Khua in Laos


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Ethnic Khua people live in the northern part of Bouarapha District in Khammouan Province of Laos. A larger number of Khua live across the border in central Vietnam, where they are officially counted as a subgroup of the Bru-Van Kieu minority.

The Khua are not the same ethno-linguistic group as the Cua, a Bahnaric-speaking group in Vietnam who live further south of the Khua. In Vietnam the Cua have been officially counted as part of the Co ethnic minority.

The Khua language is related to Bru, So, and Mangkong. It is part of the West Katuic branch of the Mon-Khmer family.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Until recently the Khua produced all their clothing by dyeing fibers made from crushed tree bark. Today there is a growing tendency to wear normal Western attire.

The remote area inhabited by the Khua is part of the massive Nakai-Nam Theun National Biodiversity Conservation Area. The wildlife area, formed in 1993, measures 3,710 sq. kilometers (1,447 sq. miles) in size. It contains "extensive stands of wet and dry evergreen, old growth pine, cypress and riverside forest…. Over a dozen threatened species live in the area, including elephant (one of the country's largest herds), giant muntjac (endemic to this region), gaur, banteng, Asiatic black bear, Malayan sun bear, clouded leopard, tiger and the saola (Vu Quang ox), a horned animal unknown to scientists before its discovery in 1992."


What Are Their Beliefs?

Numerous generations of Khua have come and gone, but each has in common the Khua's belief in spirit worship and fear of demonic powers. The Khua do not have any affection for the spirits, but believe it is absolutely necessary for them to appease and placate them in order to avoid their wrath.


What Are Their Needs?

The few individuals who identify as Christians among the Khua people need to be discipled and encouraged in their faith.


Prayer Points

* Pray the Khua would see they do not have to live in slavery to demons if they put their trust in Jesus Christ.
* Ask God to send evangelists and disciplers to help more of the Khua tribe become mature followers of Jesus.
* Pray heart-felt worship of the King of Kings would be heard among the Laos-Vietnam mountain ranges.


Scripture Prayers for the Khua in Laos.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Khua
People Name in Country Khua
Alternate Names Bong Mieu; Bong Miew; Bru-Vân Kiều; Cau; Co; Cor; Cua; La Thu; Moi Tra Bong; Trau
Population this Country 4,800
Population all Countries 6,100
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 0  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 12668
ROP3 Code 104970
Country Laos
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 21  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Khammouan province, Bouarapha district   Source:  Faces of the Unreached in Laos, 1999
Country Laos
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 21  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Khammouan province, Bouarapha district.   Source:  Faces of the Unreached in Laos, 1999
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.20 %)
0.20 %
Ethnic Religions
99.80 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Khua (4,800 speakers)
Language Code xhv   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Khua (4,800 speakers)
Language Code xhv   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Khua

Primary Language:  Khua

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Needed

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Joshua Project / Global Mapping International  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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