Photo Courtesy: nagalandpost
Kohima: The Writers Collective held the third edition of its Unscripted series at The Book Home in Kohima this Thursday. The gathering spotlighted the oral history and cultural framework of the Tenyimia people. It serves as a bridge between generations. Speaker Medoselhou Keretsü detailed a society once governed by a rigid agricultural calendar and the Tsa Na belief system.
Keretsü explained how these ancient customs prioritized bravery and hospitality long before the arrival of Christianity. He noted that the community held a belief in one supreme being that mirrored later religious principles. Marriage customs remained strict. Proposals required respected emissaries and omens, and women were barred from making the first move.
The session also explored complex funeral rites and the transition to the spiritual world known as Terhuora. Rituals included placing wood chips in the hands of the deceased and providing food for the spirit for 30 days. The community elders enforced a firm justice system. For instance, theft triggered sevenfold compensation, and accidental homicide led to seven years of exile.
Vizovono Elizabeth introduced the event by emphasizing the need to document community wisdom. She stated, “Unscripted is an initiative of the Writers Collective aimed at preserving and promoting Naga literature, oral traditions and storytelling.” The collective has run the Nagaland Literature Festival since 2021 and now turns its focus toward archiving the stories of tribal elders.
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