Kemei in China

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Operation China, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
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People Name: Kemei
Country: China
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 1,700
World Population: 1,700
Primary Language: Kemiehua
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Christian Adherents: 0.00 %
Evangelicals: 0.00 %
Scripture: Translation Needed
Online Audio NT: No
Jesus Film: No
Audio Recordings: No
People Cluster: Mon-Khmer
Affinity Bloc: Southeast Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Kemei claim they were once part of the Khmu people of Laos. They migrated to China approximately 60 years ago to escape war in Laos. They tell a colorful story explaining why they split from the Khmu. Long ago the two groups went out into the mountains on a hunting expedition. The Khmu killed an elephant, but the Kemei did not believe in eating elephants and caught pigs instead. The Kemei complained, saying it was not fair because the Khmu got to eat much more meat than they did. The quarrel grew so fierce that they decided to separate and have remained apart to this day.

The Kemei are a little-known group. It is not known in what minority, if any, the Kemei are counted by the Chinese authorities, who officially spell their name Ka Mi. The Kemei are not the same as the Khmu people group, who live in the same county and whose language is also from the Mon-Khmer linguistic family. Although their name resembles Khmer, the usual Chinese transliteration of Khmer is Gaomian.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Because of their small numbers, the Kemei intermarry outside their tribe. At the end of the year, the Kemei hold a festival to bring in the New Year. All Kemei wear red and yellow flowers during the celebration. They say this stems from a long time ago when a prince in Laos was murdered by a farmer. To mourn his death, all the people brought red and yellow flowers to his funeral. When a Kemei dies, they kill his pig and place it next to the corpse along with rice, vegetables, and his knife.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Kemei practice animism, with a demonic element to their rituals. To determine where a burial site should be, they carry an egg to the mountains and, with the help of mediums, are led by the spirits. When they reach the appointed place, the egg supernaturally turns black. The Kemei say the spirit of a dead person often returns home, so they continue leaving out food on the table for it.

An impromptu survey of the members of a Kemei community in 1996 revealed none had ever before heard of Jesus Christ. Dwayne Graybill reported, "Puzzled looks came upon the faces of both old and young when asked if they had heard of him. There has never been a church among the Kemei, nor has there ever been a single known believer among their entire tribe."

What Are Their Needs?

Without the guidance of Christ, these people will be lost in this life and the life to come. They need someone to go to them as Christ-bearers.

Prayer Points



Pray that the Kemei people will have a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings.

Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.

Text Source:   Joshua Project