Konyak

Konyak refers to the Konyak people, an indigenous ethnic group of Nagaland, India. They are concentrated in Mon district and adjacent areas and are one of the principal Naga communities. They speak the Konyak language, a Sino-Tibetan language with several dialects; many Konyak people are bilingual in Nagamese, Assamese, or English.

Historically, some Konyak communities practiced headhunting, a practice that drew attention from neighboring groups and colonial authorities. After contact with Christian missionaries and the British administration, headhunting declined and largely ceased by the mid-20th century.

Today, the Konyak are predominantly Christians, with Baptist denominations especially prominent; a portion of the population maintains indigenous beliefs alongside or before conversion. The community is organized around villages and kinship groups, with traditional leadership and councils playing a role in local governance.

Economically, Konyak communities are primarily agrarian, cultivating rice, maize, millet, and vegetables, with shifting cultivation (jhum) in some areas. Trade, crafts, and cross-border exchange also contribute to livelihoods.

The Konyak contribute to Nagaland's cultural life through traditional festivals and participation in state-wide events such as the Hornbill Festival. In India, they are recognized as a Scheduled Tribe, and their language and customs form part of Nagaland's diverse cultural mosaic.