Kemei in China

The Kemei have only been reported in China
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Kemei are a little-known group. It is not known in what minority, if any, the Kemei are counted by the Chinese authorities, who officially spell their name Ka Mi. The Kemei are not the same as the Khmu people group, who live in the same county and whose language is also from the Mon-Khmer linguistic family. Although their name resembles Khmer, the usual Chinese transliteration of Khmer is Gaomian.
The Kemei claim they were once part of the Khmu people of Laos. They migrated to China to escape war in Laos. They tell a colorful story explaining why they split from the Khmu. Long ago the two groups went out into the mountains on a hunting expedition. The Khmu killed an elephant, but the Kemei did not believe in eating elephants and caught pigs instead. The Kemei complained, saying it was not fair because the Khmu got to eat much more meat than they did. The quarrel grew so fierce that they decided to separate and have remained apart to this day.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Because of their small numbers, the Kemei intermarry outside their tribe. At the end of the year, the Kemei hold a festival to bring in the New Year. All Kemei wear red and yellow flowers during the celebration. They say this stems from a long time ago when a prince in Laos was murdered by a farmer. To mourn his death, all the people brought red and yellow flowers to his funeral. When a Kemei dies, they kill his pig and place it next to the corpse along with rice, vegetables and his knife.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Kemei practice animism. To determine where a burial site should be, they carry an egg to the mountains and, with the help of mediums, are led by the spirits. When they reach the appointed place, the egg supernaturally turns black. The Kemei say the spirit of a dead person often returns home, so they continue leaving out food on the table for it.
An impromptu survey of the members of a Kemei community in 1996 revealed none had ever before heard of Jesus Christ. Dwayne Graybill reported, "Puzzled looks came upon the faces of both old and young when asked if they had heard of him. There has never been a church among the Kemei, nor has there ever been a single known believer among their entire tribe."


What Are Their Needs?

The Kemei people need better medical facilities in their part of China.


Prayer Points

Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.
Pray for the Lord to provide for their physical and spiritual needs as a testimony of his power and love.
Pray that the Kemei people will have a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings.


Scripture Prayers for the Kemei in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Kemei
People Name in Country Kemei
Pronunciation Keh-may
Alternate Names Ka Mi; Kebi; Kemeihua; Kemiehua
Population this Country 1,700
Population all Countries 1,700
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 18519
ROP3 Code 114133
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 19  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country The Encyclopedic Dictionary of Chinese Linguistics listed a 1991 population of 1,000 Kemei in southern China. Researcher Dwayne Graybill who visited the area in 1996, however, listed a total of only 450 Kemei living in two villages. The largest village, Kami Zhai, contained 285 inhabitants in 47 households. The Kemei villages are west of Meng Ban and south of Mengla, in the Xishuangbanna Prefecture. The Kemei also claim to have relatives living in Laos.   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 19  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country The Encyclopedic Dictionary of Chinese Linguistics listed a 1991 population of 1,000 Kemei in southern China. Researcher Dwayne Graybill who visited the area in 1996, however, listed a total of only 450 Kemei living in two villages. The largest village, Kami Zhai, contained 285 inhabitants in 47 households. The Kemei villages are west of Meng Ban and south of Mengla, in the Xishuangbanna Prefecture. The Kemei also claim to have relatives living in Laos..   Source:  Operation China, 2000

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
30.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
69.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
1.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Kemiehua (1,700 speakers)
Language Code kfj   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Kemiehua (1,700 speakers)
Language Code kfj   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Kemiehua

Primary Language:  Kemiehua

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Needed

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Operation China, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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