Southern Angami or ''Japfüphiki'' is a geo-cultural region located in the southern part of

Kohima District Kohima District () is a List of districts of Nagaland, district of the Indian state of Nagaland. It is the home of the Angami Naga, Angami Naga people, Nagas. As of 2011, it is the second most populous district of Nagaland (out of then-List of d ...

in the state of

Nagaland Nagaland () is a landlocked state in the northeastern region of India. It is bordered by the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh to the north, Assam to the west, Manipur to the south and the Sagaing Region of Myanmar to the east. Its capital cit ...

in India with a portion of its territory also lying across the inter-state border in the Senapati District of

Manipur Manipur () ( mni, Kangleipak) is a state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It also borders two regions of Myanm ...

History

Kigwema Kigwema is a village in the southern region of Nagaland, India. It is located in Jakhama Circle of Kohima District. The village is located south of Kohima, the capital of Nagaland. Etymology The name ''Kigwema'' originates from the words ''k ...

and

Viswema Viswema (), is a Southern Angami Naga village located 22 km south of Kohima, the capital of Nagaland, India. With a resident population of 7417, it is the second biggest village in the state and is part of the contiguous built-up of the ...

are considered to be the oldest settlements of the

Angami Naga The Angamis are a major Naga ethnic group native to the Northeast Indian state of Nagaland. The Angami Nagas are predominantly settled in Kohima District, Chümoukedima District and Dimapur District of Nagaland and are also recognized as one ...

s. Numerous villages have branched out from these two ancestral settlements. In 1944, the

Southern Angami Public Organization The Southern Angami Public Organization is a public organization established in 1944. It is the apex public organization of the Southern Angami Naga Naga or NAGA may refer to: Mythology * Nāga, a serpentine deity or race in Hindu, Buddhist a ...

was formed to protect and safeguard the territories of the Southern Angamis.

Geography

Southern Angami region is located on the eastern part of the Barail mountain range with

Mount Japfü Mount Japfü (, ), is a mountain peak of the Barail Range, located in Kohima District Kohima District () is a district of the Indian state of Nagaland. It is the home of the Angami Nagas. As of 2011, it is the second most populous district of ...

above sea level Height above mean sea level is a measure of the vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) of a location in reference to a historic mean sea level taken as a vertical datum. In geodesy, it is formalized as ''orthometric heights''. The comb ...

as its highest point. The region is bounded on the south by the

Mao Naga Mao Naga may refer to: * Mao Naga people (Mao Nagas, Sopvoma Naga people, Sopvoma Nagas, Sopvoma people) - Mao people * Mao Naga language (Mao language, Sopvoma Naga language Sopvoma or Mao is a Sino-Tibetan language of Angami–Pochuri lingu ...

s on the south west by the

Maram Naga Maram may refer to: * Maram people, tribals of northeast India ** Maram language, a Naga language of India * Maram language (Austroasiatic), also of India * Maram (horse) (2006–2012), an American female Thoroughbred racehorse * Maram (drum), a ...

s, on the west by

Zeliangrong Zeliangrong people are one of the major indigenous Naga communities living in the tri-junction of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland Nagaland () is a landlocked state in the northeastern region of India. It is bordered by the Indian states of A ...

s and the Western Angamis, on the north by the Northern Angamis and on the east by the

Chakhesang Naga The Chakhesangs are a major Naga ethnic group found in the Indian state of Nagaland. Chakhesangs were previously known as the former Eastern Angamis, now recognized as a separate ethnic group. The Chakhesangs are divided into two groups know ...

Towns and Villages under Southern Angami

Jakhama Jakhama is a Southern Angami Naga village located 18 km south of Kohima, the capital of Nagaland. It hosts the St. Joseph's College, Jakhama. Demographics Jakhama is located in Jakhama Circle of Kohima District, Nagaland with total 953 ...

Khuzama Khuzama is a Southern Angami Naga village on the inter-state border with Manipur located 28 km south of Kohima, the capital of Nagaland. Demographics Khuzama is situated in Jakhama circle of Kohima District in Nagaland. As per the Popul ...

*Phesama *Kidima *Mima *Mitelephe *Pfuchama *Kezoma *Chakhabama *Kezo Town

Culture

Events

*Hornbill Festival The Hornbill Festival is held every year at Kisama in the month of December. The festival is considered to be the biggest in

Northeast India , native_name_lang = mni , settlement_type = , image_skyline = , image_alt = , image_caption = , motto = , image_map = Northeast india.png , ...

. *St. Joseph's College, Jakhama Spring Fest The St. Joseph's College, Jakhama Spring Fest is the biggest college fest in Nagaland.

Local festivals

* ''Te–l Khukhu'' ''Te–l Khukhu'' is a festival that falls on 13 July (''Chünyi''). It is a time of giving and sharing of food with each other. This is the only festival dedicated for girls.Sothu, Neithono.: ''Resurgence'', 2013. Viswema Students' Union. Viswema. pp. 36–37.

Places of interests

* Dzüko Valley *

Mount Tempü Mount Tempü is a peak of the Barail Range rising at the mountainous border of the Indian states of Manipur and Nagaland. With a height of 2994 m above sea level, Tempü is the highest peak in present day Indian state of Manipur and the second high ...

* Teyozwü Hill

Education

Southern Angami region is home to some of the most prestigious educational institutions in Nagaland.

College and University

* St. Joseph's College, Jakhama * Japfü Christian College, Kigwema

Schools

* John Government Higher Secondary School, Viswema *St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School, Viswema *Viswema Baptist School, Viswema *Loyola School, Jakhama *St. Paul School, Phesama

Politics

Southern Angami region of Kohima district assumes significance in the history of

Nagaland Legislative Assembly Nagaland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the Indian state of Nagaland. Nagaland became a state of India on 1 December 1963 and after election in January 1964, the first Nagaland Legislative Assembly was formed on 11 Februa ...

as it produced the first opposition leader

Vizol Angami Vizol Vitso-n Koso (16 November 1914 – 3 March 2008) was an Indian politician from Nagaland who served as the 4th Chief Minister of Nagaland twice from February 1974 until March 1975 and November 1977 until April 1980. He became the Chief Min ...

in 1964. The region is divided into two constituencies namely 14 AC Southern Angami—I and 15 AC Southern Angami–II.

References

{{reflist Kohima district Geography of Nagaland Geography of Manipur Senapati district