Saho people

The Saho (sometimes called Soho) are an ethnic Cushitic peoples inhabiting the Horn of Africa. [4] They are principally concentrated in Eritrea, with some also living in adjacent parts of Ethiopia. They speak Saho as a mother tongue, which belongs to the Cushitic branch of the Afroasiatic family[5] and is closely related to all.

Saho
ሳሆ
The Saho ethnic flag
Total population
500.000~600.000
Regions with significant populations
 Eritrea350.000[1]
 Ethiopia170.000 (1996)[2]
Languages
Saho
Religion
Islam
Related ethnic groups

Demographics

According to Ethnologue, there are approximately 900.000 total Saho speakers. Most are concentrated in Eritrea (600.000~700.000 speakers), with the remainder inhabiting Ethiopia (170.000 speakers , 1996). Within Eritrea, the Saho primarily reside in the Southern and Northern Red Sea regions.[6]

Language

The Saho people speak the Saho language as a mother tongue. It belongs to the Saho-Afar dialect cluster of the Lowland East Cushitic languages, which are part of the Cushitic branch of the Afroasiatic family. The Saho language is quite similar to Afar.[6] The Irob dialect is only spoken in Ethiopia.[6]

Religion

The Saho are predominantly Muslim. A few Christians, who are also known as the Irob, live in the Tigray region of Ethiopia and the Debub Region of Eritrea.[7]

Customary law

Regarding the customary law of the Saho, when there is an issue the Saho tend to call for a meeting or conference which they call '"rahbe". In such a meeting the Saho people discuss how to solve issues related to water, pasture or land, clan disputes and how to alleviate these problems. This is also discussed with neighboring tribes or ethnic groups and sub-clans to reach a consensus. [8]

A skilled representative is chosen for this meeting, this representative is called a "madarre". A madarre brings forth arguments to his audience and sub-clans or tribes who are involved and tries to win them over. This is discussed with clan or tribal wise men or elders, "ukal".

On smaller scale conflicts between 2 individuals, one of the 2 takes their grievances to the "ukal", they in turn appoint "shimagale" or mediators for the dispute[8]

The Gadafur, whom are considered the saintly lineage. When it comes to customary law of the Saho, the Gadafur, who are considered part of the holy families, act as religious leaders and political mediators of the Minifere tribes. The Gadafur have a high status and are highly privileged and respected among the Saho. It is said that the Gadafur are originally from the tribe of Gadabuursi[9]

Saho women in traditional attire.

Sub-divisions

1. Dabri-Mela (Dabrimela)

  • Alades Are
  • Labhalet Are

2. Assa-Awurta (Asaworta)

  • Fokroti Are
  • Lelish Are
  • Assa- Kare
  • Asa-Lesan
  • Sarma Are
  • Faqih Dik
  • Urus Abusa

3. mini fireGaaso Arabic قعسو

  • Shum Abdalla Gaisha
  • Yofish Gaisha
  • Shum Ahmad Gaisha
  • Hassan Gaisha
  • Silyan Gaisha
  • Asa-Ushmaal
  • Oni - Maal
  • Salmunta
  • Gadafur(said to have Somali origins, from the Gadabursi clan)[10]

4. mini fireDasamo

  • Abdallah Harak
  • Naefie Harak
  • Mosat Harak
  • Subakum Are
  • Daili Are
  • Kundes
  • Illaishe
  • Asa Bora

5. mini fireFaqat Harak

  • Faqih Abubakar
  • Faqih Omar
  • Faqih Ahmad

6. mini fireSilaita

  • Hakatti Are
  • Qomma Are
  • Zella Are
  • Halato
  • Abbarior

7. Idda (Ge'ez እዳ, Arabic إِدًّا, alternatively ادة or ادى), one of the earliest known Saho communities in Eritrea, also known as “Bado Ambalish” (Ge'ez ባዶ አምባልሽ, Arabic اصحاب الأرض, "owners of the land [Earth]") or "bearers of land".

8. Irob (Ge'ez: ኢሮብ ʾirōb, also spelled Erob), a Christian community in the highlands of the Tigray Region.

9. Torra (طروعه), Serrah Aria (سرح عرى) and Mussa Aria (موسى عرى)

Notes
  1. Mohammed, Abdul Kader Saleh (2013). The Saho of Eritrea: Ethnic Identity and National Consciousness. LIT Verlag Münster. ISBN 978-3-643-90332-7.
  2. Olson, James Stuart; Meur, Charles (1996). The Peoples of Africa: An Ethnohistorical Dictionary. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-313-27918-8.
  3. Joireman, Sandra F. (1997). Institutional Change in the Horn of Africa: The Allocation of Property Rights and Implications for Development. Universal-Publishers. p. 1. ISBN 1581120001.
  4. "FindArticles.com - CBSi". findarticles.com. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  5. Mohammad, Abdulkader Saleh (2013-01-01). The Saho of Eritrea: Ethnic Identity and National Consciousness. LIT Verlag Münster. p. 162. ISBN 9783643903327.
  6. "Saho". ethnologue.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  7. "allsaho.com". allsaho.com. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  8. Qānūn Al-ʻurfī Li-muslimī Ākalaguzāī. LIT Verlag Münster. p. 26.
  9. Mohammad, Abdulkader Saleh (2013-01-01). The Saho of Eritrea: Ethnic Identity and National Consciousness. LIT Verlag Münster. ISBN 9783643903327.
  10. Mohammad, Abdulkader Saleh (2013-01-01). The Saho of Eritrea: Ethnic Identity and National Consciousness. LIT Verlag Münster. ISBN 9783643903327.
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