Bahnar

The Bahnar, or Ba-Na, are an Austroasiatic people of the Central Highlands in present-day Vietnam, concentrated in the Gia Lai and Kon Tum plateaus, with communities in coastal Binh Dinh and Phu Yen. Their Bahnar language belongs to the Bahnaric branch of the Mon-Khmer family, and the people comprise many local groups, among them the Jolong, Rongao and Golar.

Traditionally matrilineal swidden farmers, they honoured spirits with gong ensembles, buffalo sacrifice and epics such as Dam Noi. From about 1150 their highland valleys came under the Cham kingdom of Champa, whose power still ringed them in 1337.

In 1471 Vietnamese emperor Le Thanh Tong stormed the Cham capital Vijaya, after which the Bahnar faced growing Vietnamese, Lao and Thai pressure. In 1771 the Tay Son rising began in nearby coastal lowlands, pulling highland villages into wars ending with the establishment of the Nguyen dynasty in 1802.