Name of
Ethnic Group: Gia Rai (Gio-Rai, To Buan, Hobau, Hdrung and Chor).
Population: About 24,000
people.
Locality:
Concentrated in Gia Lai Province, parts of Kon Tum Province and northern Dac Lac Province.
Customs and Habits:
The Gia Rai believe in the existence of Giang (Genies) and hold many rituals connected to
their genies.They live in separate villages called ploi or bon. Houses are built on
stilts. The village chief and the elders have great prestige in Gia Rai society and play a
role in running collective activities. Each village has a communal house called a rong.
A matriarchal system has been
adopted. Woman are free to choose their lovers and decide who they marry. The husband
lives with his wife's family and has no rights to inheritance. The daughter, after
marriage, no longer lives with her parents and inherits from them. The children take the
family name of the mother.
Culture: Gia Rai language belongs to the Malayo-Polynesian
Group. Long epics and old tales such as "Dam Di Di San" (Dam Di Goes Hunting)
and "Xinh Nha" are very popular in Gia Rai society. Musical instruments include
gongs, T'rung, To-Nung, and Krong-Put.
Costumes: The Gia
Rai garments resemble Tay Nguyen's garments.
Economy: The Gia
Rai live on slash-and-burn cultivation and terraced fields. Rice is their staple food.
They also breed elephants. The men are very skillful in basketry, and the women in cloth
weaving. Hunting, gathering, and fishing are other sideline occupations.
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