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Mạ people

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mạ
Total population
 Vietnam 50,322 (2019)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Vietnam
Languages
Mạ, Vietnamese, others
Religion
Animism • Theravada Buddhism

The Mạ or Maa (Vietnamese: Người Mạ) are a Mon–Khmer indigenous people of Vietnam; as of 2019, they had a population of 50,322. They are concentrated mostly in the Lâm Đồng and Đồng Nai province of the country, particularly in the area of the upper Đồng Nai River.[2] They are very close to the Koho people.

The Ma achieved some form of political unity and a stratified society before the 19th century due to the influence of the Funan.[2] This, however, broke down due to varying factors such as the French colonization, inter-group warfare, and slave trading.[2] The Mon-Khmer-speaking group called Cho Ro is identified by some ethnologists as a subgroup of the Ma people.[3]

Culture

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Language

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The Mạ or Maa language comes under the Mon-Khmer Group: this and the Koho language are sometimes considered to be different dialects only. Jean Boulbet[4] and Lê et al. describe the following Mạ subgroups.[5] There are over 16,000 Mạ people living in Lộc Thắng, Lộc Bắc, Lộc Tân, Lộc Lâm, Lộc Ngãi, and Lộc Châu communes in Bảo Lộc District; Đạ Teh, Đạ M’rê, Đạ Huoai, Đồng Nai, and Ma Đa Gui communes in Đạ Huoai District; Đạ Đờn and Phú Sơn communes in Đức Trọng District; Đinh Trang Thượng commune in northern Di Linh District (Lê et al. 2014:310). These districts all belong to Lâm Đồng Province.

Le (2003)[6] covers the Maa varieties of Dagui, Chop, and Tadung.

Folklore

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The Mạ have a rich oral traditions, and their culture is a tapestry of folklore. Myths, parables, and legends are an integral part of this ethnic group.[7] A detailed description the beliefs, customs, ethno-geography and botany of the Mạ people is given by fr:Jean Boulbet, having lived in what is now the Cát Tiên and Bảo Lâm districts in the 1950-60s: before the extensive influx of lowland people to the region.[4]

Traditional attire

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The Mạ are also known for their traditional colorful attire. Mạ women wear skirts that reach well below their knees. The men customarily wear loincloth.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Report on Results of the 2019 Census". General Statistics Office of Vietnam. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Howard, Michael (2016). Textiles and Clothing of Việt Nam: A History. Jefferson, NC: McFarland Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 175. ISBN 9781476663326.
  3. ^ Michaud, Jean; Swain, Margaret; Barkataki-Ruscheweyh, Meenaxi (2016). Historical Dictionary of the Peoples of the Southeast Asian Massif, 2nd edition. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 102. ISBN 9781442272781.
  4. ^ a b c Boulbet J (1967) Pays des Maa’, Domaine des Génies: Nggar Maa’, Nggar Yaang. Publ. École Français d’Extrême Orient, Paris. Vol.LXII, 143 pp + An.
  5. ^ Lê Bá Thảo, Hoàng Ma, et al. (2014) Viện hàn lâm khoa học xã hội Việt Nam - Viện dân tộc học. 2014. Các dân tộc ít người ở Việt Nam: các tỉnh phía nam. Ha Noi: Nhà xuất bản khoa học xã hội. ISBN 978-604-90-2436-8
  6. ^ Le, Tan Duong (2003) A phonological comparison of Maa and Koho varieties. Master's thesis, Payap University.
  7. ^ "54 Ethnic People of Vietnam". Retrieved 1 January 2013.
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