Co ethnic group
Customs and habits
The Co believes that all things
have souls, and they worship the souls of rice grains. In former days, the Co
lived in long houses built on stilts. Recently, the Co built shorter houses
that are level with the ground. The village chief is chosen on the basis of
knowledge, experience in production, behavior, and the trust of the villagers. In
the past, no Co lineage had an individual name; they all took the family name
of Dinh. Now, they have taken the family name of Ho, after President Ho Chi
Minh.
Culture
The Co language belongs to the
Mon-Khmer Group. The Co like to sing, dance, beat drums, and gongs. Folksongs
such as the Xru, Klu and Agioi are very popular.
Costumes
Men leave their upper torsos naked
and cover their lower torsos with loincloths. Women wear a skirt, bra and shirt
with short sleeves. Women often tie colorful beaded strings around their
waists. In winter, they cover themselves with blankets.
Economy
The Co lives mainly from slash-and-burn agriculture. They grow rice, maize, cassava, cinnamon, and other plants.
