Relevance of Naga Traditional Institutions of Governance : The Case of Sumi Naga Tribe

This study examines the relevance of the traditional political institution of the Sumi Naga tribe in contemporary times. This paper argues that Chieftainship which is the  traditional political institution of the Sumi Nagas’ have an important role in the village governance despite the adverse impact on the institution due to elements of colonialism and modern democratic institutions. The study found that majority of the people is in favor of the continuation of the Chieftaincy institution. Peaceful governance, stability, culture, identity, institutional trust was some of the reasons highlighted by the respondents for their support towards the traditional institution. However, at the same time, respondents were of the opinion that traditional authorities were not transparent and accountable when it came to the utilisation of development funds. Lastly, people also revealed that governance under the traditional institutions is compatible with democracy due to the presence of democratic features like consensus decision-making process and public participation.

Keywords:
Traditional political institution, Chieftaincy, Sumi, Naga, Democratic governance