Basketry

The forests in Nagaland are rich in Bamboo and cane. Naturally therefore, Nagas are expert basket makers. The craft is restricted to men. Baskets are usually of two kinds, one to be kept in the house for storage purposes and the other to be carried on the back for day-to day use. The Ao (tribe's) basket is conical in shape, while the Angami basket is cylindrical with the mouth slightly wider than the base. Generally all Nagas make their own baskets and there are no professionals. Apart from the baskets, the Nagas also make mats and shields with bamboo. The Changs make attractive chungas or drinking cups. Necklaces, armlets and leggings are made of cane.

Weaving

Naga women are excellent weavers and the colorful shawls, bags and jackets woven by them are extremely popular. The 'backstrap' or the loin loom is commonly used for weaving, although, in recent years the fly shuttle loom has become popular with the weavers. Each tribe uses distinguishing colors and motifs that are often based on tribal folklore. Earlier, natural dyes extracted from barks, roots and plants were used for dyeing cotton yarn and woven fabrics. In addition, woven cloth was embellished with beads, cowrie shells and goats hair to denote the wealth and status of the weaver. Body cloth symbolizing Feast-giving and Head-taking added to the variety of clothes woven on the backstrap loom. The art of weaving is still popular amongst the Naga women, especially in the rural areas and the woven products of Nagaland have found its way into the National as well as International marker.

Woodcarving

Nagas are excellent woodcarvers. Making using of simple rudimentary tools and implements such as the local dao, hand drill and chisel, skilled craftsmen produce great works of art that local adorn village gates and house posts as well as objects of utility like the common wooden dish. One of the finest specimen that epitomizes the skill of the Naga craftsman is to be found at Shangnyu village in Mon District. The work of art at Shangnyu consists of a massive wooden panel that has carvings depicting objects of art as well as those of ritual and utility value. Woodcraft has now been commercialized and craftsmen have been able to use their traditional skills to generate income for themselves. The Diezephe Craft village in Dimapur District is a good example of a cragft concentrated village where the major sourse of income is from woodcraft.

Pottery

Pottery is not very popular and is practiced in very few villages. There is no revolving wheel; the Nagas make their pots by the use of hands only. The craft is restricted to women and the turnover is not large.

Blacksmithy

Blacksmithy, though a comparatively recent craft, is more popular. The smiths produce the normal requirements of villagers like the Dao, axe, sickle, knives, spear points and butts etc. The Konyaks are the best blacksmiths. They make muzzle-loading guns as well. The Lothas regard this trade unlucky and believe that no blacksmith lives long after he stops the work.

Music And Dance

Music is an essential accompaniment to any Genna or festival. The themes have a wide range of variety. They may glorify a tradition, extol a specific act of heroism, narrate an important event of the recent past or relate to a love story. A common musical instrument played by the Nagas is Petu. It is a string instrument. The Angamis and Chakhesangs are particularly fond of it and it is used to give the desired accompaniment to one's voice. Another popular string instrument is Theku. Of the wind instrument, the flute is quite common. In earlier days, the instrument was kept in the Morung only, but now the restriction is not observed. In some tribes, only boys are allowed to play the flute, the girls are debarred lest they seduce the young boys. The trumpet is mostly used by the herds men to scare away wild animals from the cattle. Among the present-day youth, the guitar is very popular. Born and brought up in a Christian atmosphere, the young boys and girls are naturally attracted to western music and instrument.

Dance

Dancing is natural to the Naga tribes. It is full of vigour and vitality. Strangely it is the monopoly of men, except in Zeliang tribe where women join with their men folk in dancing. There is nothing like individual performance. Naga dancing is always in a group. It is difficult to generalize, but roughly it could be said that the artists first slowly enter the arena or stage, make a circle or any other geometrical formation and gradually work up tempo with the stamping of feet, interspersed with clapping and chanting of some formula. The spear, dao or the shield are swung to the rhythm of the dance. After the climax is reached, the tempo is brought down again and there is a satisfying finale. The beauty of the dances is heightened by the colourful costumes. The zeliang dance is particularly artistic. The Zemis of North Cachar hills are very fond of dances. There are a number of dances and each with a different name. They are named after the manner in which hands and feet are executed to resemble the movements of a bird or an insect or an animal. For example, Nruirolians known as 'cock dance' is the dance which resembles the trait of a cock, Gethinglim or 'cricket dance' is a dance in which hands are moved to and fro. Some what resembling the movement of the insect Temangnetin or the 'fly dance'; Hetateulee or the 'bear dance', which was usually done by men when defeating enemies. All these dances are performed with the accompaniment of songs and music. Drums and cymbals are beaten at regular intervals while the singers array themselves on one side or form a circle so as to allow space for the dancers in the centre. Songs which are generally and commonly sung by both young and old alike may be classified as follows.

Songs

Heliamleu or Dancing Songs

They are composed and sung by young and old alike and are usually romantic.

Hereileu or War Songs

Composed by old people about the pride of their life, their bygone days, usually sung in memory of the victory or defeat in war.

Neuleu or Legendry Songs

Composed by old men to commemorate any significant event of the old days or that of a person who had done something notable during his life time.

Hekialeu or Songs about self

These songs are composed by old men of their eventful career while they were young and strong.

Hekialeu or a Duet

Composed by both young and old is sung by young boys and girls together.