Christianity in Ahka Villages

Ahkazah is an animistic belief system with various rituals, festivals and spirits that permeate everyday life.

[2] Catholic and American missionaries have infiltrated the traditional belief system of Ahka people by mass conversions of villages.

Chayan Vaddhanaphuti, an anthropologist at Chiang Mai University, described the conversion process: "They are assured education, scholarships and health services," he said.

Chayan also says [In this new religion] "the shamans and the spirit and cultural leaders have no place," and "The old, traditional knowledge that has been passed down to the community comes to an end."

[5] In Ahka culture, actions are more important than words, as shown at sacrificial ceremonies where no chanter needs to be present.

Akha culture also has similar stories of a lost book, but there is no recovery prophecy like in the Hmong and Karen and therefore no "message from the messiah".

[8] In 1962, the first Thai villagers were converted to Christianity, over 50 years after the first Burmese concerts by an Australian couple from the Overseas Missionary Fellowship.

However, because swidden agriculture is no longer plausible because of economic, political and ecological reasons the Ahka cannot grow enough corn and rice to feed the animals for zah ceremonies.

Akhaza is dwindling in younger generations as understanding the Thai language and culture is beneficial for economic incentive.

These Thammacarik Buddhist monks opened a school for male youths in Chiang Mai, a large city in Thailand.

Many suggest that the Ahka convert to Christianity at much larger numbers than Buddhism to remain their autonomy from the mainstream Thai, who are almost entirely Buddhist.

Another reason for recent converts is for opium addicts to seek out refugee from drug temptation in a Christian Ahka Village.

[4] Tourists are stunned by the villages that center around a church as this does not fit in their perception of the hill tribe people.

However, even with the influx of Christianity they maintain certain traditions such as Akha wear, dancing, herbal medicinal beliefs and language.