Lamet people

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Lamet
Total population
22,383 (Laos 2015)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Laos, Thailand
Languages
Lamet, Lao, Thai
Religion
Animism, Buddhism

The Lamet people are an ethnic group in Thailand and Laos.

Name Variations[edit]

Lamet are also often referred to as:[citation needed]

  • Lamed
  • Khamet
  • Khamed

Geographic Distribution[edit]

There are approximately 22,000 Lamet in the Louang Namtha Province, Oudomxai and Bokeo Provinces of Laos.[citation needed] There are also approximately 100 Lamet in Thailand in the Chiang Rai and Lampang Provinces.[citation needed]There are also 90 Lamet in the United States and 30 in France.[citation needed] In Laos, the Lamet are a hill tribe.

Origin[edit]

The Lamet claim to be an indigenous population to northwestern Laos.[2] They are a Palaungic ethnic group.

Language[edit]

The Lamet speak an Austroasiatic language related to Palaung and Wa.[2] Most adult males also speak Tai Yuan.[2]

Economy[edit]

The Lamet practice slash-and-burn agriculture, as well as hunting, gathering and fishing.[2] The Lamet trade with the Lao and Thai to obtain their necessaries.[2] Some Lamet also work for wages.[2]

Religions[edit]

Marriage customs[edit]

After marriage, the newly married Lamet man moves into his wife's family home and works for her father. He then begins to make marriage payments up to a fixed amount, after which the couple either moves in with the husband's parents, or the couple makes a new household.[citation needed]

Significance of Wealth[edit]

Wealth is considered an important characteristic among male Lamet. For the Lamet, wealth is measured by one's inventory of buffalo, chimes, and bronze drums.[citation needed]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Results of Population and Housing Census 2015" (PDF). Lao Statistics Bureau. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f World Culture Encyclopedia-Lamet

External links[edit]