Sapuan in Laos

The Sapuan have only been reported in Laos
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Sapuan ethnic group live in the northern part of the Xaisetta District of Attapu Province in southern Laos. The Sapuan may also be located in northern Cambodia. A group named Tampuan lives there. It is not known if the Sapuan and Tampuan are related, or if their similar names are coincidental. The Tampuan in Cambodia now include a number of Christians.

Attapu Province has a reputation for being the most remote and cut-off part of Laos. During the rainy season, most of Attapu cannot be reached by road. Attapu has been described as "rugged, wild, scenic and difficult to get around.... Tigers aren't uncommon, and there's rumored to be either Javan or Sumatran rhino near the Cambodian border. A recently-discovered trout-like fish grows to 10 kg (22 pounds) in the Xe Kong, and the Irrawaddy dolphin makes an occasional appearance in this river and the adjoining Xe Kaman.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Sapuan people live the same way as the neighboring peoples.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Sapuan are animists. Even though spirit worship has been officially banned in Laos, it is openly adhered to. Thirty-two guardian spirits known as khwan are bound to a guest of honor by white strings tied around the wrists. Each of the 32 khwan are thought to be guardians over different organs, mental and physical, in the person's body. Animists believe khwan can occasionally wander away from the owner's body, causing the person to fall sick. A ceremony is performed to call them back, upon which the person regains their health or their sanity.


What Are Their Needs?

Although there are no known Christian believers among the Sapuan in Laos, there is a gospel recording in the Sapuan language. In many places in this part of the country, the gospel has yet to make an appearance.


Prayer Points

Pray the new believers among tribal groups in Cambodia will cross the border and evangelize southern Laos.

Ask God to being godly Christians to make Sapuan disciples who will make other disciples.

Pray the Sapuan would have a burden to find the one true God and would not feel peace until they find him.


Scripture Prayers for the Sapuan in Laos.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Sapuan
People Name in Country Sapuan
Alternate Names Sapoin; Sapouan
Population this Country 5,700
Population all Countries 5,700
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 14758
ROP3 Code 108706
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 Attapu province, Xaisetta district   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 Attapu province, Xaisetta district.   Source:  Faces of the Unreached in Laos, 1999
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
100.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Sapuan (5,700 speakers)
Language Code spu   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Sapuan (5,700 speakers)
Language Code spu   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Sapuan

Primary Language:  Sapuan

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Started

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
General Language Learning Phrasebook They Need the Bible
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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