The Exquisite Basketry of the Angami Nagas

The tribal people of Nagaland live closely with nature. Basket making is a craft that
has been intrinsic to their lifestyle.

Locally available bamboo and cane are fashioned by them into a variety of baskets and containers with specific functions.

Each tribe had its distinct style of basketry, employing different techniques.

Often, the baskets were made for specific purposes relating to local life.

This funnel like basket was used for pouring the grain into the storage basket.

In Khonoma village, one sees baskets in every house.

The baskets are of all sorts, and for various purposes.

Typically, baskets are stored on pegs in the walls or ceilings of the home. Often, they are kept along with other articles of everyday use.

Some earlier types of baskets, such as those made to transport luggage while travelling, have now lost their functional utility. But they are still valued for their craftsmanship and kept for decoration.

Others are made with purposes specific to the lives of the villagers, and continue to be actively used.

Fishing baskets for example, are carried down to the fields and are used to catch fish when the fields are flooded for paddy cultivation.

The khophi is a carrying basket. It has a woven head strap that helps to distribute the load, and leaves the hands free.

In the village, the day starts early. In the early mornings it is as common to see children with school bags as it is to see women with their khophis.

The same baskets are used to bring back the produce in the evening.

The khophi is used by all age groups.

The khodi is a variation of the khophi. It is a larger and wider basket of similar shape.

It is used specifically for carrying, processing or storing grain.

In earlier times, every Naga man wove baskets for his home. With changing lifestyles, this is no longer the case.

Many families now approach skilled basket makers in the village to make baskets for them. This is more so for baskets given as gifts for special occasions.

A finely woven khophi is a work of art. It demands a high degree of skill and great attention to detail.

The few master craftsmen of Khonoma who make the fine khophi command great respect in the village, and their work is much sought after.

Read more about the basketry traditions of Nagaland's Angami tribe here:

- The makers of the Angami Basket
- The making of the Angami Basket