Ethnic origin of Akha in Thailand

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Introduction

This article explores the origin of the Akha in Thailand and its related subgroup. Akha is one of the many hill tribes called 'Chaau Doi' in northern Thailand.

Distribution of Akha in Thailand

The Akha tribe lives mainly in the northernmost districts of Mae Salong in Chiang Rai province and Mae Ai in Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand.

Original homeland

The Akha hill tribe originated from southern Yunnan in southern China where the highest Akha population lives today. In the 19th century, a significant number moved to Kengtung state in eastern Myanmar.

However, due to civil war in Myanmar, some migrated southeast into Thailand and first settled in Mae Fah Luang district in Chiang Rai province around 1903 AD.
Migration path in blue

Akha subtribes

There are three main Akha subtribes being the Lomi, Ulo and Phami who are differentiated by their head-dresses.

Unlike the ethnic Tai in Thailand who are Buddhists, most Akha practice a mixture of Christianity and traditional Akha beliefs.

Akha people celebrates their own new year festival called Swing festival (เทศกาลโล้ชิงช้า) held in late-August to beginning-September in Chiang Rai as shown in video below.

Southern Loloish branch

Akha people is part of the southern branch of the Loloish people (Sino-Tibetan) who originally came from Sichuan province before migrating to Yunnan province.

The main subgroups are
  • Hani-Akha: Akha, Hani, Haoni aka Honi
  • Bi-Ka: Biyue aka Piyo, Kaduo aka Khatu, Mpi
  • Bisoid: Bisu, Phunoi
  • Siloid: Sila, Akeu, Wanya
Hani festival

Most of these subgroups still live in Yunnan and some in Northern Thailand with the exception of Phunoi and Wanya who live in Laos.

Mpi and probably Bisu were brought as war captives to Northern Thailand in 19th century AD.

Conclusion

Akha tribe is part of Southern Lolo branch of Sino-Tibetan people who originally came from Yunnan in China before migrating to northern Thailand in early 20th century. They are called hill tribes or 'Chaau Doi' in Northern Thai language by Thai people.

Related links

Ethnic origin of Lolo-Yi

Origin of Sino-Tibetan tribes
http://eastasiaorigin.blogspot.com/2018/08/origin-of-sino-tibetan-tribes.html

Sources

Tibeto-Burman languages and classification. David Bradley. 1997.

Last updated: 12 Oct 2020
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