Khamba

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The Khamba, also known as Khemba, inhabit around the Yang-Sang-Chu valley, which is also known as the Yongyap valley in the West Siang district, nearing the Tibetan border. Within the valley they inhabit in the villages Yorton, Lango, Tashigong, Nyukong and Mangkota.

The Khamba are cultivators. Crops, just like most of the other tribes, such as wheat and maize, is being cultivated. Their houses, which are made from stone and wood, is based on a structure that strongly resembles the Monpa.

The Khamba are adherents of Tibetan Buddhism and use their own script, Hingna, which is based on the Tibetan script. However, due to relative isolation from Tibet and occasional contacts with the Adi tribes, they are also somewhat influenced by the Donyi-Polo faith in their beliefs. In every village there will be a Buddhist Lama. Festivals that are celebrated are parallel with the Memba, which includes Losar, the Tibetan New Year.

Khamba is also used to refer to Tibetans living in Kham. The historical Kham territory is currently split into three Chinese provinces (West Sichuan, North Yunnan and South Qinghai and the East of the Tibet Autonomous Region).

The Khamba are not listed among the 56 ethnic groups in China, therefore they are considered as Tibetans by China.