Bahnar people

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mang
Total population

174,456 (1999 Census)

Regions with significant populations
Vietnam, United States
Languages

Bahnar

Vietnamese as a second language
Religions
Traditional religion, Christianity
Related ethnic groups
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A Bahnar rong (communal house) in the village of Kon Kotu.
A Bahnar rong (communal house) in the village of Kon Kotu.

The Bahnar (also spelled Ba Na) are an ethnic group of Vietnam living primarily in the Central Highland provinces of Gia Lai and Kon Tum, as well as the coastal provinces of Bình Định and Phú Yên. They speak a language in the Mon-Khmer language family.

Contents

[edit] Music

Vietnamese postage stamp depicting Ba Na in traditional dress
Vietnamese postage stamp depicting Ba Na in traditional dress

Like many of the other ethnic groups of Vietnam's Central Highlands, the Bahnar play a great number of traditional musical instruments, including ensembles of pitched gongs and string instruments made from bamboo.

[edit] Literature

[edit] Epic

Epics (Bahnar language: h'amon) such as Dam Noi represent centuries-old aspirations of Banar people.

[edit] Notable Bahnar

  • Dinh Nup, a hero who led villagers to carry out a war of resistance against the French colonial regime. He became the main character of a famous novel entitled Đất nước đứng lên ("Country rising up"), written by Nguyên Ngọc
  • Ja Dok, a heroine, the wife of Nguyễn Nhạc
  • Siu Black, popular singer

[edit] Festival

  • Koh Kpo (or Groong Kpo Tonơi): a festival to express gratitude toward Yang (the God) with the main activity being the stabbing of a water buffalo.

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

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