Beja people

The Beja people are an ethnic group in the Horn of Africa, found mostly in Sudan, but also in parts of Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Egypt. They are nomadic.

Related Topics:
Horn of Africa - Sudan - Ethiopia - Eritrea - Egypt - Nomadic

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The Beja speak an Afro-Asiatic language (see Beja language), but a significant number also speak Tigrinya. The Beja contains smaller tribes, for example the Ababde.

Related Topics:
Afro-Asiatic language - Beja language - Tigrinya - Ababde

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By Prof Osheik Adam Ali (Phd)

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osheikali@hotmail.com

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Here a basic and concise information about the Beja, the local

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inhabitants of the Eastern Sudan, parts of Eritrea, Ethiopia and Egypt is

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provided. This is one of the most ancient ethnic group of the region. They

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contacted and witnessed the rise and fall of many civilizations of the

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Middle East but themselvs remained unchanged. They are strictly nomadic

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population with special admiration for camel, the most suitable animal for

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their arid territory.

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BEJA PROFILE

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· INTRODUCTION

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· PEOPLE

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· HISTORY

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· LAND

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· CULTURE

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· LIFE STYLE

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· SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

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· POLITICS

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INTRODUCTION

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The objectives of this brief is to assist the Beja people who live in

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the Eastern part of the Sudan, with members of the same tribes in Eritrea,

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Egypt and Ethiopia. The people of the region have been marginalized by the

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successive governments of Khartoum, forcibly displaced by confiscating graze

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lands for agriculture schemes, systematic destruction of environment in

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mining gold etc, drought and desertification and caught in a bitter

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cross-fire and mine fields between the government and it's opposing forces.

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The strategy should promote the advancement of the people by

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relieving poverty, diseases, distress and improving the condition of life

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for the Beja people by protecting their environment, advancing hygene,

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public health, health of children and their mothers, nutrition, education

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and promoting their ancient culture, history, language, heritage, arts and

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other aspects. It would be a long term policy of this organization to

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establish firm links with local and international academic institutions and

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organizations of common interests for exchange of information and carrying

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out or assist in conducting research, surveys, investigations and seminars

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in relevant areas. Special attention must be paid to women participation,

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vigorous academic and vocational training of the youth and rehabilitation

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of the displaced people. In Kassala province only, 40 villages are deserted

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and 36 schools closed, in The Red Sea province 20 villages are deserted and

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17 schools closed.

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PEOPLE

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The Beja tribes are the indigenous inhabitants of the Eastern Region of the

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Sudan they represent 13% of the total population of Sudan. Members of these tribes are also present in southern Egypt and

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northern parts of Eritrea and Ethiopia. Their bulk, however is found in the

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Sudan.

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The Beja represent the most prominent, intact ethnic entity in the Sudan and

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in the north east part of Africa.

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It is almost impossible to trace, with precision, the origin of the Beja

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and the accumulating information does not lead to a definite conclusion.

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Many western researchers stress upon the Hamiatic origin of the Beja. This

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has been supported by physical and linguistic evidence. On the other hand,

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it would be difficult to ignore the indisputable Semitic, namely the Arab

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influence upon the Beja .In fact the Arab blood in the Beja's veins is not a

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new comer. Most of the present-day Beja try to identify themselves with the

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prophet Muhamed, a situation common in the Arab population of the Sudan.

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Pre-Islamic Arab influx from southern Arabia (especially from Hadramot) to

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the North East Africa is well established. The rate of the intermarriage

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between the migrated Arabs and the indigenous people, however intensified

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during the Islamic rule. The Arabs exploited the matrilineal social system

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of the Beja tribes which provides authority and leadership to sons of

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sisters and daughters to promote their influence and aristocratic rule .The

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one-directional movement of the Arabs to the Beja region was enhanced by

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tribal ,political, religious and economic factors prevailing at that time in

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the Arabian Peninsula. Having all this in mind , it would be justifiable to

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look at the present Beja as a blend of Hamo-Semitic race.

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Tribalism is the dominant socially accepted system in the Beja's society. It

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is a self-identity for the individual. To maintain this identity the Beja

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have to preserve their tribal structure by cross-cousin intermarriage. The

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tribe has to defend its individual whatever great his guilt or offence; as

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the same time the individual has to protect the honor and territory of the

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tribe. These are two-ways interests to be closely observed by both sides.

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The number of Beja has been estimated to be around three millions or more

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than 6% of the total Sudan's population. They are divided into

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gabilas(tribes) and clans and they are named after their male ancestors. In

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a such patrilineal society the birth of a male child is received with joy

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and enchantment while the events of a newborn girl are passed unnoticebly.

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Structurally, the prominent Beja tribes are:

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Hadandawa Amar'ar Beni Amer Habab Bishareyeen

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Halanga Artega Ashraf Kumelab Melhetkenab

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HISTORY

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The nomadic tribes of the Eastern Sudan were well known for travelers and

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historians of the Home of Africa. Different names were given to them, but

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the word "Beja" remained the most popular descriptive term for the

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inhabitants of the north east part of Africa. Their known history extended

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to more than 5000 years. They contacted the Pharaohs of Egypt, the Greeks,

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Romans, Axomites, Arabs, Turks and finally the British. Of these the

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Arabs had the most significant impact upon them. This has resulted into

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their conversion to Islam and adoption of Arab lineage. Historically, the

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role of the ancient Beja kingdoms extended to include ,in addition to the

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Eastern Sudan, Lower Egypt, Northern Eritrea and parts of Ethiopia. As the

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same time they maintained economic ties with other Sudanese kingdoms and

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with the rest of the world ,like China and India, via their flourishing Red

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Sea ports, such as Aidhab, Bad'i and Suakin.

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The Beja were in a continuous war with themselves and with others. Natural

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resources, such as gold, ebony, ivory, precious stones were tempting items

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for foreign interference. Accordingly, they survived waves of both military

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and cultural invasion by more organized and better equipped armies. In

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addition to that, their harsh environmental conditions, self sufficiency,

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full content with their simple way of life and deeply inherited suspicion of

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foreigners -all contributed to their preservation of their ethnic and

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territorial integrity.

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It is worth noting to recall that one of the most detailed described period

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of the Beja history is the time of the era Anglo-Egyptian communion

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(1898-1956) where they resisted that rule under their Mahdist's commander

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