The ancestors of the Lyuli were probably a caste of singers and dancers who were forced to relocate due to economic hardship. They were scattered across several countries, including the territory of present-day Uzbekistan. Most Lyuli live in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. A smaller part lives in Russia.
Luli families are divided into clans and sub-clans. They are closed to anyone who does not belong to the Lyuli community, especially because they are not accepted by many of the peoples they meet. Tajiks may accept them better than other Central Asian peoples because of their similar language.
Traditional occupations: handicrafts, including jewellery, animal trading, fortune-telling, collecting recyclable materials, begging, music. There is a thin layer of intellectuals and clergy. The average standard of living is extremely low, although there are some middle class and even affluent people. At the same time, begging is not considered shameful in their society, and they often tell the legend that God gave the wealth due to them to other nations, allowing the Lyuli to ask for "their share" from others
