MẠ

Other names: Chau Ma, Ma Xop, Ma To, Ma Krung, and Ma Ngan

Population

33,338 people

Locality

Lam Dong Province.

Customs & Habits

The Ma live in bons (villages). Each bon is comprised of five to ten elongated houses. The chief of a bon is called the quang bon. 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 has enough wedding presents to hand over to the bride’s family can he take his wife to his house. The Ma believe in the existence of spirits in the river, the mountains, and the rice field.

Culture

The Ma language belongs to the Mon-Khmer Group. They possess a rich folklore including many ancient tales, myths, and legends. Their musical instruments consist of gongs, drums, pan-pipes with bamboo-boxes, horns, bamboo string zithers, and three-holed bamboo flutes.

Costumes

The women wear skirts that fall below their knees and the men wear loincloths. They also file their teeth, stretch their earlobes, and wear a lot of ornaments.

Economy

The Ma cultivate rice, corn, and cotton. Ma women are very skilled at cloth making. They are also very skilful at forging.