(Re)awakening of Naga Oral History and Culture: An Interview with Avinuo Kire

Abstract

Naga literary works have their roots in oral traditions which serve as the repository of the Naga people’s Indigenous knowledge, cultural identity, beliefs, customs and festivals despite historical and modern upheavals. Among modern writers of Nagaland, Avinuo Kire is notable for her vivid portrayal of the oral tradition of storytelling that deftly combines Naga mythology, history, and folklore, thus making her works significant for comprehending the tenacity and depth of Naga’s cultural legacy and heritage. In this conversation, Kire talks about her deliberate contribution in positioning the Naga worldview through her writing, subverting prevailing grand narratives that frequently ignore Indigenous history and culture. The interview further emphasizes the significance of indigenous educational systems, such as the Morung, which were formerly essential for passing down traditional knowledge, values, and worldviews. Kire argues for the Morung system, which functions as a place of memory that can support cultural (re)awakening of Naga oral history, even though its traditional significance has been fading due to the arrival of Christianity and the spread of the Western education system in Nagaland.