The MA Community of 54 Ethnic groups in Vietnam

Hits: 732

  The MA have nearly 36,824 Inhabitants settling mainly in Lam Dong Province¹. The MA are also called Chau Ma, Ma Xop, Ma To, Ma Krung and Ma Ngan. The Ma language belongs to the Mon-Khmer² group.

   The MA live in bon (village). Each bon comprises 5-10 elongated houses-on-stihs in which many generations of the same llneageco-habit. The chief of a bon is called quang bon.

   The MA cultivate rice, com, cotton and subsidiary crops on milpas, using rudimentary tools such as knives, hoes, axes and digging sticks. The MA in Cat Tien District of the Dong Nai River Delta grow rice in submerged fields. To prepare the soil, they drive buffaloes to trample it before sowing seeds over the fields. In the past, the MA raised cattle by releasing the animals to the forests.

   MA women are very skilful in cloth weaving with sophisticated decorative motifs of flowers, leaves, birds and animals of various colors. The traditional iron forgery is also well-known. The MA refine iron ore themselves to make farmirg tools and weapons. In the region near the Dong Nai River, the MA make dug-out boats to travel, transport goods or fish in the river.

   Their traditional dress is simple. Women wear lungi falling down below their knees, and men with loincloths. In winter, they cover with blankets. They file their teeth, stretch earlobes and wear a lot of ornaments. The family of a young man proposes marriage, but after the wedding the groom comes to live in his wife’s house. Only when he hands over enough wedding presents to the bride’s family, he can take his wife to his house.

   The MA believe in the existence of the genies, including Yang (the Creator). Like other ethnic groups of the Mon-Khmer linguistic group, every year the MA organize a buffalo-slaughtering ceremony at their traditional New Year Day. This ceremony lasts 1-2 months.

   The MA possess a treasury of folklore including ardent tales, myths, and legends. Musical instruments comprise sets of gongs, crums, pan-pipes with sounc-box, horns, bamboo stringed zither and three-hole flutes attached to a dry gojrd.

SEE MORE:
◊  The COMMUNITY of 54 ETHNIC GROUPS in Vietnam – Section 1.
◊  The BA NA Community of 54 Ethnic groups in Vietnam.
◊  The BO Y Community of 54 Ethnic groups in Vietnam.
◊  The BRAU Community of 54 Ethnic groups in Vietnam.
◊  The BRU-VAN KIEU Community of 54 Ethnic groups in Vietnam.
◊  The CHO RO Community of 54 Ethnic groups in Vietnam.
◊  The CO HO Community of 54 Ethnic groups in Vietnam.
◊  The CONG Community of 54 Ethnic groups in Vietnam.
◊  The CHUT Community of 54 Ethnic groups in Vietnam.
◊  The CHU RU Community of 54 Ethnic groups in Vietnam.
◊  The CHAM Community of 54 Ethnic groups in Vietnam.
◊  The DAO Community of 54 Ethnic groups in Vietnam.
◊  The GIAY Community of 54 Ethnic groups in Vietnam.
◊  Vietnamese version (vi-VersiGoo): CONG DONG 54 Dan toc Viet Nam – Phan 1.
◊  Vietnamese version (vi-VersiGoo) with Web-Voice (Web-Audio):  Nguoi BA NA  trong Cong dong 54 Dan toc anh em o Viet Nam.
◊  Vietnamese version (vi-VersiGoo) with Web-Voice (Web-Audio):  Nguoi BO Y trong Cong dong 54 Dan toc anh em o Viet Nam.
◊  Vietnamese version (vi-VersiGoo) with Web-Voice (Web-Audio):  Nguoi BRAU trong Cong dong 54 Dan toc anh em o Viet Nam.
◊  Vietnamese version (vi-VersiGoo) with Web-Voice (Web-Audio):  Nguoi BRU-VAN KIEU  trong Cong dong 54 Dan toc anh em o Viet Nam.
◊  Vietnamese version (vi-VersiGoo) with Web-Voice (Web-Audio):  Nguoi CHO RO trong Cong dong 54 Dan toc anh em o Viet Nam.
◊  Vietnamese version (vi-VersiGoo) with Web-Voice (Web-Audio):  Nguoi CHAM trong Cong dong 54 Dan toc anh em o Viet Nam.
◊  Vietnamese version (vi-VersiGoo) with Web-Voice (Web-Audio):  Nguoi CHU RU trong Cong dong 54 Dan toc anh em o Viet Nam.
◊  Vietnamese version (vi-VersiGoo) with Web-Voice (Web-Audio):  Nguoi CHUT trong Cong dong 54 Dan toc anh em o Viet Nam.
◊  Vietnamese version (vi-VersiGoo) with Web-Voice (Web-Audio):  Nguoi CONG trong Cong dong 54 Dan toc anh em o Viet Nam.
◊  Vietnamese version (vi-VersiGoo) with Web-Voice (Web-Audio):  Nguoi DAO trong Cong dong 54 Dan toc anh em o Viet Nam.
◊  Vietnamese version (vi-VersiGoo) with Web-Voice (Web-Audio):  Nguoi GIAY trong Cong dong 54 Dan toc anh em o Viet Nam.
◊  Vietnamese version (vi-VersiGoo) with Web-Voice (Web-Audio):  Nguoi GIA RAI trong Cong dong 54 Dan toc anh em o Viet Nam.
◊  Vietnamese version (vi-VersiGoo) with Web-Voice (Web-Audio):  Nguoi HOA trong Cong dong 54 Dan toc anh em o Viet Nam.
◊  Vietnamese version (vi-VersiGoo) with Web-Voice (Web-Audio):  Nguoi KHANG trong Cong dong 54 Dan toc anh em o Viet Nam.
◊  Vietnamese version (vi-VersiGoo) with Web-Voice (Web-Audio):  Nguoi KHMER trong Cong dong 54 Dan toc anh em o Viet Nam.
◊  etc.

BAN TU THU
08 /2020

NOTES:
¹ : … updating…

NOTE:
◊  Source & Images:  54 Ethnic Groups in Vietnam, Thong Tan Publishers, 2008.
◊  All citations and italic textes has been set by Ban Tu Thu – thanhdiavietnamhoc.com