kharam | India | Manipur | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Khiamniungan | Myanmar, India | Nagaland | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | Also known as Nokow in Myanmar. |
Konyak | Myanmar, India | Nagaland | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Lamkang | India | Manipur | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Lainong | Myanmar | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | Also known as Htang ngan | |
Liangmai | India | Nagaland, Manipur | Part of Zeliangrong | |
Lotha | India | Nagaland | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Makury | Myanmar, India | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | Considered part of Yimchunger in Nagaland, India | |
Mao | India | Manipur | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | Khrasi ] |
Maram | India | Manipur | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Maring | India | Manipur | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Monsang | India | Manipur | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Moyon | Myanmar, India | Manipur | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | Moyon Naga. |
Nocte | India | Arunachal Pradesh | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | Part of Tangshang Naga. |
Para | Myanmar | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | ||
Phom | India | Nagaland | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Pochury | India | Nagaland | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Poumai | India | Manipur | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Rengma | India | Assam, Nagaland | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Rongmei | India | Assam, Manipur and Nagaland | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | Part of Zeliangrong |
Sangtam | India | Nagaland | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Sumi | India | Nagaland | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Tangkhul | India, Myanmar | Manipur | ||
Tangsa | India, Myanmar | Arunachal Pradesh | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | Known as Tangshang in Myanmar |
Tarao | India | Manipur | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Thangal | India | Manipur | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Tikhir | India | Nagaland | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Tutsa | India | Arunachal Pradesh | Robin Tribhuwan, 2005 | It is a sub-tribe of Tangshang Naga. |
Wancho | India | Arunachal Pradesh | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | It is a sub-tribe of Tangshang Naga. |
Yimchunger | Myanmar, India | Nagaland | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | |
Zeme | India | Nagaland, Assam & Manipur | S.R.Tohring | Part of Zeliangrong Community |
Naga tribes with limited recognition
Tribe | Country | State | Reference for classification as Naga | Comments |
Khoibu | India | Manipur | Romesh Singh, 2006 | Also considered as a subtribe of Maring |
Hemi | Myanmar | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | Part of Tangshang Naga | |
Pangmi | Myanmar | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | Part of Tangshang Naga | |
Muklom | India | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | subtribe of Tangsa Naga | |
Rangpang | India | Arunachal Pradesh | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | Also considered as a subtribe of Tangsa |
Ollo | India | Arunachal Pradesh | Also considered as a sub-tribe of Nocte | |
Koki | Myanmar | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | sometimes considered as a subtribe of Somra Tangkhul | |
Longphuri | Myanmar | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | Also considered as a subtribe of Makury | |
Tikhak | India, Myanmar | Arunachal Pradesh | S. R. Tohring, 2010 | Also considered as a subtribe of Tangsa |
Composite tribes or communities
- Chakhesang: Chokri, Khezha and Sangtam combined
- Shepfomei or Shepoumai : Ememei, Lepaona, Chiliivai and Paomata together
- Zeliangrong: Zeme, Liangmai and Rongmei together
- Zeliang: Zeme and Liangmei together are called Zeliang in Nagaland
- Tangshang: A combination term, Tang from Tangnyu Vang and Shang from Shangnyu Vang chieftains, which were formerly known as and includes Heimi, Pangmi, Rangpang, Tangsa, Wancho, Nocte, and Tutsa now.
- Tenyimi: Angami, Chakhesang, Inpui, Mao, Maram, Pochury, Poumai, Rengma, Thangal, Zeliangrong.