Mythologies of the Black Lô Lô Tribe

The Lô Lô is a Loloish ethnic group of Vietnam. The Lô Lô ethnic group consists of 3,134 people in Hà Giang and Cao Bằng, also including some in Mường Khương District of Lào Cai Province. They are also known as Mùn Di, Di, Màn Di, La La, Qua La, Ô Man, and Lu Lộc Màn. In Vietnam, they are officially recognized as one of 54 ethnicities of the country. Speakers of the Mondzi or Mantsi language are classified as the Flowery and Black Lolo people. The Lo Lo people in Vietnam are closely related to the Yi people in China. The Lo Lo people first came to Dong Van and Meo Vac districts in Ha Giang province and Phong Tho district, in Lai Chau province, then part of the Lo Lo people in Ha Giang moved to Bao Lac district in Cao Bang province. The Lo Lo people are also called Mun Di, Di, Man Di, La La, Qua La, O Man, and Lu Loc Man. The Lo Lo ethnic group includes Lo Lo Den (Black Lo Lo), Lo Lo Hoa (Flower Lo Lo), and Lo Lo Trang (White Lo Lo). According to the survey on the socio-economic status of 54 ethnic minority groups in 2019, conducted by the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs and the General Statistics Office, the population of the Lo Lo people as of April 1, 2019 was 4,827 people, including 2,413 males and 2,414 females. They mainly live in Cao Bang and Ha Giang provinces, in addition to some central provinces and Central Highlands region, such as Binh Dinh and Gia Lai.

The Lo Lo number just over 3,000 and their language is closest to Burmese within the Tibeto – Burmese family. They live in Dong Van and Meo Vac in Ha Giang Province, Bao Lac in Cao Bang Province and Muong Khuong in Lao Cai Province. They lived in tight-knit communities where ancestor worship is very important. They use charcoal to draw the faces on statues of deceased family members which are placed near the family altar. They divide into two sub-sections, the Black Lo Lo and the Flower Lo Lo who actually live in Meo Vac and have 4,000 sewn triangles on their traditional costume. The kettledrum is a traditional instrument. Legend says that god saved two siblings from the floods by putting them into a drum which floated. They subsequently married and were the first of the Lo Lo tribe. Bronze drums are used for special occasions and buried in the earth for maintenance. The head of each family is responsible for their drums. They are especially important at funerals when their sound helps the deceased spirit reach ancestors. Two drums are placed on a shelf at the feet of the deceased and played using drumsticks. Only single men and men whose wives are not pregnant are allowed to play them during the ceremony. Their calendar divides the year into 11 months, each called the name of an animal. Their folkloreis expressed in dances, songs, and old tales. The Lo Lo celebrate the Lunar New Year along with other Vietnamese and the Chinese. In addition, there is the New Rice Festival, the Double Five Festival held on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, and the 5th July Festival.

The Lo Lo mainly worship their ancestors. In fact, their villages are normally on mountain slopes close to sources of water. They live in a group of villages, each village having 20 to 25 houses. These houses are either on stilts, half on stilts and a half on the ground, or level with the ground. People of the same lineage live in the same village. The leader of the lineage is the Thau Chu. This leader is responsible for ritual ceremonies and the preservation of the customs of that lineage. The Lo Lo practice monogamy and the wife comes to live in her husband’s house after marriage. The Lo Lo use bronze drums for special occasions, but bury these drums in the earth for maintenance, and unearth them only for usage. The head of each family lineage is the keeper of the bronze drums. They use these drums at funerals or to keep time during dances. The Lo Lo language belongs to the Tibeto-Burman Group. Their written language used pictographic scripts which are no longer in use. The calendar of the Lo Lo divides the year into 11 months, each corresponding to the name of an animal. The folklore culture of the Lo Lo is diverse. It is expressed particularly well in dances, songs, and old tales. The Lo Lo people have a high level of education, as many are university graduates or they have finished secondary education. The Lo Lo Hoa women often wear a low-neck vest and a pair of trousers underneath a short skirt. Lo Lo Den men wear pajama-style trousers and a square-necked vest pulled over their heads. They incorporate colourful designs into their turbans, vests, skirts, and trousers.

Lo lo Hoa women wear a low-necked vest and a pair of trousers covered with a short jupe. Lo lo Den women wear pyjama-style trousers and a square-necked vest pulled over the head. They usually establish their villages on mountain slopes but close to sources of water. They are grouped in villages, each having from 20 to 25 houses which are built either on stilts or half on stilts and half on the ground and level to the ground. Their written language are pictographic scripts which are no longer in use. The calendar of the Lo lo divides the year in it months, each corresponding to the name of an animal. The Lo Lo are also called Mun Di, O Man, Lac To... There are two small groups, i.e. Lo Lo Hoa (Variegated Lo lo) and Lo lo Den (Black Lo Lo). Their population numbers more than 3,000 persons. They live chiefly in Bong Van and Meo Vac districts ( Ha Giang province), Bao Lac (Cao Bang) and Muong Khuong (Lao Cai). Their language belongs to the Tibeto-Burman Group. They mainly worship their ancestors. Their source of living depends mainly on maize and rice growing on burnt-over land. They have many family lineages. People of the same lineage co-habit in a village. The leader of the lineage is Thau chu who is responsible for ritual ceremonies and the preservation of the customs of the lineage. The Lo lo practice monogamy and the wife lives in her husband's house. They possess bronze drums, buried in the earth for maintenance and unearthed only for usage. The head of each family lineage is the keeper of the bronze drums which are only used in funerals or to keep time for dances. The folkloric culture of the Lo lo is diverse, particularly expressed in dances, songs and old tales. Colourful designs are arranged in a special style on turbans, vests, jupes and trousers. Although life is still hard, much importance is attached to education. Many persons are university graduates or have finished secondary education; they assume important responsibilities in the locality or actively take part in economic and cultural activities.