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The Toubou
The Toubou, also known as the Tubu, are an ethnic group native to the harsh environments of the central Sahara. They primarily reside in northern Chad, southern Libya, northeastern Niger, and northwestern Sudan, where they have adapted to the extreme desert climate. The Toubou are known for their nomadic and semi-nomadic lifestyles, living as herders and farmers who rely on the scarce resources of the desert, such as oases and pastures. Their society is clan-based, with each clan controlling certain resources like wells, pastures, and water sources, which are vital for their survival in the arid desert. The Toubou are traditionally divided into two main groups: the Teda and the…
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The Surma people
The Surma people, also known as the Suri, are a group of ethnic communities primarily found in the southwestern region of Ethiopia and parts of South Sudan. This collective term refers to several groups, including the Chai, Timaga, and Baale. Despite their shared ethnic identity, these groups speak different languages within the South East Surmic branch of the Nilo-Saharan language family. The Surma’s traditional lifestyle is agro-pastoral, combining agriculture with cattle herding. Their villages are typically small, ranging from 40 to 1,000 people, though some can grow up to 2,500. The society is notably egalitarian, with no central executive leadership. Instead, “chiefs” or komoru are respected elders chosen from specific…
