Jarai in Vietnam


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

In 1887 Vietnam became part of French Indochina. After WWII the Vietnamese declared freedom from France but France rule continued until Communist Ho Chi Min overthrew them in 1954. The Geneva Accord of 1954 split the country into North and South Vietnam. The US gave aid to South Vietnam but withdrew from the country in 1973. Two years later the Communist North overtook the South and "re-united" the country.

The Jarai are a people group in the Southern Vietnam Central Highlands. The Jarai language is related to the Cham language of Vietnam and the Malayo-Polynesian languages of Indonesia, Malaysia, Madagascar and the Philipines. Because they are an ethnic minority in Vietnam the Jarai face persecution. The Jarai sought independence through the failed attempt of the Degar Movement.


Where Are they Located?

The Jarai are located in the Highlands of Southern Vietnam. Jarai live mainly in the Gia Lai and Kon Tum Provinces of Southern Vietnam. They are also found scattered in several other provinces of Vietnam and in Cambodia. The Jarai make their living by growing corn and rice.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Jarai trace are matrilineal and trace their ancestry through the women. Jarai villages are laid out in a square. Everything is arranged around the village center. The village center has a communal house, a well, volleyball nets and a rice mill. Jarai villages are named after nearby rivers or village chiefs. Houses were once made of bamboo but more recently are made of wood with steel roofs.

Jarai enjoy music and perform music on gongs, xylophones and zithers. The The Jarai are also known for their use of bamboo tubes for wind flutes and percussion. Jarai traditional dress includes indigo blouses and long skirts worn by the women.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Jarai are animists. They believe that demons inhabit creation and animals are sacrificed to appease these spirits. The most popular spirits are that of fire and water. When a person dies there is a prolonged funeral/time of mourning as part of the death ceremony. Carved effigies and totems are often made for the deceased. During the final death ceremony the Jarai will claim the person officially dead and the spirit released. If the deceased was married the living spouse is then free to marry.

The Christian and Missionary Alliance brought Christianity to the Jarai in the 1970s. The Jarai Christians of Cambodia and Vietnam number around 100,000.


Prayer Points

Pray that Jarai Christians would be trained to lead the church and share Him with others.
Pray that Christian Jarai would use their instruments to worship God.
Pray that the Jarai would find freedom from the spirits.
Pray that the Jarai would find freedom in the biblical understanding of death.


Scripture Prayers for the Jarai in Vietnam.


References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarai_people
http://goo.gl/nvIYX


Profile Source:   Rachel Routt  

People Name General Jarai
People Name in Country Jarai
Alternate Names Cho-rai; Chrai; Djarai; Gia Rai; Gia-rai; Gio-rai; Jorai; J'rai
Population this Country 525,000
Population all Countries 551,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 5
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 6  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 12326
ROP3 Code 104195
Country Vietnam
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 35  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Gia Lai, Kon Tum, and Binh Dinh provinces; some in Dak Lak province.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Vietnam
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 35  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Gia Lai, Kon Tum, and Binh Dinh provinces; some in Dak Lak province..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 26.33 %)
30.00 %
Ethnic Religions
65.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
5.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Jarai (525,000 speakers)
Language Code jra   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect To-buan
Dialect Code 11109   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Jarai (525,000 speakers)
Language Code jra   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect To-buan
Dialect Code 11109   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Jarai
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Cambodia Research Network  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Profile Source Rachel Routt 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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