Akha Oral Literature

Presents the first comprehensive overview of oral literature of the Akha ethnic group of Southeast Asia in English translation. Included in this overview are stories and legends, the epic story of two brothers, the epic poem of creation, proverbs and an Akha lullaby. The Akha people, who live in China, Burma, Laos and Thailand, have a unique oral literature which has been handed down through time. The author started reducing the Akha oral literature to a written system in the 1950s and invested fifty years of research in recording the Akha oral tradition. This book presents an English translation of samples from this literature testifying to a rich storehouse of wisdom, fun and humor accumulated over the centuries by this unique ethnic group.