-
The Suri people
The Suri people, indigenous to southwestern Ethiopia and parts of South Sudan, are a distinct ethnic group renowned for their rich cultural traditions and complex history. They are a collective term for three subgroups: the Chai, Timaga, and Baale, who inhabit the Suri woreda in Ethiopia and extend into South Sudan. These groups speak different languages within the South East Surmic branch of the Nilo-Saharan language family, highlighting their linguistic diversity. The Suri are primarily agro-pastoralists, living in semi-arid environments characterized by plains, valleys, and foothills. Their traditional lifestyle is deeply rooted in agriculture and cattle herding, with stick fighting, known as saginé, serving as a crucial rite of passage…
-
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…
