The Tribal Society

The Berta, also known as Bertha, Funj, or Benishangul, are an ethnic group primarily found along the border regions of Sudan and Ethiopia. With a total population of approximately 390,000, they are split between Ethiopia, where they number 208,759, and Sudan, with around 180,000. The Berta people speak a Nilo-Saharan language distinct from the languages of their Nilo-Saharan neighbors such as the Gumuz and Uduk. History and Migration The Berta trace their origins to Sennar in eastern Sudan, the historical area of the Funj Sultanate, which existed from 1521 to 1804. During the 16th or 17th century, they migrated to western Ethiopia, settling in the modern-day Benishangul-Gumuz Region. The name…