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One thing that does not
change is the magic the old culture including the way of living of Lao
people is the thing that the world tourists wish to see...
AKHA
ETHNIC TRIBES
IT
was the 2nd of June,2000 as I reached Nam Dath village (8 km. from
Muong Sing District, Luang Namtha Province at the boundary post Pang
Thong Lao-China) home of the ethnic Khor group. I was taken here today
upon my curiosity in a wedding ritual among the khor group (rituals
differ among ethnic groups). The ethnic Khor group once
originally called "Akho" or "Akha" meaning "older brother" in Lao. The
ethnic minority group khor immigrated from Nan China about 500 years
ago due to war among the Han and various tribes, entering the Lane
Xang Kingdom of Laos through the southwest. Upon entering Laos, the
Khor group divided into two tribes; the first tribe moved to Ta Xieng
Kan and settled in Ban Som Y Khao (presently known as Moung Sing
District, Luang Namtha Province). The second tribe moved to Ta Don
Chai Sombankoao (presently known as Muong Sing District, Luang Namtha
Province). The Khor group establish themselves within Luang Namtha and
Phongsaly Province, estimated at about 58,500 (in 1995) making up
about 1.64% of the total population in Laos
The ethnic Khor group is further divided into these tribes: Khor Pho
Xang, Debia, Loma Eupa, Mu Kuew, Sila, Jijo, Hayi, Ker, Kampe and with
the most members, Khopuly. The main occupation of the Khopuly tribe
is cultivation. They are active in agriculture; soy bean, gna
potatoes, cassava potatoes and sometimes opium. They also herd cattle,
raise pork and chicken. The women of the Khopuly tribe are skilled in
weaving, knitting and ornamental sewing, while the men are excellent
woodcrafters. the men are often dressed in baggy pants, dark brown
long sleeved shirt, with silver ornaments as buttons. The women are
dressed in 3 traditional costumes; a blouse bearing the shoulders with
ornaments along the chest, long sleeved shirt with knitting on the
sleeves and at the bottom, a sleeveless blouse with ornaments all worn
with a short dress. They also wear knitted black bands around the
legs, and a cap with special knitting, which differentiate children,
young women, housewives, widows and divorcees.
The wooden gate entering Nam Dath village composed of weaponry
including daggers, swards, spheres, muskets and the male and female
genitalia all made out of wood to ward off evil spirits from entering
and doing harm to the people and animals within the village. Each year
a different symbol is added, creating eeriness to those who come upon
it. Entering through the gate, we came upon a rather large village
yard with a bench in the middle, with its leg stuck to the ground. It
was where the opposite sex would meet. The relationship among couples
before marriage is carried out openly in the middle of the yard, it is
prohibited by tradition to meet one another at home. The village yard
is also used as a place for village meeting and a place to hold
traditional folk singing and dancing. Besides the yard stood a single
roomed shanty with a bed, provided by the male to engage the
relationship among he one he has chosen through a mutual agreement.
I met an elderly of the Khor group (who spoke Lao rather well), who I
questioned for further information. In each of the many ethnic Khor
village, a youth member is appointed to preside over other male and
female youths. t the age of 14, both members of the opposite sex are
given the right to meet one another and commit to marriage, The
parents of the teenaged male are responsible for building the shanty
for their son to copulate with his loved one. Once at this age Khor
women rarely sleeps at home, she either spends the night with her mate
or with a divorcee or widow. This is considered to be one's freewill
in finding a husband. In this preliminary period, sleeping with each
other gives the benefit of coming to know one another both physically
and mentally, to the point where the couple agrees to be husband and
wife. Or they may discontinue their relationship, if she is not
pregnant. A male member from one village may seek a partner within
another village by explaining his purpose to the appointee, who will
then grant him permission to meet each other at the bench in the
village yard (if the person he wishes to see already as a partner then
he does not have to right). Other than meeting each other in the
village yard, he also has the right to sleep in the shanty (whether or
not a local villager will lend him their shanty is another question in
mind, that person must be very open hearted). under the condition that
another village enters without permission and is caught with the
opposite sex, both sides will be punished and beaten.
Pregnancy is anticipated and considered faithful among Khor women
(pregnancy is concluded by marriage). On the other hand, if she is
pregnant and unwilling to admit who is the father of the child, she is
taken away the right to give birth in the village, she must give birth
in the forest. Having twins is equally impermissible. Due to the
nature of tradition, both genders of the Khor group must take into
great consideration about love and marriage. An opportunity to spend
ones life together till death involves an enormous amount of
responsibilities. Up until this point, marriage among different
members of the Khor group is very rare, they only marry among Khor
group members.
TONGLUONG
ETHNIC
The Tongluong ethnic tribe of Laos is divided in 2 groups : the
first one is located in Sayabouly province and the second one is
located in the province of Khammouane and Boli Khamsay. In Sayabouly,
they live in Bane Saphoung, Bane Kikkieng and Bane Navene, which are
in the district of Phieng. There are 24 people in this group and they
are called the MARABRI. In Kamou language, MARA means person and BRI
means forest. Those who live in Khammouane and Bolikhamsay are called
ARI, which means the forest people.
In general, the Lao call them the forest people. Tongluong and
Khakankae do not wear clothes and sleep without mosquitoes nets. They
are so bitten by mosquitoes that their skin appears like gecko skin.
TongLuong tribes include Khamaleng, Katanoud, Navang, Thaphaibane and
Khamaka. Within their own, they are know as the Arem to the Makong and
Tri ethnic Phitongluong by the Thais. While the Ruk, the Chud and the
Mai by the Vietnames. French researchers often identify them as the
Kha PhonesoungPhone xouang, the KhatavungThaveng and the Khadanelai.
The Thongluong are the only tribes without a permanent home. They
built their houses with green leaves and when these leaves become
yellow, they move on. They are not cultivators nor do they breed but
they raise dogs to hunt and to protect them. In Khammouane, you find
them in boualapha and in Nakai Districts. In Boualapha,there are a
settlement of 30 families and 96 people. They live in the mountains
and in the caves in Thongkham sub-district, Khetphasong and Banggnao
in Tasseng Bane Douthongsam. It takes about 7 days by foot Banedou
Village to reach their village. From their village, it takes another 6
days walk to reach the Vietnamese border. In Nakai, there are only 9
families located in the jungle of Tasseng Tanoud, Songkhone, Tanoudtha
and Navanhao.The families living in Tasseng Navang live in BaneSavage.
In Bane Phangdeng neua, Bane Navang and Bane Make. These villages are
on the foot of Mount PhouArk and at the border with Vietnam in Bane
Savang, in Bane Phangdeng neua, Bane Navang and Bane Make. These
villages are on the foot of Phou-Ark mountain and at the border with
Vietnam.
The eleven families living in the districts of Boualapha and Nakai
have just moved from the jungle to villages. The others still live in
Bane Kenglek, Bane Kengdao and Bane Nam-One in the district of Nakai.
In Bolikhamsay, the Tongluong live in Gnouahong caves at the
Lao-Vietnamese border of Banexieng, Nasong and Kamkeut district. They
were found there between 1964 and 1967.Today, only 6 families are
still living in the forests, While their relatives of 20 families have
moved and settled with the Lowlanders. In Vietnam, the Tongluong live
at the foot of Kuangbin-Hueting. The Tongluong usually live in a group
or in a village of the same blood affiliation and they are governed by
a chief. Each group has its own lifestyle and does not interfere in
others territory. As they move from places to places they build a
small hut of which the roofs are covered with Kho tree, Bay Seuua or
Banana leaves. Members of the same family sleep together on a
temporary mattress of leaves on the ground. They use knives, spades,
spears, arrows and nets. They eat everything they catch in the forest
or in the rivers by cooking them simply by putting a fire or in a
bamboo tube that they transpose onto the fire.
During the winters, they light up a fire camp and sleep around it.
Their clothes are made of the barks of Puakmong Trees. They speak a
language similar to Mon-Khmer, and old Khmer language. In Sayabouly,
their language is similar to Kamou and Lava. While in Khammouane, it
is similar to the inhabitants of Phamouang, Phaohouane and ToumLira
language, which are closed to old Vietnamese. They really have an
unique culture. Kapteuam is their favorite folksong and their
instruments are the Katipo, the Xo and the flute. Traditionally, their
music and dance are performed during their new year festival during
the worship ceremonies to their ghosts. The wedding ceremony is
conducted very modestly. The young couple, once having agreed to get
married have their parents organize a dinner and handmade alcohol.
These is no gift of money. Once married, couples can not separate, nor
remarry. In case of the death of a spouse, it is required that the
widow builds a new hut and live there with the children until he/she
remarries. A remarriage must be given permission by the parents and
it is impossible to marry a person of the same blood.
When a woman delivers a child, during the period of pregnancy, she has
to live in a separate hut where only her husband and her daughters are
allowed to take care of her. When somebody dies, the corps is buried.
If the body is too heavy, then the family members will bury it in the
hut and burn it. After the death of any family member, the rest of the
family will move away and settle somewhere else. They worship their
ancestors, the spirits of the jungle, of the earth and of the sky.
They believe the spirits or the ghosts can help them find food and
prevent them from disease and sickness. To worship the spirit of fire,
of the bear and of the tiger, they sacrifice monkeys, squrels, kadeng
or mice and give some alcohol. They believe in black magic to prevent
and cure sickness, to drive a bad spirit away, to call for love and to
become a good hunter. If one, can learn from 9 different teachers,
then one can become a witch doctor. The Tongluong belong to the family
of Negroid or Negro Polynesian. They have dark skin and lived in the
island by the sea. Their height id 1.50 meters tall. Their cheeks or
front head are large, with a small nose, black curly hair and eyes
color discovered in Souvan-naphoum over 3,000 years ago.
XAETAY
ETHNIC TRIBES
" Bounchieng Pimai
Phattaithaochuneneu ! "
You may hear these above
words expressing best wishes from the tongues of Thai dam people
during their new year days. Bounchieng Pimai begins in the first
waning moon of the third month of each year. There is no any legend
about Thai dam new year but it can be imagined that Thai dam gained
the culture from China and Vietnam.
Speaking about the New Year Festivals, many ceremonial rites are
familiar but some have its own specific characteristics. To enjoy the
New Year day, Thai dam prepare the food particular, chickens, pigs and
coconut cakes, jars of alcohol, white alcohol and so so. However one
day before the due date, the merry night on desserts cooking is
performed. It is the naught to say good-bye to the old year till the
New Year. Traditionally in the new Year day, main offering food to
sacrifice their ancestors, ghosts of the village and the house must be
prepared by the pork, chickens. Besides these the boil rice cakes,
white alcohol, desserts and other kind of food are also offered. To
begin the worship, firstly they light the candles and pray to invite
the ghosts to come for eating then request for the best wishes from
the deads to take care of their lives as they wish.
Thai dam religion and belief is animism because their main beliefs are
the spirits and the super power. They believe that the word is under
the power of spiritism. The ghosts can make good and bad for instance
: Phifa, Phithene and Phimuong, ghost of ancestors, forest ghost,
Phikhouang and others. Thai dam people respect that Theme god is
the person who creates the people to be born. The human bodies have 32
souls. The souls are invisible but can make the bodies to be alive,
can move and works. If the souls have gone to the bad ways, the owners
of the souls will get sick or cannot live happily. Whenever gotten
frightened or sick, Thai dam have to arrange a Baca ceremony "Sonekhuane"
to collect the soul, "Hiakkhouane" to call the souls to be back to
their bodies.
To perform the religious rite, Thai dam people use the priest as the
organizer. The priest is the person who knows the language, procedures
and traditions. In the ancient time the priest is succeeded from the
"Lean" family. Old Thai dam saying " Lean hat moor Lo hat than ".
Means Lean works as priest and Lo works as leader. So these families
are their leaders. Old tradition noted that the chief of the district
was the responsible person who appointed the head of the priests
called Ongmor and two assistants called Ongchang and Onggnae to carry
out the ceremonial rites. To pay respect to the ghost of the village
or town to protect the lives to be in peace and happy. In the New Year
day, there is Nangmodmoung the mother of the town responsible to drive
away the bad luck or the evil away. After the ghost feeding ceremony,
Thai dam enjoy Kabtay folk songs singing while eating and having
entertainment.
At Bane Nongbouathong village, Sikhottabong district, Vientiane
Municipality, Minister of Education Phimmasone LEUANGKHAMMA expressed
his idea about the new year "To maintain Thai dam tradition, language,
dresses, Thai dam youth of the ages over 13-14 should know to chat the
girl. At the age of 13 one should know to play "Pi" the flute. At the
age of 14 one knows about love. At the age of 13, Thai dam boy can
play flute beautifully. Showing that they know how to play the flutes.
" Pipab is Thai dam traditional musical instrument. There is also
Tingtao, a one string guitar made by maknamtao fruit. This type of
musical instrument used to play to invite the souls to back regard the
religious rite.
After the official ceremony "Emnai" (GrandMa) an old lady sings the
songs called "Xomchiengpimai" to the new generation then the Thai dam
child dances "Xaetay" to music composes by the drums and gongs in the
school yard. "Todkhone" the khone ball and dancing of "Xaetai" of the
old and senior teams. Some Thai dam singers to sing at Bounchieng with
the songs and Electone music are Bakkham Yuan, Khamvoui PHAKASITH,
these two are the young songwriters to compose new Thai dam song and
intellectuals who maintain the proverbs and old Thai dam songs. Both
Yuan and Khamvoui will improve Thai dam literature for sustainable and
for new generations.
Due to the relationship with Thai dam, I am the supporter and made
album titled Khalom in 1990 played by "Khonnoum" band. Song title "Bouanenaikouangta"
means "the moon is in the eyes" composed by Yuan and Khamvoui. In
addition I also compose song with the cooperation with Khamvoui. This
song is called "Xaetay" as its content below :
From the day you have departed
Since my heart is still calling
For our past made me to think
Enjoy links side by side merry
No good-bye saying you quitted
I knew it you were so sad
Cool your hearts to be oppressed
You got less from native land
For New Year Todkhone playing
Where to sing in lonely life
Xaetay song and dance our style
You're invited to dance with me
What made you boring the past
Poorly wait for you lonely
Xaetaiysong my heart thinking
Thai dam boy is waiting only you
On the occasion of Thai
dam New Year, may I convey this song composed from my heart to
relatives and friends of Thai dam people whom I know and love with
best regards. |
Information provided by Laos National Tourism Authority.
