The Riang Lang and Riang Lai are closely related and can understand each other’s dialect, but they also proudly preserve their own ethnic identities, customs, and clothing styles. The Burmese and Shan have coined nicknames to identify each Riang tribe according to their dress. They call the Riang Lang “Yinnet,” meaning “Black Karen” in Burmese, while the Riang Lai are called “Yinchia,” or “Striped Karen.” In China, the Riang Lang are considered part of the official De’ang minority group, which is the Chinese transliteration of Ta’ang, the self-name of the groups the Burmese call Palaung.
Riang Lang people in Myanmar inhabit villages in the same areas as the Riang Lai group in northern Shan State, concentrated in Namsan and Mantong Townships within the Palaung Self-Administered Zone. Scattered Riang Lang communities are also found over a wide area of the state, including approximately 200 miles (324 km) further south in the Langkho District of southern Shan State, not far from the Thailand border. Approximately 2,000 Riang Lang are also located in southwest China’s Yunnan Province.
Riang Lang, which is part of the Mon-Khmer branch of the Austro-Asiatic linguistic family, enjoys vigorous use in their communities. It is reportedly similar to the Danau language spoken over 200 miles (324 km) further south in the Taunggyi District. The Riang languages were first studied at the start of the 20th century, and a contemporary linguist recently found that the Riang Lang language consists of 12 vowels and 21 consonants. Most Riang Lang people can also speak Shan—the language of the dominant ethnicity in that state.
The 1931 census returned 10,867 "Yanglam" people, assumed to be today's Riang Lang. The British colonial rulers called Riang people “Black Karen” because of their appearance, but Riang and Karen have no ethnolinguistic connection, with their languages stemming from two different language families.
The Riang Lang have been subject to abuse over the years. In 2018 they went viral on social media after a woman posted a video saying the Riang Lang were “man-eating ghosts with the power to disguise themselves as humans that can only be seen on moonless nights.” Comments by ignorant people included, “Their teeth are black. They eat human flesh…. You won’t see them in the daytime. I’ve lived here for ages, but I have never seen them. I heard bedtime stories when I was young that they are human-eaters.” In a bid to remain anonymous, the shy Riang Lang even considered discarding their traditional dress because of the outcry against them.
Despite being surrounded by many Buddhist ethnicities, most Riang Lang people have never accepted Buddhism. They remain animists, “believing spirits live in elements of nature and must be placated before peace can be experienced in their communities.” The
Many displaced families still require stable housing and basic amenities. Economic rehabilitation is crucial, as many depend on daily labor or subsistence farming. Access to quality education is limited, especially for children living in remote areas. Man
Pray for an accurate and complete Bible translation for the Riang Langs.
Pray that oral gospel resources will soon be widely distributed in their villages.
Pray for peace and harmony among different ethnic communities in Northeast India and Myanmar.
Pray for new job opportunities to open for the Riang Langs in Myanmar.
Pray for their hearts to be opened to their need for Jesus Christ.
Pray that soon Riang Lang disciples will make more disciples.
Scripture Prayers for the Riang Lang in Myanmar (Burma).
Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission.
Suresha Reang
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