About 1,000 Yoy, or Tai Yo people live in Khammouan Province in central Laos. They live at the juncture of three districts: Nakay, Grommarol and Bouarapha.
According to the Ethnologue, there are 5,000 speakers of the Yoy language living in Thailand. Yoy is a member of the Northern Tai language family. All Yoy are adequately bilingual in the national language, Lao. Indeed, to most outsiders there is no visible or cultural differences between the Lao and Yoy. The distinctiveness of the Yoy is confined to their language.
The Yoy are professing Buddhists, although a close inspection of their religious practices reveals a regular dependence on spirit-appeasement and animism.
In many respects, Buddhism has lost some of its authority over the inhabitants of Laos in recent decades. Before the advent of Communism in 1975 it was already showing signs of decay. Nhouy Abhay, a leading figure in the Royal Lao Government, said in 1959, "How much ignorance among the monks! The Pali tongue which is less and less understood has become a screen behind which they hide their ignorance.. This lack of reasoning goes with a daily slackening in the performance of religious rites. Monks relax their discipline, and it can be noticed in temples as well as in the streets, in cemeteries and in homes. In its essence, Buddhism is deeply tolerant; but ours in fact has lost too much of its authority.. In the field of manners, as in religion, our monks are far from being the elite they are supposed to be."
One early missionary summarized the conflict between groups in Laos that are outwardly Buddhist, yet in reality know very little about the faith they so boldly profess: "Ask any person you meet a few questions about the sage who propounded the faith they are supposed to hold, and it will be speedily discovered they...know little of the life and less of the teaching of him whom they apparently worship. The great moral precepts of this religion are not taught to them, are unknown to them."
The Yoy live in a part of Laos with few known churches. They have lived for centuries with little knowledge of Christianity.
* Scripture Prayers for the Yoy in Laos.
Pray that the Yoy will glorify God and follow His ways.
Ask God to send Christians to witness His life among the Yoy.
Pray the Holy Spirit would prepare the hearts of the Yoy to humbly accept Jesus Christ.
Profile Source: Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
People Name General | Yoy |
People Name in Country | Yoy |
Population this Country | 12,000 |
Population all Countries | 20,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
Alternate Names | Dioi; Duoi; Giy; Lao Yuai; Tai Jo; Tai Yoi; Tai Yoy; Yoe; Yooi; Yooy; Yuai |
People ID | 16062 |
ROP3 Code | 111101 |
Country | Laos | ||
Region | Asia, Southeast | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
Persecution Rank | 26 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | The Yoy live on both sides of the Mekong River. The majority inhabit villages in the north-east Thailand province of Sakhon Nakhon. They are dispersed over three districts, Akat Amnuai, Phang Khon, and Sawang Daen Din. An additional group of Yoy make their homes in the central Laos province of Khammouan. Source: Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004 |
Country | Laos |
Region | Asia, Southeast |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
Persecution Rank | 26 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | The Yoy live on both sides of the Mekong River. The majority inhabit villages in the north-east Thailand province of Sakhon Nakhon. They are dispersed over three districts, Akat Amnuai, Phang Khon, and Sawang Daen Din. An additional group of Yoy make their homes in the central Laos province of Khammouan.. Source: Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004 |
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Primary Language | Yoy (12,000 speakers) |
Language Code | yoy Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Unknown |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Yoy (12,000 speakers) |
Language Code | yoy Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Yoy |
Primary Language: Yoy
Bible Translation Status: Translation Needed
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching |
Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
10.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.19 %) |
0.19 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
89.81 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Christian Segments ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Anglican |
0.0 %
|
Independent |
0.0 %
|
Orthodox |
0.0 %
|
Other Christian |
0.0 %
|
Protestant |
70.0 %
|
Roman Catholic |
30.0 %
|
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2022 Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Profile Source | Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |