The Legend of Ungma

Closing Note. 37TH OKM. Ungma 17-19 Jan 2018 Legends have it that from Chungliyimti the whole Ao community migrated westwards by constructing a cane bridge over the Tsula (Dikhu) river. Soon after they landed at Tubalongla on the other side of the river bank. The Ao’s came to Aonglenden (Mokokchung district) and on their arrival, ten sons were born on that very night. Therefore to mark the great event, the place was called Soyim. To necessitate the ‘elixir of life’, a source for water was created after the Aos settled at Aonglenden, the pond in known by the name ‘Yimtenta Tzubo’. The Unger (Chief) of Soyim, was taken by a tiger at ‘Ngaren Tzubo’. In order to let the dew drops cleanse the place, the population left Soyim temporarily and went in search for a place where the suns first light fell upon to a place called Kordang, From that moment and the place, where the Unger (Chief) Ngarensang disappeared, the place came to be known as ‘Ngaren Tzubo’. The Aos then returned back from Kordang to their first settlement to the south and founded Ungma, thus Soyim became Ungma meaning Ung (Chief) and ma (lost). From Ungma the Ao population gradually dispersed further and established more and more villages. It is believed that the event of the settlement of Aos in the present territories indicates that there are a number of sites and places still bearing testimony of the Ao history. The present day Ungma has been distributed into 10 (ten) sectors. 1. LOZUTANGKANG 2. TONGPANG 3. AONGLENDEN 4. MEKUMPONG 5. YIMSEN 6. LENYONG 7. MANGKUTERONG 8. YIMSONKONG 9. MONGSEN 10. AOLIJEN