205:
64:
46:
295:
355:
the fertile land. Rice is their staple crop and can be cultivated with other vegetables on upland plots of cleared land. In addition to rice, crops such as cotton, corn, pumpkins, bananas, ginger, coffee, and cocoa are raised. The Vai also gather various nuts and berries from the forests. The palm
342:
practices are common as people consider themselves to be surrounded by spirits that can change into living creatures or objects. These spirits are believed to have the power to do evil to individuals or to the whole tribe. The Vai perform ceremonies for the dead in which they leave articles of
282:
The Vai have three types of schooling. The first and most important is the bush school, where the children learn traditional Vai socialization skills, important survival skills, and other traits of village life for four to five years. Second is the
181:
and other Vai elders. Over the course of the 19th century, literacy in the writing system became widespread. Its use declined over the 20th century, but modern computer technology may enable a revival.
909:
574:
Outlines of a grammar of the Vei language, together with a Vei-English vocabulary. And an account of the discovery and nature of the Vei mode of syllabic writing
287:
school; some Vai children attend
English schools to learn the English language. Finally, there are the Quranic schools, where Vai children are taught the
424:
786:
538:
Scribner and Cole conducted fieldwork with the Vai people of
Liberia in the 1970s.3 The Vai had developed their own syllabary in the 1820s or 1830s.
902:
271:
In many aspects, the Vai are a unique
African ethnicity. Many believe that the region inhabited by the Vai is the original home of the
201:
border. Many Sierra
Leonean villages that border Liberia are populated by the Vai. In total, only about 1200 Vai live in Sierra Leone.
1037:
392:
1492:
895:
779:
550:
491:
1507:
753:
726:
531:
676:
1497:
701:
356:
tree is an important commodity to the Vai. Nuts, butter, wine, fuel, soap, and baskets are among its many derivatives.
1487:
772:
1445:
969:
1030:
918:
259:
to discover the sea and stimulate a trade in salt. The members of these expeditions intermarried with local
331:
959:
929:
944:
635:
381:
279:. The Vai are also quite musical. They play many instruments and perform dances on special occasions.
1023:
795:
1502:
398:
1090:
811:
696:. Societe d'Etudes Linguistiques et Anthropologiques de France. Peeters Publishers. p. 144.
225:
1219:
806:
521:
1372:
427:(born 1946), Liberian geologist, environmentalist, former Minister of Lands, Mines and Energy
412:
365:
263:
to create the Vai, but they retained strong trade links with the
Mandinka of the interior.
178:
232:
by the
Portuguese, which has them settled in the area by the mid 15th century. Led by the
8:
572:
233:
636:"The Mane, the Decline of Mali, and Mandinka Expansion towards the South Windward Coast"
590:"Review: Ethnic Movements and Acculturation in Upper Guinea since the Fifteenth Century"
609:
1463:
1229:
749:
722:
697:
527:
436:
1434:
650:
601:
387:
375:
284:
252:
194:
88:
1046:
158:
1405:
1382:
1377:
1352:
1336:
1330:
1214:
1209:
1191:
1095:
743:
401:(1926–2013), of mixed Liberian Vai and German descent, grew up as a non-Aryan in
316:
288:
237:
190:
887:
430:
224:
sometime in the first half of the 17th century, denoting a political group near
1342:
1306:
1300:
1242:
1186:
1158:
1004:
984:
954:
417:
256:
241:
170:
473:
390:(1912–1978), Princess of Vai tribe, pioneering educator in Liberia, author of
1481:
1429:
1318:
1271:
1148:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1118:
1113:
1085:
1062:
846:
816:
454:
369:
174:
133:
92:
551:"Sierra Leone 2015 Population and Housing Census national analytical report"
492:"Sierra Leone 2015 Population and Housing Census National Analytical Report"
1451:
1416:
1347:
1324:
1248:
1181:
1176:
1153:
1128:
1072:
994:
974:
934:
871:
851:
841:
831:
764:
449:
402:
335:
204:
186:
166:
137:
112:
84:
69:
654:
1439:
1424:
1312:
1276:
1235:
1224:
1105:
1080:
989:
964:
939:
866:
861:
836:
826:
276:
260:
218:
141:
129:
125:
96:
433:(born 1985), Liberian author, of mixed Vai and Americo-Liberian ancestry
1396:
1266:
1123:
979:
949:
856:
821:
408:
327:
320:
613:
589:
339:
605:
319:
merchants from the 16th century onwards. A minority of the Vai are
311:
and have for centuries practiced traditions rooted in studying the
245:
221:
474:"Liberia - World Directory of Minorities & Indigenous Peoples"
1392:
1364:
1258:
352:
198:
162:
51:
1015:
675:
Monts, Lester P. (recordist), Monts, Jeanne (recordist) (1982).
378:(1870–1938), King of Vai tribe, Liberian politician and diplomat
1201:
308:
145:
719:
Mind and Social
Practice: Selected Writings of Sylvia Scribner
1168:
1054:
312:
108:
523:
Saving
Languages: An Introduction to Language Revitalization
255:
describe a
Mandinka king sending expeditions south from the
1291:
272:
519:
291:
under the guidance of the local Muslim religious leader.
244:, they had come southwest to raid and trade in salt and
294:
716:
217:
The earliest written documentation of the Vai is by
193:. The Sierra Leonean Vai are predominantly found in
343:clothing and food near the graves of the deceased.
917:
513:
315:. The Vai adopted Islam through the influence of
228:. The Vai are, however, likely the people called
1479:
691:
302:
165:, with a small minority living in south-eastern
520:Grenoble, Lenore A.; Lindsay J. Whaley (2006).
710:
1031:
903:
780:
694:An Annotated Glossary of Vai Musical Language
526:. Cambridge University Press. pp. 107–.
384:(1905–1962), Liberian educator and politician
794:
439:(born 2001), American-born Liberian sprinter
721:. Cambridge University Press. p. 193.
1038:
1024:
910:
896:
787:
773:
742:Dunn, D. Elwood; Holsoe, Svend E. (1985).
741:
1462:Ethnic groups whose languages are in the
564:
484:
275:, a male secret society known throughout
169:. The Vai are known for their indigenous
405:to later become a journalist in the USA.
393:The Autobiography of an African Princess
293:
266:
203:
717:Scribner, Sylvia; Ethel Tobach (1997).
633:
1480:
587:
570:
1019:
891:
768:
681:(LP). New York, NY: Folkways Records.
359:
38:Regions with significant populations
13:
571:Koelle, Sigismund Wilhelm (1854).
208:Group of Vai women and girls, 1907
14:
1519:
1045:
577:. London Church Missionary House.
748:. Scarecrow Press. p. 172.
745:Historical Dictionary of Liberia
420:(born 1953), Liberian politician
62:
44:
735:
560:. October 2017. pp. 89–99.
330:religions however coexist with
685:
668:
627:
581:
543:
466:
351:Most Vai make their living by
251:Oral histories transmitted by
1:
1493:Ethnic groups in Sierra Leone
919:Ethnic groups in Sierra Leone
460:
368:(1788–1888), inventor of the
303:Religion and spiritual belief
1508:Muslim communities in Africa
177:, developed in the 1820s by
7:
678:Music of the Vai of Liberia
643:Cahiers d'Études Africaines
443:
10:
1524:
594:African Historical Studies
382:Nathaniel Varney Massaquoi
346:
307:The Vai are predominantly
212:
1498:Female genital mutilation
1460:
1415:
1391:
1363:
1290:
1257:
1200:
1167:
1104:
1071:
1053:
925:
802:
692:Monts, Lester P. (1988).
372:in the early 19th century
185:The Vai people speak the
124:
119:
107:
102:
83:
78:
60:
42:
37:
32:
27:
16:West African ethnic group
1488:Ethnic groups in Liberia
796:Ethnic groups in Liberia
634:Massing, Andrew (1985).
558:Statistics Sierra Leone
499:Statistics Sierra Leone
1466:group of Mandé are in
299:
236:, one of the earliest
209:
189:, which is one of the
655:10.3406/cea.1985.2184
588:Person, Yves (1971).
478:Minority Rights Group
399:Hans-JĂĽrgen Massaquoi
297:
267:Culture and education
207:
120:Related ethnic groups
413:President of Liberia
411:(born 1939), former
366:Momolu Duwalu Bukele
179:Momolu Duwalu Bukele
161:that live mostly in
332:traditional beliefs
24:
360:Notable Vai people
300:
210:
22:
1475:
1474:
1013:
1012:
885:
884:
755:978-0-8108-1767-8
728:978-0-521-46767-4
533:978-0-521-01652-0
437:Joseph Fahnbulleh
425:Eugene H. Shannon
151:
150:
1515:
1040:
1033:
1026:
1017:
1016:
912:
905:
898:
889:
888:
789:
782:
775:
766:
765:
760:
759:
739:
733:
732:
714:
708:
707:
689:
683:
682:
672:
666:
665:
663:
661:
640:
631:
625:
624:
622:
620:
585:
579:
578:
568:
562:
561:
555:
547:
541:
540:
517:
511:
510:
508:
506:
496:
488:
482:
481:
480:. June 19, 2015.
470:
388:Fatima Massaquoi
376:Momulu Massaquoi
253:Momolu Massaquoi
195:Pujehun District
68:
66:
65:
50:
48:
47:
28:Total population
25:
21:
1523:
1522:
1518:
1517:
1516:
1514:
1513:
1512:
1478:
1477:
1476:
1471:
1456:
1446:Mandingo people
1411:
1406:Mandinka people
1387:
1383:Shangawa people
1359:
1286:
1253:
1210:Jakhanke people
1196:
1163:
1100:
1067:
1049:
1044:
1014:
1009:
921:
916:
886:
881:
798:
793:
763:
756:
740:
736:
729:
715:
711:
704:
690:
686:
674:
673:
669:
659:
657:
638:
632:
628:
618:
616:
586:
582:
569:
565:
553:
549:
548:
544:
534:
518:
514:
504:
502:
494:
490:
489:
485:
472:
471:
467:
463:
446:
362:
349:
305:
289:Arabic language
269:
240:inhabitants of
215:
191:Mande languages
63:
61:
45:
43:
20:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1521:
1511:
1510:
1505:
1500:
1495:
1490:
1473:
1472:
1461:
1458:
1457:
1455:
1454:
1449:
1442:
1437:
1435:Kuranko people
1432:
1427:
1421:
1419:
1413:
1412:
1410:
1409:
1401:
1399:
1389:
1388:
1386:
1385:
1380:
1375:
1369:
1367:
1361:
1360:
1358:
1357:
1356:
1355:
1353:Wangara people
1350:
1343:Soninke people
1340:
1337:Malinke people
1333:
1328:
1321:
1316:
1309:
1304:
1301:Bambara people
1296:
1294:
1288:
1287:
1285:
1284:
1279:
1274:
1269:
1263:
1261:
1255:
1254:
1252:
1251:
1246:
1243:Yalunka people
1239:
1232:
1230:Mogofin people
1227:
1222:
1217:
1212:
1206:
1204:
1198:
1197:
1195:
1194:
1192:Wangara people
1189:
1184:
1179:
1173:
1171:
1165:
1164:
1162:
1161:
1156:
1151:
1146:
1141:
1136:
1131:
1126:
1121:
1116:
1110:
1108:
1102:
1101:
1099:
1098:
1093:
1088:
1083:
1077:
1075:
1069:
1068:
1066:
1065:
1059:
1057:
1051:
1050:
1043:
1042:
1035:
1028:
1020:
1011:
1010:
1008:
1007:
1002:
997:
992:
987:
982:
977:
972:
967:
962:
957:
952:
947:
942:
937:
932:
926:
923:
922:
915:
914:
907:
900:
892:
883:
882:
880:
879:
874:
869:
864:
859:
854:
849:
844:
839:
834:
829:
824:
819:
814:
809:
803:
800:
799:
792:
791:
784:
777:
769:
762:
761:
754:
734:
727:
709:
703:978-2877230131
702:
684:
667:
626:
606:10.2307/216536
580:
563:
542:
532:
512:
501:. October 2017
483:
464:
462:
459:
458:
457:
452:
445:
442:
441:
440:
434:
428:
421:
418:Varney Sherman
415:
406:
396:
385:
379:
373:
361:
358:
348:
345:
304:
301:
268:
265:
257:Manding region
242:Manding region
214:
211:
171:writing system
149:
148:
122:
121:
117:
116:
105:
104:
100:
99:
81:
80:
76:
75:
72:
58:
57:
54:
40:
39:
35:
34:
30:
29:
18:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1520:
1509:
1506:
1504:
1501:
1499:
1496:
1494:
1491:
1489:
1486:
1485:
1483:
1469:
1465:
1459:
1453:
1450:
1448:
1447:
1443:
1441:
1438:
1436:
1433:
1431:
1430:Kpelle people
1428:
1426:
1423:
1422:
1420:
1418:
1414:
1408:
1407:
1403:
1402:
1400:
1398:
1394:
1390:
1384:
1381:
1379:
1378:Kyenga people
1376:
1374:
1371:
1370:
1368:
1366:
1362:
1354:
1351:
1349:
1346:
1345:
1344:
1341:
1339:
1338:
1334:
1332:
1331:Jowulu people
1329:
1327:
1326:
1322:
1320:
1317:
1315:
1314:
1310:
1308:
1305:
1303:
1302:
1298:
1297:
1295:
1293:
1289:
1283:
1280:
1278:
1275:
1273:
1272:Gbandi people
1270:
1268:
1265:
1264:
1262:
1260:
1256:
1250:
1247:
1245:
1244:
1240:
1238:
1237:
1233:
1231:
1228:
1226:
1223:
1221:
1218:
1216:
1215:Kakabe people
1213:
1211:
1208:
1207:
1205:
1203:
1199:
1193:
1190:
1188:
1185:
1183:
1180:
1178:
1175:
1174:
1172:
1170:
1166:
1160:
1157:
1155:
1152:
1150:
1147:
1145:
1142:
1140:
1137:
1135:
1132:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1117:
1115:
1112:
1111:
1109:
1107:
1103:
1097:
1096:Seenku people
1094:
1092:
1089:
1087:
1084:
1082:
1079:
1078:
1076:
1074:
1070:
1064:
1061:
1060:
1058:
1056:
1052:
1048:
1047:Mandé peoples
1041:
1036:
1034:
1029:
1027:
1022:
1021:
1018:
1006:
1003:
1001:
998:
996:
993:
991:
988:
986:
983:
981:
978:
976:
973:
971:
968:
966:
963:
961:
958:
956:
953:
951:
948:
946:
943:
941:
938:
936:
933:
931:
928:
927:
924:
920:
913:
908:
906:
901:
899:
894:
893:
890:
878:
875:
873:
870:
868:
865:
863:
860:
858:
855:
853:
850:
848:
845:
843:
840:
838:
835:
833:
830:
828:
825:
823:
820:
818:
815:
813:
810:
808:
805:
804:
801:
797:
790:
785:
783:
778:
776:
771:
770:
767:
757:
751:
747:
746:
738:
730:
724:
720:
713:
705:
699:
695:
688:
680:
679:
671:
656:
652:
648:
644:
637:
630:
615:
611:
607:
603:
599:
595:
591:
584:
576:
575:
567:
559:
552:
546:
539:
535:
529:
525:
524:
516:
500:
493:
487:
479:
475:
469:
465:
456:
455:Vai syllabary
453:
451:
448:
447:
438:
435:
432:
429:
426:
422:
419:
416:
414:
410:
407:
404:
400:
397:
395:
394:
389:
386:
383:
380:
377:
374:
371:
367:
364:
363:
357:
354:
344:
341:
337:
333:
329:
324:
322:
318:
314:
310:
296:
292:
290:
286:
280:
278:
274:
264:
262:
258:
254:
249:
247:
243:
239:
235:
231:
227:
223:
220:
206:
202:
200:
196:
192:
188:
183:
180:
176:
175:Vai syllabary
173:known as the
172:
168:
164:
160:
159:Mandé peoples
156:
147:
143:
139:
135:
131:
127:
123:
118:
114:
110:
106:
101:
98:
94:
90:
86:
82:
77:
73:
71:
59:
55:
53:
41:
36:
31:
26:
1503:Mandé people
1467:
1452:Mende people
1444:
1417:Sierra Leone
1404:
1348:Marka people
1335:
1325:Dyula people
1323:
1311:
1307:Banka people
1299:
1281:
1249:Zialo people
1241:
1234:
1187:Ligbi people
1182:Dyula people
1177:Bissa people
1159:Yaure people
1073:Burkina Faso
999:
876:
744:
737:
718:
712:
693:
687:
677:
670:
658:. Retrieved
649:(97): 36–7.
646:
642:
629:
617:. Retrieved
597:
593:
583:
573:
566:
557:
545:
537:
522:
515:
503:. Retrieved
498:
486:
477:
468:
450:Vai language
431:Wayétu Moore
403:Nazi Germany
391:
350:
336:supernatural
328:monotheistic
325:
306:
281:
270:
250:
229:
216:
187:Vai language
184:
167:Sierra Leone
154:
152:
113:Christianity
70:Sierra Leone
19:Ethnic group
1440:Loko people
1425:Kono people
1373:Busa people
1319:Duun people
1313:Bozo people
1277:Mano people
1236:Susu people
1225:Loma people
1220:Lele people
1149:Tura people
1144:Mwan people
1139:Jeri people
1134:Guro people
1119:Gban people
1114:Beng people
1106:Ivory Coast
1091:Samo people
1086:Kpee people
1081:Bobo people
1063:Boko people
340:shamanistic
277:West Africa
261:Gola people
234:Camara clan
197:around the
111:majority •
1482:Categories
1282:Vai people
1267:Dan people
1154:Wan people
1129:Goo people
1124:Dan people
600:(3): 676.
461:References
409:Ruth Perry
370:Vai script
298:Vai script
226:Cape Mount
115:minority •
23:Vai people
321:Christian
246:Kola nuts
222:merchants
79:Languages
970:Mandingo
505:28 March
444:See also
317:Mandinka
238:Mandinka
230:Gallinas
199:Liberian
103:Religion
1464:Manding
1393:Senegal
1365:Nigeria
1259:Liberia
1005:Yalunka
985:Sherbro
955:Kuranko
660:16 July
619:16 July
353:farming
347:Economy
334:in the
285:English
213:History
163:Liberia
89:English
56:140,251
52:Liberia
33:240,000
1397:Gambia
1202:Guinea
847:Kpelle
817:Gbandi
752:
725:
700:
614:216536
612:
530:
338:, and
326:These
309:Muslim
146:Gbandi
134:Kpelle
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1055:Benin
995:Temne
975:Mende
960:Limba
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872:Mende
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842:Kissi
832:Grebo
812:Congo
807:Bassa
639:(PDF)
610:JSTOR
554:(PDF)
495:(PDF)
313:Quran
219:Dutch
138:Mende
109:Islam
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945:Krio
940:Kono
930:Fula
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827:Gola
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528:ISBN
507:2020
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273:Poro
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130:Gola
126:Kono
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93:Krio
1000:Vai
980:Oku
950:Kru
877:Vai
857:Kru
822:Gio
651:doi
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