This is a compilation of various ethnic groups from different ethnic families of south east asia found in PHONGSALY northern LAOS : the Tibeto burmese, the Hmong - Mien, the Mon khmer, the Tai - Lao and other uncategorized populations, making the northern province of Phongsaly at the boarder with China and Vietnam, a very diversified ethnic area. Let s put those people into categories to the Tibeto-burmese belong the AKHA, PHOUNOI originating from China; the MIEN/MOON ( YAO ) also come from China, the KHMU belonging to the MON-KHMER family are the largest austro asiatic population of Laos; and the LU belong to the TAI-LAO group of population from which the LAO derived.

Tracks 1 to 4 in PU YO village , up the Nam OU river from Hatsa live the AKHA NU QUAY august 2011

1 AKHA BIMO ( shaman ) naming ancestors, recited by I YEI 58 years old man.
2 AKHA BIMO ( shaman ) A CHI CHA historical song, by I YEI 58 years old man.
3 AKHA BIMO ( shaman ) SAN JIJI wedding song, by I YEI 58 years old man.
4 AKHA jungle, a 2 hours walk from the Nam OU river to the village
Tracks 5 to 12 in villages around MEUNG KHOUA, PHONGSALY december 2010
5 KHMU prepared BAMBOO hit on the hand by a woman in SENLAT village,
6 KHMU PI a small green bamboo reed pipe inserted in a larger bamboo flute with 2 holes performed by a man ONG 48 years old in OMPHIA village
7,8 KHMU song performed a man ONG 48 years old in OMPHIA village
9 KHMU PI a small green bamboo reed pipe performed by a woman NANG YEUM 55 years old in LANGXIAT village
10 KHMU TENG HET a 1 metal stringed viole in bamboo bowed with a lubricated bamboo stick performed by a man SIANG BOPAN 42 years old in LANGXIAT village
11 KHMU TOT bamboo flute with 2 holes performed a woman NANG YEUM 55 years old in LANGXIAT village
12 KHMU song by NANG YEUM 55 years old in LANGXIAT village

13 LU song performed by 4 women in NAVAY village, BOUNTAI, june 2010

14 MOON ( Lan tien YAO in chinese ) ceremony involving a dumber, a dancing man with bells and a shaman reciting prayers and throwing on the ground woodblocks in order to forecast the fate of someone. june 2010

15 PHOUNOI a modern song <GAW KOON ATAOWEI> performed by BOWAN 38 years old using a TOOM ( wooden drum with skin ) in MEUNG KHOUA, PHONGSALY dec 2010

16 children greetings in HATSA august 2011

RECORDED BY LAURENT JEANNEAU IN 2010, 2011