Black Hmong Shaman In Vietnam

Healing ceremony held by a 80 years old black HMONG shaman, performing in a private house in LAI CHAU village near SAPA The HMONGs are a predominant ethnic group in southern China, northern Laos and Vietnam. The one hour shamanic trance, involving an old man related to Hmong ladies I had recorded was a very energetic person for being over 80 years, still wearing around his neck the metal plate from the french army where he was defeated in Dien Bien Phu. The old man sings and jumps on his feet while using a gong and bells, his trance intends to clean body and soul of the people but also the house itself and forecast the future with some buffalo horns he throws on the ground of the house, in front of the altar of the house he performs, having prepared a chicken to kill and a paper replica of the chicken. RECORDED BY LAURENT JEANNEAU NOVEMBER 2006 PHOTO MARTIN KOLNER