Zeme Naga

Zeme Naga is a group of Naga people from northeastern parts of India. They also speak a language of the same name (see Zeme language). Other names include Ozemi, Nzemi, Zeme, Zemai, Zemei, Ziama, Jemi, Yemi, etc. The term "Zainme" means people, but depending on what tribe you belong to different words can mean different things. The Zemes that are inhabiting in Nagaland call themselves Zeliang and those of the Manipur borders are called Zeliangrong. There are many different tribes that speak Zeme Naga even though it is a endangered language. The tribes who still use this language are spread out among different parts of India.

Religious Practices

There are now about three different sections to the Zeme Naga The Pereses – the section of the Zemes who profess the traditional Zeme faith more or less unaltered; the Herakas – the section of the Zemes who profess the reformed brand of the Zeme religion propagated by Jadonang and Rani Gaidinliu, and the Christian coverts. In North Cachar Hills, the majority of the Zemes now profess Heraka. Unlike the Dimasas, the Zemes have never been much influenced by Hinduism until the days of Heraka reforms. Elements from both Hinduism and Christianity have been incorporated among the Zeme Herakas. The Heraka system, which is originally conceived at the socio-religious milieu of Manipur, has absorbed many Hindu as well as Christian elements.""