Lhoba People

Lhoba People

Lhoba (Chinese: 珞巴) is a term of obscure (though probably Tibetan) origin which has come to apply to a diverse amalgamation of Tibeto-Burman tribespeople living in and around "Pemako" (a region in Southeastern Tibet), including Mainling, Medog, Zayü counties of Nyingchi Prefecture and Lhünzê County of Shannan Prefecture. The term is largely promulgated by the Chinese government, which officially recognises Lhoba as one of the 56 ethnic groups in China. Most people designated as "Lhoba" within modern-day Tibet Autonomous Region in China actually refer to themselves via a diverse set of autonyms (names recognized by a community itself), and do not traditionally self-identify as a single entity. The two main tribal groups which fall under the designation "Lhoba" in Tibet are the Yidu (Idu Mishmi) and the Bo'gaer (Bokar Adi), who are found in far greater numbers inside Arunachal Pradesh, a state of modern-day India (claimed by China). Other groups identified by Chinese authorities as "Lhoba" include the Na (Bangni).