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Pov Thoj
Birth name	Pov Thoj
Born	1972 Phou San Xiangkhouang, Laos
Died	January 17, 1999 Khek Noi Phetchabun, Thailand
Genres	Country, Pop
Years active	1997?-1999
Spouse	Paib Vwj ​ (until 1999)​

Pov Thoj

Pov Thoj (b. 1972 - January 17, 1999) was Hmong singer born in the town of Phousan, Xiangkhouang Province, Laos. He is well known in the Hmong entertainment industry and amongst the Hmong community. In the 1990s, S.T. Universal Video introduced Pov Thoj and many other soon-to-be pop stars into the Hmong entertainment industry. Pov Thoj and S.T. Universal Video would go on to produce 8 albums, 2 music videos and a movie titled, Txhob Yuam Kev Hlub (Don't Force Love) shortly before his death.

Death and Controversy

Pov Thoj's cause of death stirred controversy in the Hmong community, and to this day, it's speculated on what was the cause of his death. In the 1999 issue of the Hmong Tribune, correspondents Anne Vang and Su Thao reported on January 17th, as stated by Pov Thoj's wife, Paib Vwj. She and Pov Thoj's friend Pov Xyooj and his wife were seeking the help of a healer who lived in Khek Noi for Pov Xyooj. Paib Vwj stated that Pov Thoj lost control of the vehicle and went astray into a ditch. Pov Thoj was knocked unconscious and quickly found aid from an unidentified man who drove them to see a doctor. Pov Thoj would be pronounced dead later that afternoon. Pov Thoj's producer, Su Thao, who last saw him on the 14th, was headed to Bangkok to board a flight to California. Pov Thoj's Father, after finally getting a hold of Su Thao, told him about the news. Su arrived at the village in Khek Noi where, upon seeing Pov's body observed, "It wasn’t anything like the Pov that I remembered. His face was blue and swollen, his neck was swollen. There was dark blood from his nose.”Pov's body was already lifted up upon a raised platform when Su arrived to the village. Hmong funeral rights states once the body is ce neeg,"Scooped up the body," it is taboo to perform an autopsy. Many conspiracies of foul play arise from this point, such as Pov Thao being poisoned by someone or Su Thao himself who poisoned him. Many rumors also speculate that Su Thao and his wife conspired to assassinate Pov Thoj. Some even say it was the jealous husband of the heroine actress of his movie, "Txhob Yuam Kev Hlub," who killed him, but due to Hmong funeral taboos, it was impossible to know the certain cause of his death. However, Pov Thoj's untimely death shocked many fans worldwide. His legacy lives on through the Hmong community and the Hmong Entertainment as he led a golden era of Hmong "country" and "pop" music, still sung and covered by many adoring fans.