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Additional Information:

Approximately 5,000 Nutchi Akha live in Phongsali Province of northern Laos. They live at the juncture of three districts: Samphan, Boun-Tai and Boun-Nua. The Nutchi Akha are also found in neighboring Yunnan Province in China, and possibly also in Myanmar.

Courting and marriage customs vary slightly among the different Akha groups, but most Akha villages have a 'village courting ground' (deh k'ah). Girls sing and dance around a fire while the boys look on. If any of the girls takes the fancy of a boy, they may slip into the forest where they spend the night together. Parents approach each other if two Akha youth signal their intentions to marry. If the two fathers come to an agreement, they seal the marriage by drinking liquor together. Paul & Elaine Lewis explain, "Each of them puts up an agreed amount of money, preferably in silver rupees, which is held by a neutral party to ensure that each side will honor the agreement. If one side backs out, that father loses his bond. If the young people marry as arranged, or if both parties agree to cancel the engagement, each side takes back its money."

When the wedding day finally comes, the girl is "taken to the groom's house by one of his older male relatives.... Before entering the house, the bride changes into a white skirt which she wears throughout the ceremony. Her headdress is removed and handed, together with her black skirt, to a younger girl who serves as her helper.... The wedding feast, an integral part of the ceremony, lasts for two days, for which at least one pig is butchered.... During the feast young people take soot from the bottom of the cooking pots and wipe it on the faces of the bride, the groom, and some of the guests. This is thought to bring 'good luck' to those receiving it."

In recent years one Christian ministry has produced picture books for the Akha, with pictures of Bible stories. The book is accompanied by an audio cassette in the Akha language, explaining the Gospel. This has caused great excitement among the Akha, who are 96% illiterate.

Some Akha have listened to the tapes numerous times, and in one location they sought out Christians to come and explain the meaning to them.

Prayer Requests:
* Pray for a spiritual breakthrough among the Nutchi Akha. Pray many would soon understand the Gospel.
* Ask God to reflect His glory and purity among redeemed Nutchi Akha.
* Pray that thousands of the 'wordless books' would bear much fruit among the Akha of Laos.

Additional Information:

More than 50,000 Pouly Akha live across four province (Phongsali, Luang Namtha, Oudomxai and Bokeo) of northern Laos. The Pouly are easily the largest Akha group in Laos. The main concentration of Pouly Akha are found in the Long and Sing districts of Luang Namtha Province, and the Khoa and Samphan districts of Phongsali. Other villages are located in Namo District of Oudomxai Province.

The Akha divide into two main social distinctions: the Pouly Noi ('Lesser Pouly') and Pouly Nyai ('Greater Pouly'). The two groups never live in the same village together, even though ethno-culturally they are the same people and they speak the same language. The Pouly Nyai divide into two additional subgroups: Dantse and Bietse. These two groups may share the same village but never the same house. Pouly may be a Lao name for the Jeu-g'oe clan of Akha.

The Pouly Akha were probably the first Akha group to migrate to Laos. They claim there were some of their group living in Laos from 1850, but the main migrations took place after 1900. There are also large Pouly Akha communities in China, Myanmar, Thailand, and possibly Vietnam. The Jeu-g'oe Akha are the largest Akha group in all of these nations.

The twin strongholds of animism and ancestor worship predominate among the Pouly Akha. They are especially afraid of two kinds of spirits: the spirit of a child who dies before being named, and the spirit of a woman who dies giving birth. "The latter is often thought to appear in the form of a tiger which kills livestock and even people."

The Akha Pouly Nyai have a ceremony of healing for the family of a sick person. They must sacrifice a minimum of 20 chickens, five pigs, three eggs and are required to pay money (1,200,000 kips, or about $180) to the shaman. These ceremonies are extremely costly for the Akha and may plunge a family into debt for many years to come.

Although there are many Akha Christ-ians in Myanmar and Thailand, the Akha Pouly are the only Akha group in Laos with any known believers. One or two small villages in Sing District came to Christ in recent years after they heard the Gospel.

Prayer Requests:
* Pray the Akha Jesus film and cassettes would be used to reach thousands of Akha in Laos.
* Pray God would glorify the Name of Jesus among the Pouly Akha.
* In prayer, speed the day when all Pouly Akha will have heard the offer of God's grace in His Son.

Last Updated: 31 Jan 2010