Bo people (Laos)

Bo

Total population
2,950–4,200
Regions with significant populations
Bolikhamxai province and Khammouane province, Laos
Languages
Lao, Nyo
Religion
Christianity, Shamanism
Related ethnic groups
Kri, Maleng

The Bo are an ethnic group of Laos. The Bo population is primarily spread throughout Bolikhamxai and Khammouane provinces in central Laos. ^[1]

Synopsis and status

"Bo" simply means "mine." This implies that the Bo were originally a miner tribe of Kha (Mon-Khmer) origins. ^[2] It is unclear whether the Bo are qualified to be a recognized ethnic group due to their overlapping identity. ^[1]

There are two branches of the Bo: the Tai Bo of the Hinboun River speak Lao, while the Kha Bo of Nakai Plateau speak Nyo. Both used to be Vietic speakers but switched to speak Tai languages during the First Indochina War. ^{[3] [4]}

Tai Bo and Kha Bo elderly still could speak a language variant that is believed to be related or close to either Kri or Maleng language. ^[5]

Footnotes

1. "Bo in Laos". Joshua Project . Asia Harvest.
2. Chamberlain, James (2019), "Vanishing Nomads: Languages and Peoples of Nakai, Laos, and Adjacent Areas", in Brunn, Stanley; Kehrein, Roland (eds.), Handbook of the Changing World Language Map, Vientiane: Springer International Publishing, p. 1603, ISBN   978-3-03002-437-6
3. Schliesinger, Joachim (2003). Ethnic Groups of Laos: Profiles of Austro-Thai-speaking peoples. White Lotus Press. pp. 7–8a. ISBN   978-9-744-80037-4.
4. Trankell, Ing-Britt; Summers, Laura (1998). Facets of Power and Its Limitations Political Culture in Southeast Asia. Nordic Association for Southeast Asian Studies. Conference. pp. 50, 52. ISBN   978-9-15544-124-1.
5. Schliesinger, Joachim (2003). Ethnic Groups of Laos: Profiles of Austro-Asiatic-speaking peoples. White Lotus Press. p. 3. ISBN   978-9-744-80036-7.