This project documents the endangered brass-working knowledge of the Konyak Naga of Mon District, Nagaland, India. Traditionally, brass objects played important roles in Konyak social life, serving as markers of identity, status, warfare, marriage, and ceremonial exchange. Today, while many of these heirloom material cultures continue to be preserved by families, the knowledge surrounding their manufacture, meanings, terminology, and cultural use is rapidly disappearing.
Working collaboratively with community elders, knowledge holders, and the Konyak Heritage Village Management Board, the project will document the history, production, use, and significance of traditional brass objects across multiple Konyak villages. Documentation will be conducted through interviews, oral history recordings, object-centred documentation, participant observation, high-resolution photography, audio and video recordings, and detailed metadata collection.
Konyak man wearing a traditional brass head necklace, Mon Village, Mon District, Nagaland, India. Historically associated with accomplished warriors, the brass head necklace is now worn during festivals and cultural celebrations as an important symbol of Konyak heritage. Photo credit: Amo Konyak B, 2023.
Traditional Konyak thatched house, Chi Village, Mon District, Nagaland, India. Constructed from bamboo with a conical-shaped roof, this traditional dwelling represents the indigenous architectural heritage of the Konyak Naga. Photo credit: Amo Konyak B, 2023.
Shangnyu Ahng’s House, Shangnyu Village, Mon District, Nagaland, India. The residence of the Pongyin Ahng (King) houses a community museum preserving Konyak artefacts and heirlooms. It is also renowned for its monumental carved wooden panel, measuring approximately 20 feet wide and 10 feet high, featuring intricate motifs that reflect Konyak history, cosmology, and cultural traditions. Photo credit: Amo Konyak B, 2023.
Carved wooden wall at the residence of the Pongyin Ahng (King), Longwa Village, Mon District, Nagaland, India. The carved motifs represent Konyak cultural traditions, beliefs, and social life. Longwa Village lies on the India–Myanmar international border, and the Ahng’s residence is uniquely divided between the two countries. Photo credit: Anden C Konyak, 2025.
Young Konyak men playing the traditional log drum during Aoleang Monyu, Mon Village, Mon District, Nagaland, India. The log drum, typically measuring between 10 and 20 metres in length, is housed within the morung (traditional men’s dormitory) and serves as an important instrument for communication, ritual, and community gatherings. Photo credit: Anden C Konyak, 2025.
Nyen: A spherical brass gong traditionally exchanged as part of the Konyak bride-price. The number of Nyen presented was determined through negotiations and reflected the social standing of the families involved. Photo credit: Amo Konyak B, 2023.
Khapsan: Hand ornament of the Konyak Naga women, made from brass. In the past, it was used as a daily wear ornament. At present, it is used only during festivals and ceremonies. Photo credit: Amo Konyak B, 2023.
Lüngha Yük: This traditional necklace symbolises royalty and was worn exclusively by the Ahngyha (Queen), the wife of the Ahng (King), among the Konyak Naga. Photo credit: Amo Konyak B, 2023.
Konyak man wearing the traditional Menlat Shüoshüoh headgear during Aoleang Monyu, Sheanghah Chingnyu Village, Mon District, Nagaland, India. The headgear, decorated with wild boar tusks and other traditional ornaments, is worn during festivals and ceremonial occasions. Photo credit: Anden C Konyak, 2025.
Khapphuh: Brass armlet. A traditional brass armlet worn exclusively by women of the Konyak royal family as a symbol of status and prestige. Photo credit: Amo Konyak B, 2023.
The project will produce a comprehensive digital record of Konyak brass-working knowledge, including photographs, audio and video recordings, field notes, transcriptions, translations, and metadata. These materials will be deposited with the Konyak Heritage Village Management Board and archived through the Endangered Material Knowledge Programme to support long-term preservation and future access. By safeguarding this endangered material knowledge, the project aims to strengthen community-led heritage preservation and ensure that this important aspect of Konyak cultural heritage is available for future generations, researchers, and the wider public.
PI: Dr. Amo Konyak B
Collaborator: C. Mercy Konyak
Research Location: Mon District, Nagaland, India
Host Institution: Konyak Heritage Village Management Board
C. Mercy Konyak holds a B.Tech. in Civil Engineering. She has experience in ethnographic fieldwork and community-based documentation among the Konyak Naga, including research on marriage systems and traditional material culture. As Co-Applicant, she assists with interviews, oral history documentation, ethnographic recording, data collection, and community engagement for the project.
Top Banner Image: Tobu Jen (Morung) of the Konyak Tobu community at the Konyak Heritage Village, Mon Town, Nagaland, India. Photo credit: Anden C Konyak, 2025.
