Prai in Laos


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Research into the Prai is often made difficult because the Lao and Thai call them and the Mal people by the same name, Htin. They also call them Kha Phai, which is a derogatory name.

According to one source, the Phai in Xaignabouri are different from those in Laos, but the Phai of Phongsali are the same culturally and linguistically. The Phai of Phongsali have also been influenced by their neighbors, the Phunoi.

Prai live in two widespread areas of northern Laos. One group live in Phongsali Province, the northernmost province of Laos, in the Boun-Tai, Boun-Nua, Phongsali and Samphan districts. A large number of Prai also live in Xaignabouri Province, further south. They live in the Hongsa, Xaignabouri and Phiang districts of Xaignabouri Province. Others live in neighboring Thailand.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Prai are generally known as a poverty-stricken and despised people, with a poor sense of self-worth. In some places they have hired themselves out to Hmong and Mien as menial laborers. Their hard lives contribute to their generally dejected appearance. Whatever property or wealth a Prai family is able to gather is inherited by the youngest daughter.

The Prai "typically subsist by hunting for wild game, raising domestic animals and farming small plots of land. Since metal is taboo in their culture, they are particularly skilled at manipulating bamboo to make everything needed around the house; for floor mats and baskets they interweave pared bamboo with a black-colored grass to create bold geometric patterns."


What Are Their Beliefs?

There is some Buddhist influence among the Prai in Laos. Several villages are reported to have temples, but the majority of Prai remain bound to traditions and a host of evil spirits that they feel forced to continually placate.


What Are Their Needs?

There are about 100 known Prai believers in Laos. Most of these came to Christ in refugee camps in Thailand and were later repatriated back to Laos.


Prayer Points

Pray God would breathe his life and fire into the few known Prai believers in Laos.

Pray for believers to make disciples among the Prai people who in turn will make more disciples.

Pray the Prai would be set free from the evil spirits and traditions that have bound them for centuries.


Scripture Prayers for the Prai in Laos.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Prai
People Name in Country Prai
Alternate Names Phai; Phay; Pray; Thung Chan Pray
Population this Country 31,000
Population all Countries 52,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 14377
ROP3 Code 108003
ROP25 Code 306811
ROP25 Name Prai (Phai)
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 Phongsali and Xaignabouri provinces.   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 Phongsali and Xaignabouri provinces..   Source:  Faces of the Unreached in Laos, 1999
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.90 %)
1.00 %
Ethnic Religions
99.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Prai (31,000 speakers)
Language Code prt   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Prai (31,000 speakers)
Language Code prt   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Prai
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Peoples of Laos, 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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