Ami

From Freepedia

Ami is also a German colloquialism for a US citizen. Its usage may be affectionate, patronizing, or neutral.

The Ami (阿美), also known as the Amis and the Pangcah are an aboriginal tribe of Taiwan who speak an Austronesian language. They are one of nine legally recognized tribes of Taiwanese aborigines. They were originally located on the eastern side of the country between the current coastal cities of Hualien and Taitung.

The Ami comprise Taiwan's largest aboriginal group, accounting for more than one-third of Taiwan's indigenous population. The Ami are primarily fishermen due to their coastal location. Traditional Ami villages were relatively large for indigenous groups, typically between 500 and 1,000.

Not many people may have seen the Ami, but many people may have heard the Ami. The pop group Enigma used an Ami chant in their song "Return to Innocence" from the Enigma album, The Cross of Changes. This song was the theme song of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The main chorus of it was sung by Difang (Chinese name Kuo Ying-nan) and his wife, Igay (Chinese name Kuo Hsiu-chu), part of a Taiwanese aboriginal cultural performance group. An unauthorized recording was made while they were on tour.

Famous people of Ami ancestry include baseball player Chin-hui Tsao.