JaiLai and Grand Sons JaiLai, a former Head Hunter from Lungwa Village poses for a portrait next to his grand sons in his home. It's been years since the tradition of tattooing disappeared, it ended when the headhunting times stopped with the coming of Christianity. Other traditions are also coming to an end like the way their houses are being built. Today more and more houses are built using tin roofs, nevertheless some still construct in the traditional way; there stacks of palm leafs will be used to repair their roof. Lungwa, Nagaland, India.
×Under Our Skin
It’s long ago that headhunting raids came to an end in Nagaland hill territories. The tattoos in their skins are reminders of those violent times, but also proof of their culture and rich traditions. Animist Konyak tribes have been exposed to radical changes in their recent history, including British colonialism, the coming of Christianity in a very aggressive way and lately the rush of technology into their lives, putting their identity in jeopardy.
In this odd and ever changing environment, still their deep-rooted traditions persist in Konyak’s daily life; it’s a silent struggle against what has been imposed to them; a false sense of belonging to a world that has been sold to them as the right one.
The fight is unbalanced, filled with false promises that do not address the real problems in this isolated communities, or deals with them in a precarious way.
As with countless other cultures, it seems inevitable that the ink in their blood will dilute and so will their incredible traditions, to merge into a globalised standard of living.
Proselytizing sign of the Baptist Christian Church in a street in Wakching Village, Nagaland. Different signs and symbols are all over the villages.
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Villagers from Lungwa smoke opium, heavily introduced by the British in colonial times. Widely popular in the Konyak communities, specially the ones close to the border with Myanmar. Lungwa, Nagaland, India.
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The leg of of cow was brought to a family house in Shiyong Village. There is a big meat eating culture in Nagaland. Sometimes in special occasions there will be sacrifices of animals to serve the spirits, even though about 95% of the population is Baptist Christian, and this practices are forbidden by christianity. Shiyong Village, Nagaland.
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An old Photograph of a villager next to precarious electric installations in a house near Shiyong Village. Nagaland. Life has definitely changed in this isolated communities with the coming of electricity. At the same time the coming of television has changed the way the families interact amongst them, becoming the center of social conversation and daly life.
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Children watch a game of La Liga Espanola (Spanish League) at a family members house. Shiyong Village, Nagaland.
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A man stares out of his home by night in Shiyong Village, Nagaland. Is not long ago that permanent power arrived to this village. The coming of electricity is reshaping the way families interact and socialize.
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Honngo (72 ) the Head Pastor at the Village of Longwa with a Konyak parishioner. The pastors' tatoo reveals his past as a warrior and Animist. Today he spreads the word of Jesus in his Village in a Baptist Church. Konyak tribes in the State of Nagaland have been exposed to radical changes in their recent history, including British colonialism, the coming of Christianity in a very aggressive way.
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A devote young Baptist Christian woman attends service at Lungwa Village Baptist Church. More than 90% of the population in this village is said to be Christian Baptist. Most of the activities of the community will be organized by the church, including the labour in the fields, where part of the money will go to the church.
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Chingten Konyak (29) poses for a portrait taken in his home in Wakching Village. He is a devoted christian Baptist, who studied Technical Forestry in the state university of Assam. Wakching Village, Nagaland.
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Children look back during christian service at Shiyong Village Baptist Church. Nagaland.
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Khampai Müjah Ho (93), an ex Naga warrior, sits at his son's house in Chingdang Village, Nagaland.
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