[1][2] When combined, the words ya (path/connecting staircases) and li (light) means "people from the place where the sun rises (East)."

The -mu suffix is added to indicate 'place',[3] the phrase O Yalimu refers to the Yali people's traditional region.

Because humans, animals, trees, and other living things sprouted from his severed body parts, he was revered as the creator of the universe.

[6] The settlement territory of the Yali lies between the rivers Ubahak to the east and Sibi, Yahuli, and Podeng to the west.

[9] Traditionally the men are only clothed with a penis sheath (humi) and rattan rings around the waist, this combined attire is called sabiyab.

The humi of the Yali are long and thin made from dried bottle gourd, and secured with the rattan.

The skin are painted with clay or charcoal, and boar tusks are fashioned to necklace or nose accessories.

In a patriarchal society, the men are responsible for building houses and hunting, while women grow and gather food.

The Christian missionaries stopped several feuds between villages;[2] old war rituals and ancestor cults were forgotten.

The Yali live in villages called opumbuk, which consists of yowi, hut for men, homea or humi, hut for women, wam ibam, pig house for livestocks, and a sacred house for boys and men rituals called usa yowi.