Maniq People

The Maniq or Mani are an ethnic group of Thailand. They are more widely known in Thailand as the Sakai (Thai: ซาไก), a controversial derogatory term meaning’barbarism’. They are the only Negrito group in Thailand and speak a variety of related Aslian languages, primarily Kensiu and Ten’edn. They have their own language, culture, and no alphabet.

In Thailand, the Maniq minority live in the southern provinces of Yala, Narathiwat, Phatthalung, Trang, and Satun.