Red Karen

Karenni

The nine subgroups of the Kayah tribe
Total population
Unknown
Regions with significant populations
Myanmar, Thailand
Languages
Kayah, Karen (Kanyaw), Kayaw, Kayan
Religion
Christianity, Animism, Theravada Buddhism

The Red Karen, more commonly referred to as the Karenni, also known as the Kayah or the Kayahli (meaning "red human"), are a Sino-Tibetan people living mostly in Kayah State, Myanmar (Burma).

According to a 1983 census, the Karenni (Kayahli) consist of the following groups: Kayah, Geko (Kayan Ka Khaung, Gekho, Gaykho), Geba (Kayan Gebar, Gaybar), Padaung (Kayan Lahwi), Bres, Manu-Manaus (Manumanao), Yintale, Yinbaw, Bwe, Shan and Pao. Several of the groups (Geko, Gebar, Padaung) belong to Kayan, a subgroup of Karenni (Kayahli).

The Karenni States were a collection of small states inhabited by Karenni people, ruled by petty princes named myozas. These included Kantarawadi, the only state whose ruler was promoted to a saopha or sawba, Kyebogyi, Bawlake, Nammekon and Naungpale. They were independent until British rule in Burma, and had feudal ties to the Burmese kingdom. The states bordered the Shan States of Mong Pai, Hsatung and Mawkmai to the north, Thailand to the east, the Papun district of Lower Burma to the south, and a stretch of the Karen Hills inhabited by the Bre and various other small tribes to the west. During British rule, the Karenni had a garrison of military police, which was stationed at the village of Loikaw.