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The Nara people
The Nara people are an ethnic group primarily found in southwestern Eritrea. With a population of around 108,000, they make up about 1.5% of Eritrea’s total population. They predominantly reside in the Barka Plains region, which lies near the border with Sudan. The Nara community is largely agrarian, relying on subsistence farming to support their livelihoods. The Nara society is organized into four main subtribes: the Higir, Mogareb, Koyta, and Santora. Traditionally, these subtribes practiced animism, holding deep spiritual connections with the natural world. However, by the 15th century, many Nara people began converting to Islam, a process that was significantly influenced by the Egyptian occupation in the 19th century.…
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The Kunama people
The Kunama people are an ethnic group primarily residing in the western part of Eritrea, near the border with Ethiopia. With an estimated population of around 260,000, the Kunama make up about 4% of Eritrea’s total population. They are predominantly found in the Gash-Barka region, which is characterized by its remote and isolated landscape between the Gash and Setit rivers. There is also a smaller Kunama population in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, although their numbers have significantly declined over the years. The Kunama have a rich historical background that dates back to early recorded accounts. The earliest written references to the Kunama come from the 9th-century Arab geographer Ya’qubi,…
