Mrs. Mary Megolhusienuo
“Kida Kinyi”, these two logical words derived from the Angami dialect means “Feast of Friendship”. This same feast is also known as “Vitho Rüsie”. According to the Angami tribe of Nagaland, this feast is a reconciliating feast, to promote the spirit of brotherhood and oneness among the people. This practice was initiated some five hundred years ago.
The early days saw villages, clans, groups and even individuals fighting for land, they even robbed and destroyed each other’s property. People fought with daos, spears, stones, etc, as advanced artilleries were unknown to them. Head hunting was a common game among the people. Heads were chopped off without any scruple of conscience, as an act of revenge or to exhibit their power and strength.
With so much violence and corruption pervading the day, it was thought upon by some sensible citizens to create a peaceful atmosphere among the people. Thus, the main concept behind this feast was to do away with all sorts of violence and corruption and to wipe out the evil social structure. It was formulated to bring peace, love, reconciliation and friendship.
“Kida Kinyi”, is a celebration that last for two to three days, where a village/clan go to another village/clan to establish friendship. Everyone come in full traditional attire, equipped either with a gun, a spear or a dao. The most courageous and well-built ones lead the others to the celebration.
The feast begins with the blessing of an elder;
“A dziesie, dziedzü, seico, seicie bu n nhichu khriesa gei pfü kenyü; mu n dziesie, dziedzü, seico,seicie bu rei a nhichu khriesa gei pfüta kenyü” (as told by P. Suokhrie) meaning” my hands, my weapons will not be used against you and neither should you use your hands and weapons against us”. Two elders representing the two villages/clans exchange their spears (these days some exchange Bibles) as a sign of peace and friendship.
When a village/clan go to feast in another village/clan, each participant is invited and taken to a new friend’s house and stays there so long as the celebration last, after which they remain as good/close friends.
The main feast is elated with games like high jump, long jump, fixed jump, shot put etc. however, no game which is likely to hurt the sentiment of the other is entertained. No reward in any form is given to the winner, but his name is glorified over the years.
This particular feast sprouted at a time when the Angamis were worshipping unknown spirits. For every act of violence meted out to them revenge was a must. It was, indeed, a shame not to stand up for revenge. “A tooth for a tooth” was the ideal of revenge. Therefore, the only means to create a serene atmosphere among the people seems to be only through this feast. And true to its concept, it has helped largely in bringing clansmen/villages together and has played a vital role in bridging the gap amidst the divide.
Even after calling ourselves “People of the Bible”, our society is flooded with all forms of evil. Isn’t it time to analyse the steps initiated to establish peace by the different parties and the government and check whether it is applicable to our evil-torn society? Lest we be late and our land becomes a battlefield. If not, how then should we reconcile with each other?
[Mrs. Mary Megolhusienuo, holds a B.Ed degree. She is a Career & Guidance Counsellor for KROS College.]