Hilltribes in and around Pai Thailand

Hilltribes in and around Pai

Akha
Karen
LahuLisu
Yao
Hmong
Taiyai
Palong
Mon

Lawa

Akha

Akha [Ei-Ko] are well known to tourists for their extraordinary costumes and exotic appearance. There are approximately 50,000 Akha living in Thailand. Akha originate from Tibet and Yunnan in China. It is generally believed that Akha originated in the Tibetan Highlands. Over the years they left their homeland and migrated south to Yunnan, North Burma and Laos, and have only recently entered North Thailand, [in the last 150 years].
Akha newcomers from Burma are constantly arriving. Akha are historically linked with the ancient Lolo tribes that inhabit South Yunnan. Akha belong to the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan linguistic family. Akha are less open to change than other hilltribes, proudly retaining their old customs.Akha are animists and ancestors worshippers, prefer to live along mountain ridges at high altitudes of approximately 1,000 m. Akha houses are on low stilts, with a large porch leading into a square living area with a stove, usually at the back. The roof is steeply pitched. Akha village is entered through ceremonial gates, decorated with carvings of "human" life to indicate to the spirit world that beyond here only humans can pass. Outside the gates are wooden sculptures of copulating couples, and the gates may be decorated with a wide variety of "human" artifacts - weapons, tools, and nowadays cars and airplanes. To touch these carvings, or to show any lack of respect, is punishable by fines or the donation of animals for sacrifices. The gates are replaced every year.

Akha New Year

A giant swing in each village presided over by guardian spirits. The four day Swinging Festival, the most enjoyable ceremonial event, in which the headman, followed by the rest of the village, take turns using the swing. The festival is held during mid-August to mid September.

Tradition:

Black caps covered with silver coins, worn by the women. The women's costume is very colorful. The headgear, which is rarely removed is a conical wedge of white beads interspersed with silver coins and topped with plumes of red taffeta, dressed with a loose fitting black jacket with heavily embroidered cuffs and lapels. The man's costume: plain black pants and a lightly embroidered loose jacket.Cultivation: Akha are shifting cultivators, cultivate dry rice , corn, millet, peppers, beans, garlic, sesame and other varieties of vegetables as additional subsistence crops. Crop production is often inadequate to meet their needs. Domestic animals, including fowl, pigs and water buffaloes are also raised by Akha for special feasts and sacrifices. Akha place special emphasis upon ancestor-worship and spirit offerings.Many Akha are now selling handicrafts, employing the traditional skills used in making their own clothing and cultural items. Akha men and women produce various decorative items of bamboo and seeds. Arkha men make crossbows, musical instruments, a variety of baskets, and other items of wood, bamboo and rattan. Akha women spin cotton into thread with a hand spindle; weave it on a foot treadle loom. The cloth is dyed with indigo, then sewed into clothing for the family.