Neiliezhü Üsou (7 July 1941 – 30 January 2009) was an influential Baptist minister and public leader from the North-Eastern state of India, Nagaland. He belonged to the Angami Naga tribe and hailed from Nerhema Village in Kohima district, Nagaland, India. He was well known for his interpretive skills, powerful sermons and involvement with the State Government.
Neiliezhü Üsou was born on 7 July 1941, in Nerhema village, in Kohima District. His father, Putsolie Üsou, was the village head. His early education was the village primary school. He came from a non-Christian family, and was inspired to become a missionary by witnessing B. I. Anderson, an American missionary, and his wife playing piano accordion during their visit to Nerhema Village Baptist Church in 1951, led by Kenneth Kerhüo. He took water baptism on 13 March 1953, from Rev. Kevizelie.[1] He joined the Naga National Movement and went underground for sometime. He resurfaced and continued his schooling in Government High School, Kohima. He joined Eastern Theological College (ETC), Jorhat, Assam and did his Bachelor of Theology from 1960 to 1964. Seeing his interest in Music he was sent to Leonard Theological College (LTC), Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh by an American missionary, Dr. Frederick S. Downs,[2] where he did his Religious Education in Church Music from 1964 to 1965.[1]
Üsou joined Baptist English School, Kohima as teacher for sometime and married the youngest daughter of Rev. Zhapuzhülie Sekhose, Rüülhou-ü, on 18 December 1965, at the age of 24.