Name of Ethnic Group: Xo Dang,
Ca-Dong, To-Dra, Ha-Lang, Mo-Nam, Ta-Tri, Ka Rang, Bri La, and Con Lan.
Population: Nearly 97,000
people.
Locality: The Xo Dang
are concentrated in Kon Tum Province and scattered in the mountainous
areas of Quang Ngai and Quang Nam-Da Nang provinces.
Customs and Habits: The Xo Dang
believe in animism and worship many spirits related to the production
of food and life.Each village has a "Rong" (communal house),
and the roof of this communal house forms two steeply rising surfaces
that resembles an axe-head. The village chief is the most respected
person in the community and all village affairs are managed by the chief.
Xo Dang people do not have family names as the proper name consists
of only one word with a prefix indicating the sex of the person, "A"
for men, and "Y" for women. Male and female adults are allowed
to seek their own loves. The Xo Dang wedding is very simple. After the
wedding, the married couple lives in rotation of their families
for a few years.
Culture: The Xo Dang belong to the
Mon-Khmer Group. The buffalo stabbing ritual is held annually. The Xo
Dang enjoy singing, dancing, playing gongs, and telling old tales. Xo
Dang Men are good at architecture, sculpting, and painting.
Economy: Farming
is the main form of income generation. Cattle and poultry raising, hunting,
picking and gathering, fishing, basketry, weaving, and blacksmithing
are other ways the Xo Dang survive.