Various names have been used for the Zo peoples, but the individual groups generally acknowledge descent from ancestral Zo. Among the more prominent names given to this group are "Chin" and "Lushai", generally in Myanmar, and "Mizo" and "Kuki", generally in India. In the literature, the term Kukifirst appeared in the writings of Rawlins when he wrote about the tribes of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. It referred to a "wild tribe" comprising numerous clans. These clans shared a common past, culture, customs and tradition. They spoke in dialects that had a common root language belonging to the Tibeto-Burman group. The origin of the name "Chin" is uncertain. Later the British used the compound term "Chin-Kuki-Mizo" to group the Kukish language speaking people, and the Government of India inherited this. Missionaries chose to employ the term Chin to christen those on the Burmese side and the term Kuki on the Indian side of the border. Chin nationalist leaders in Burma's Chin State popularized the term "Chin" following Burma's independence from Britain. Beginning in the 1990s, the generic names Chin and Kuki have been rejected by some for "Zomi", a name used by several small groups speaking Northern Kukish languages, including the Zomi. The speakers of the Northern Kukish languages are sometimes lumped together as the Gangte people. Some Zomi nationalists have stated that the use of the label Chin would mean subtle domination by Burmese groups. The term "Mizo", incorporated in the name of the Indian state Mizoram, was also rejected by the Zomi National Congress.
Geography
They are spread out in the contiguous regions of Northeast India, Northwest Burma, and the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. In India, they are most prominent in Manipur, Nagaland, Assam and Mizoram. Some fifty Zo peoples are recognised as scheduled tribes.
Cultures and customs
Like other tribes of the world, Zo people have some cultures, traditions and customs which only Zo people preciously keep and conserve. At the same time, this fact makes Zo generations superior to all other tribes who claim to be Zo descendants. This practice can only be found in Zo generations. There are 12 categories of Zo cultures and customs: Ton, Ton and Han, Ton and Taang Aih, Taang Aih, Kimulvu Khuodo Sielkhup Si Vailhak Si Cieng Aa Diel Khaina Mo Laakna Ai Sanna Nau Aaitahna Zo Traditional Ballads. There are 18 categories of Zo major traditional ballads / songs: Lapi Laguui Si La Si Pusuoh La Daak La Lampisuh La Taang La Lamkiil La Sawlnei La Lakawi Latawm’ Tomun La Tuivai La Loma La / Lakap Tuibuong / Phaaisat La Haaidawi La Sim La Zawl La / Lataang Zo Dances. There are also 10 categories of Zo traditional dances: Khaw Khai Dance Saipi Khupsu Dance Phiit Lam Doldeng Dance Daai Lam Khuongtung Dance Khangtung Dance Lumsui Dance Lamguui Dance Phiit kengpaih Dance. The intention of exposing of these Zo customs and cultures is that Zo people are derived of the Progenitor, Zo with customs and traditions handed down by our forefathers from age to age and at the same time that they also prove the identity of Zo people though many today merely and mistakably interpret Zo in various ways without knowing and understanding of the core meaning of it.
Folktales
All the stories or folktales such as the stories of Cing Khup and Ngam Bawm, Gal Ngam and Hangsai, and Neino le Naltal that are very widely popular throughout the North Western part of Chin state and other parts of the world where Zo people reside were originally written and spoken in pure Zo dialect.
