The Konyaks

The Konyak tribe, once notorious for their headhunting and famous for their facial tattoos, live in the remote North East India and the northwestern tip of Myanmar. The prominent and iconic “specs” facial tattoo of the Konyak men is a depiction of this unique cultural practice that distinguish the Konyaks to the rest of the world. Various other tattoo design patterns on the bodies of both men and women are a direct visual representation of this unique traditional practice. Unfortunately, the living proof today, of this once thriving and unique tattooing culture, is fading by the year.

The book “The Last of the Tattooed Headhunters; The Konyaks” is documenting this unique tattooing culture in depth. The fundaments of the Konyak culture and the tattoos on face and body form an union, they are inseparable. The aim is to keep this culture alive for all