The Saho (Soho) people an agro-pastoral too amalgamated ethnolinguistic too cultural grouping belonging to the larger Cushitic ethnic grouping inhabiting the Horn of Africa. They are principally concentrated inwards Eritrea, with or thus also living inwards side yesteryear side parts of Ethiopia. Ancient Saho speaking people are descendants of ancient Kushites.
The term Kushite derives from the ancient peoples of North East Africa, which started to alive inwards this business office of Africa since to a greater extent than than 5000 B.C., with their ain civilization too language. The ancient Kushite peoples are those who spoke languages of the Kushite branch of the Afro-Asiatic (also known every bit Hamito-Semitic) family. They are the indigenous peoples of the nowadays twenty-four hr menstruum Eritrea, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia too Kenya.
The tidings "Saho" agency "nomad," ("saa" agency animals too "hoo" agency caretaker), which is also an seem of their previous pastoral way of life.
Saho women
In Eritrea, Saho mainly dwell inwards the Eastern foothills of Akele-Saho (aka Akele-guzai) too Semhar occupying 60% or to a greater extent than of the landmass. Sahos’ are also constitute intermingled with Tigrinia speaking public inwards parts of Eritrea’s highland regions (Akeleguzai, Seraye too Hamasein). They also intermingle with Tigre speaking tribes inwards Lowland regions such every bit Barka.
Language
The Saho people speak the Saho language (saahot waani or saahot zirho), which belongs to the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic family, every bit a woman nurture tongue. Historians too anthropologists every bit yet to accurately create upward one's heed the exact archeological fourth dimension inwards which Kushitic languages started to split until they choke separate languages every bit known inwards modern times. According to Bender too most scholars, the split of the Saho linguistic communication from the residual of the East Kushitic linguistic communication took house most 4 thou years ago. It is believed that this split happened slow too gradually over many centuries. Thus, Saho speaking ancestors started to choke a separate ‘linguistic too ethnic group’ most 4 thou years ago.
Saho linguistic communication is mainly spoken in territories bounded yesteryear the bay of Idhafale inwards the due east of Eritrea, the Laasi Ghedé valleys inwards the south, the Eritrea highlands to the westward (Akele-Guzai, Shimezana) every bit good every bit inwards borders with Tigre on the westward of Eritrea. It is also spoken inwards Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia mainly inwards Tigray Region.
The Kushitic languages are divided into 3 major subgroups. These include: (a) East Kushitic languages (Saho, Afar, somali too Sidama), (b) Central Kushitic or Agaw linguistic communication (such every bit Bilen ), (c) South Kushitic languages inwards Republic of Kenya too Tanzanya. According to linguistics, the Kushites spoke historically closely related dialects of the same linguistic communication too they all shared a mutual cultural heritage.
Saho linguistic communication has 4 main dialects: Tarua, Assawurta, Minifre, too Irob. Irob is mainly spoken inwards Ethiopia
Although at that topographic point is no reliable accurate statistics thus far, it is believed that Saho is spoken yesteryear over 320,000 speakers.
Relationship betwixt Saho & Afar language:
“The Afar & Saho receive got over 70% of linguistic relationships too they tin communicate easily with each other without whatever difficulty”. (Abdulkader S. Mohammed, 1977 p8)
“The Afar & Saho part a large pose out of words with the same meaning, cognates are unremarkably closely related. This is because 1 time people speaking a mutual linguistic communication receive got choke socially or geographically separated (…). But or thus words are to a greater extent than resistant to borrowing than others, that agency they hare less dependent plain to alter over time. In East-Cushitic languages, such words include those for universal concepts [eat, drink, rain, sky, Sun, moon, Star, Earth, cattle, etc..] too basic parts of human body”. M Nuuh Ali (1985: 21-22).
According to Leo Reinisch, (1886:795) that the Afar & Saho are non 2 languages but the same language. The construction & grammatical forms are the same 1 language. And this lies inwards their geographical place too isolation peculiarly yesteryear the Saho inwards the highlands who kept the language.
Herbert S. Lewis (1966:42) assumes that Afar & Saho receive got obviously been inwards their expanse long plenty to receive got diverged into 2 closely related but distinctly dissimilar languages.
Beautiful adult woman from Saho tribe of Eritrea
The term Kushite derives from the ancient peoples of North East Africa, which started to alive inwards this business office of Africa since to a greater extent than than 5000 B.C., with their ain civilization too language. The ancient Kushite peoples are those who spoke languages of the Kushite branch of the Afro-Asiatic (also known every bit Hamito-Semitic) family. They are the indigenous peoples of the nowadays twenty-four hr menstruum Eritrea, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia too Kenya.
The tidings "Saho" agency "nomad," ("saa" agency animals too "hoo" agency caretaker), which is also an seem of their previous pastoral way of life.
Saho women
In Eritrea, Saho mainly dwell inwards the Eastern foothills of Akele-Saho (aka Akele-guzai) too Semhar occupying 60% or to a greater extent than of the landmass. Sahos’ are also constitute intermingled with Tigrinia speaking public inwards parts of Eritrea’s highland regions (Akeleguzai, Seraye too Hamasein). They also intermingle with Tigre speaking tribes inwards Lowland regions such every bit Barka.
Saho woman
Language
The Saho people speak the Saho language (saahot waani or saahot zirho), which belongs to the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic family, every bit a woman nurture tongue. Historians too anthropologists every bit yet to accurately create upward one's heed the exact archeological fourth dimension inwards which Kushitic languages started to split until they choke separate languages every bit known inwards modern times. According to Bender too most scholars, the split of the Saho linguistic communication from the residual of the East Kushitic linguistic communication took house most 4 thou years ago. It is believed that this split happened slow too gradually over many centuries. Thus, Saho speaking ancestors started to choke a separate ‘linguistic too ethnic group’ most 4 thou years ago.
Saho linguistic communication is mainly spoken in territories bounded yesteryear the bay of Idhafale inwards the due east of Eritrea, the Laasi Ghedé valleys inwards the south, the Eritrea highlands to the westward (Akele-Guzai, Shimezana) every bit good every bit inwards borders with Tigre on the westward of Eritrea. It is also spoken inwards Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia mainly inwards Tigray Region.
The Kushitic languages are divided into 3 major subgroups. These include: (a) East Kushitic languages (Saho, Afar, somali too Sidama), (b) Central Kushitic or Agaw linguistic communication (such every bit Bilen ), (c) South Kushitic languages inwards Republic of Kenya too Tanzanya. According to linguistics, the Kushites spoke historically closely related dialects of the same linguistic communication too they all shared a mutual cultural heritage.
Saho linguistic communication has 4 main dialects: Tarua, Assawurta, Minifre, too Irob. Irob is mainly spoken inwards Ethiopia
Although at that topographic point is no reliable accurate statistics thus far, it is believed that Saho is spoken yesteryear over 320,000 speakers.
Woman from Saho tribe
Relationship betwixt Saho & Afar language:
“The Afar & Saho receive got over 70% of linguistic relationships too they tin communicate easily with each other without whatever difficulty”. (Abdulkader S. Mohammed, 1977 p8)
“The Afar & Saho part a large pose out of words with the same meaning, cognates are unremarkably closely related. This is because 1 time people speaking a mutual linguistic communication receive got choke socially or geographically separated (…). But or thus words are to a greater extent than resistant to borrowing than others, that agency they hare less dependent plain to alter over time. In East-Cushitic languages, such words include those for universal concepts [eat, drink, rain, sky, Sun, moon, Star, Earth, cattle, etc..] too basic parts of human body”. M Nuuh Ali (1985: 21-22).
According to Leo Reinisch, (1886:795) that the Afar & Saho are non 2 languages but the same language. The construction & grammatical forms are the same 1 language. And this lies inwards their geographical place too isolation peculiarly yesteryear the Saho inwards the highlands who kept the language.
Herbert S. Lewis (1966:42) assumes that Afar & Saho receive got obviously been inwards their expanse long plenty to receive got diverged into 2 closely related but distinctly dissimilar languages.
History
The descendants of ancient Saho speaking people, are descendants of ancient Kushites who ruled Arab Republic of Egypt inwards 25th dynasty too played a key utilization inwards Africa’s greatest too oldest civilization at Meroe, the nowadays twenty-four hr menstruum northern Sudan too lower Egypt.
Ancient Saho speaking people, every bit descendants of ancient Kushites, receive got left potent traceable prove of their over 5000 years of rich history. The traceable prove include ancient stone paintings, monuments steles, ruined building, ancient pottery … etc. Some of these are constitute inwards Saho Blue Planet such every bit inwards (Qohaito, Kaskase, Adulis (Adola/Ado-Lai ), Balaw Kalaw, ruins of Matara
Historians too anthropologists every bit yet to accurately create upward one's heed the exact archeological fourth dimension inwards which Kushitic languages started to split until they choke every bit separate languages every bit know inwards modern times. According to Bender too most scholars, the split of the Saho linguistic communication from the residual of the East Kushitic linguistic communication took house most 4 thou years ago. It is believed that this split happened slow too gradually over many centuries. Thus, Saho speaking ancestors started to choke a separate ‘linguistic too ethnic group’ most 4 thou years ago.
According to the oral traditions, the Idda, Kabota too Asa-bora are the most ancient Saho ancestors inwards the electrical current Saho region. The Saho telephone band these 3 tribes the guardians of the Saho Blue Planet (Badho Ambadish or Badho Sogos inwards Saho language). As the oral history narrates "an Idda human being married a adult woman from kabota tribe too afterward destroyed Kabota inwards a bitter war, thus that Idda became the dominant tribe inwards the region, too extended its powers upward to the highlands. The Asabora, according to legends, are ancestors of the Minifere tribeswho commonly descended from 1 Asabora woman.
Oral traditions hold that or thus Saho clans came from various geographical origins too all adopted Saho, every bit their mutual linguistic communication too all shared a mutual cultural heritage. Some Saho clans affiliate their origins to Islamic dignitaries during Khilafa menstruum including to 1 of the 4 Khalifas themselves. This should non endure surprising, every bit good known inwards this region; peoples of the Horn of Africa too the Arabian Peninsula receive got a long history of human migration across the cerise sea, intermarriage, intensive linguistic, social too cultural exchange.
The people of Saho were known for their tearing opposition to whatever unusual invaders too colonial aggressors. Their oral history too poems say many amazing stories of bravery too sacrifices they had offered over the final 2 centuries. They uncompromisingly too heroically defended their honey Blue Planet from repeated attempts of highland Abyssinian rulers to invade their Blue Planet too had defeated Raas Araia too Raas Alula until the Italians invaded Eritrea inwards 1889.
The Saho, earlier the Italians’ occupation, were organised every bit clans, which receive got choke federated into several major tribes. They had chiefs, their affairs beingness managed yesteryear councils of elders. This did non suit the Italians’ demand for unopen command too accordingly they appointed chiefs inwards accuse of each tribe: a measure, which made for administrative efficiency if non for popularity. These chiefs receive got been dismissed outright yesteryear the electrical current authorities without introducing an option system.
Today, the take away a opportunity of losing oral Saho history too heritage is greater than ever. It is similar watching potent winds spreading dandy burn downwards with piffling resistance hoping that nosotros would endure left with or thus of our possessions. Therefore at that topographic point is an urgent telephone band for spreading awareness too a massive responsibleness upon every concerned private too every organised Saho grouping of the electrical current generation, wherever they are, to collate too document their ancestors’ history, all the same they can.
Saho tribes
The Saho people every bit it has already been narrated is composed of several tribes (kisho, meela or qabila). This includes:
1- ASA BORA too it consists of; Asa Asa Bora, Da’ Asa Bora
2- ASAWURTA too it clans comprise;
A) Asa Lesan too it consists of: Hassan Dik, Hussain Dik, Malasa Dik, Hummad Durwa, Ahmaddin Dik, Gaddali Dik.
B), Lelish Are too it consists of: Abdalla Dik, Omar Dik, Eishe Dik, Diot Abusa.
C)Fokroti Are*, Asa Kare*, Faqih Dik*, Sarma Are*, Uruske Dabbasit Abusa*.
D) Beit Tawakkal, Beit Khalifa, Adefer & Beit Danya, Beit Suleiman, Logo Chewa & Inda Asmail of 4te Asmera, Zingar of Dorfo.
3-BARADOTTA*
4-DABRI MELA too it consists of; Alades Are, Labhalet Are.
5-GADAFUR*
6-GALLE GIYA*
7-GINNI KARA*
8-HADO(aka HAZO) and it comprises the next clans:
A) Asa Alila too consist of: Asa Ali Gaisha, Hammadi Gaisha, Asa Alila, Musabaggo, Bokite, Mahammad Kayya, Higoga, Omarto, Konsubifire, Amo-buri Gaisha, Danderi Hazoita.
B) LAASA too it consists of :Ona Dawud Gaisha, Ona Abdalla Gaisha, Ona Ismaeel Gaisha, Ona Omar Gaisha, Ona Ahmaddin Gaisha, Ona Ali Gaisha, Sheikha Abusso, Ab Dawuud Gaisha, Shum Omarto, Asa Lak Hena, Toujoumona, Shum Ahmaddo, Shum Hasanto, Ona Mahammad Dik, Bokite shum Bukoh dik, Maar dik, Asa Ibrahim Dik, Asa Abdalla dik, Semaye too Surrugso.
C) Shum Hummad Dik too it consist of : Sheikh Adamto, Dawud gafo dik, Talak, Maadar dik, Asa Alila (Barah).
9-HASABAT ARE, and it consists of;Hamad Are; Aleit Are; Mieenqut Are too Sandaqa Are.
10-IDDA*
11-IROB too it consists of; Algadi Are, Buknaitee Are , Hasaballa
12-KABOTA and it consists of; Gorbey, Tabita, Hataba, Shekhait, Zakarit, Alirga
13-MINIFRE too it consists of the next tribes;
A) GAASO too it is made upward of the next clans: Shum Abdallah Gaisha, Yofish Gaisha, Shum Ahmad Gaisha, Hassan Gaisha, Silyan Gaisha, Asa Ushmaal, Oni Maal.
B) DAASAMO is made upward of the next clans: Abdallah Harak, Naefie Harak, Mosat Harak, Subakum Are, Daili Are, Kundes, Illas.
C) SILAITA and it comprises: Hakatti Are, Qum Mee Are, Zeila Are, Hilato, Abbarior, Abdiaa
D)FAKAD HARAK (aka FAKIH HARAK) too it comprises: Faqih Abubakar, Faqih Omar, Faqih Ahmad
14-NAFEEAA*
15-SHEIKHA (These are families too tribes that crossed the Red Sea to spread Islam inwards Eritrea at dissimilar times. Hence, create non draw their linage to a mutual ancestor).
A)Intile Sheikh Are B) Sheikh Salim Are including Bet Sheikh Mahmoud too Ad Dirke inwards Sahel C) Danagulta D) Hajji Abkur E) Iror Naba F) Sheikh Dimbagog G) Sheikh Lahlaha H) Akhadar Abusa I)Muallim Dik J) Hajji Hedor
16-TARU3A too it consists of; Sara7 Are, Mosat Are.
17-SAATOT*
18- SALMUNTA too it consists of; A’sa Salmunta too Dat Salmunta
19-SANAFE (SAN3FE) too it consists of; Sheikh Umori too Uwaal Dik, Hassan Silah Dik,Umar Gorx Dik,Sancaffe Mahmoud Dik.
20-Samhar is domicile to a pose out of Saho clans too families that branched out from the main tribes that are listed above. Some of those nosotros tin draw are;
Qadida, Chewai Dik, Barole Dik, Sabbe Dik, Harak Dik, Haggi Wad Hamid Are, Shenghebai Dik, Sangor Dik, Khalifa Are, Adulai Are, Minni Are, Shehabi Are, Habona Are, Amir Dik, Zakaria Dik, Shemo Are, Tsewai Are, Hasino Are, Talke Are, Shikan Are, Sadiko Are, Edim Bagi Are, Sheik Humad Arkale Are, Sheikh Yassin Are, Ansara Are, Debrom Are, Falul Are, Dini Are, Gubbala Are, Yusuf Are, Unda Ali Are, Haggi Abdu Are, Khalifa Ahmad Are, Nabara Dik, Ali Babu Dik, Gadam Dik.
For detailed information on Saho tribes kindly read Abdulkader Saleh Mohammad`s volume "The Saho of Eritrea: Ethnic Identity too National Consciousness.
Economy
They are agro-pastoralists too their subsistence economic scheme relies livestock breeding too rain-fed agriculture, based on communal Blue Planet ownership system. Prior to the Italian colonization, they secured caravan merchandise routes betwixt the coasts too the highlands, which provided the clans with additional income.
Land Ownership:
As most parts of the pre-colonial Africa, Blue Planet is owned commonly yesteryear the clan. It was because of this mutual ownership of Blue Planet it was piece of cake for colonialists too indigenous province to receive got away the Blue Planet from pastoral nomads. Italians declared Blue Planet owned yesteryear pastoralists every bit belonging to the State. Surprisingly, The 1994 Land Reform annunciation yesteryear the Eritrean government, did non rising upward to the expectations of pastoralist communities, since did non accord them whatever legal rights to their land.
The 3 types of Blue Planet ownership, which are prevalent with Saho are:
1. Regional land, people of 1 geographical expanse owned the Blue Planet commonly regardless of their tribal distribution.
2. Tribal land, Blue Planet owned on tribal basis. Here menage unit of measurement has no specific rights to the land.
3. Family or sub-clan land, this was a Blue Planet protected yesteryear specific menage unit of measurement for their grazing or shifting cultivation. (Abdulkader S. Mohammed 1997: 11)
Socio-political structure
Traditional Saho gild was strongly patriarchal too the roles of the granddad too manful individual nurture was highly respected. The extended menage unit of measurement had the ability to command the behaviour too behave of its members, too elders were cherished every bit the cultural transmitters of the society. Marriage followed patterns related to the flat of menage unit of measurement relations, too matrilateral cross-cousin matrimony was strongly preferred. In the absence of formal government-supported safety system, the extended menage unit of measurement organization too kinship affiliations played too proceed to play an of import utilization to back upward the aged, widows, the handicapped too immature people. Those who alive inwards urban areas back upward their menage unit of measurement members too kins inwards the countryside.
The organizing regulation of Saho gild was a decentralized egalitarian (acephalous) system, inwards which leaders of sub-tribes too clans were democratically elected for specific menstruum of fourth dimension inwards full general meetings (rakhbe) of elders too wise men. The main responsibleness of the elected leaders were securing the basic requirement of their sub-tribes too mediating too settling problems according to the customary laws.
Marriage
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 menage unit of measurement who wishing to secure a husband for their children volition telephone band a coming together too speak over the lawsuit to ensure that the husband whom they desire to take away for their menage unit of measurement fellow member is non introduced, pledged or promised to or thus other family.
They attempt to notice detailed data most the girl`s menage unit of measurement life too get together data on her grapheme through gossips too visits. this is done earlier the official negotiation takes house inwards monastic say to take away a adult woman who volition conform to the family`s codes of behaviour too to facilitate her integration into the household to avoid time to come tensions. The mediation is handled yesteryear the elders (shemagelle), 1 of whom should endure the uncle of the spouse. If the 2 parties comes into an agreement, they innovate themselves into the menage unit of measurement of the immature women.
The mediators brings with them gifts such every bit coffee, sugar, coin or wheat too give them to the menage unit of measurement who inwards plough prepares nutrient (porridge) for the guests.
After eating the meal, honey too milk are served every bit a sign of hospitality, too thus they educate java too inaugural off to discuss. The Saho telephone band this procedure of starting tidings "afti-fakkot", which agency "opening the mouth" to speak or discuss. All the gifts choke to the moth
er of the fiancee (liisho), too the manful individual menage unit of measurement members of the dyad fixed the appointment of the matrimony too speak over what contribution shall endure made every bit dowry yesteryear the groom or the gift to endure given to the bride.
Usually the matrimony ceremony takes house 1 twelvemonth after the engagement. In the rural areas, it is celebrated during the harvest seasons, whilst inwards the urban centres the preferred fourth dimension is the summertime opor-garai too the menstruum earlier the celebration of the Ramadan.
Saho bride
Religion
The Saho are predominantly Muslim. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few Christians, who are also known every bit the Irob, alive inwards the Tigray part of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia too the Debub Region of Eritrea
Saho cultural grouping - Festival Eritrea 2006 - Asmara Eritrea.
source:http://www.allsaho.com/
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