| Revision as of 22:10, 12 January 2024 editOccidental Phantasmagoria (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users2,092 editsmNo edit summary← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 01:35, 20 January 2025 edit undoCookiemonster1618 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users8,197 edits Reverted edits by 217.113.21.9 (talk); Joshua Project is not a reliable sourceTags: Manual revert Visual edit Mobile edit Mobile web edit | ||
| (26 intermediate revisions by 16 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| {{ |
{{Short description|Eritrean ethnic group}} | ||
| {{Distinguish|Tigrinya people|Tigrayans}} | {{Distinguish|Tigrinya people|Tigrayans}} | ||
| {{Other uses|Tigre (disambiguation)}} | {{Other uses|Tigre (disambiguation)}} | ||
| {{Infobox ethnic group | {{Infobox ethnic group | ||
| | group = Tigre | | group = Tigre | ||
| | native_name = ትግረ | | native_name = ትግረ | ||
| | native_name_lang = tig | |||
| | image = | | image = | ||
| | caption = | | caption = | ||
| | population = | | population = | ||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
| | pop2 = {{circa}} 20,000 refugees<ref name="WM">{{Cite book|last=Skutsch|first=Carl|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yXYKAgAAQBAJ&q=tigre+population+sudan&pg=PA1200|title=Encyclopedia of the World's Minorities|date=2013-11-07|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-19388-1|pages=1200–1201|language=en}}</ref> | | pop2 = {{circa}} 20,000 refugees<ref name="WM">{{Cite book|last=Skutsch|first=Carl|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yXYKAgAAQBAJ&q=tigre+population+sudan&pg=PA1200|title=Encyclopedia of the World's Minorities|date=2013-11-07|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-19388-1|pages=1200–1201|language=en}}</ref> | ||
| | languages = ] | | languages = ] | ||
| | related = ], ], ], ], ] and other ]<ref name="Joireman">{{cite book|last=Joireman|first=Sandra F.|author-link=Sandra Joireman|title=Institutional Change in the Horn of Africa: The Allocation of Property Rights and Implications for Development|year=1997|publisher=Universal-Publishers|page=1|isbn=978-1581120004}}</ref> | | related = ], ], ], ] and other ]<ref name="Joireman">{{cite book|last=Joireman|first=Sandra F.|author-link=Sandra Joireman|title=Institutional Change in the Horn of Africa: The Allocation of Property Rights and Implications for Development|year=1997|publisher=Universal-Publishers|page=1|isbn=978-1581120004}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | | religions = ] ] (95%)<br>] ] (5%)<ref>{{cite book|last=Yakan|first=Muḥammad Zuhdī|title=Almanac of African peoples & nations|year=1999|publisher=Transaction|isbn=978-1-56000-433-2|pages=667|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B4VgTJaVqCwC&pg=PA667}}</ref> | ||
| | religions = | |||
| ⚫ | ] ] (95%)<br>] ] (5%)<ref>{{cite book|last=Yakan|first=Muḥammad Zuhdī|title=Almanac of African peoples & nations|year=1999|publisher=Transaction|isbn=978-1-56000-433-2|pages=667|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B4VgTJaVqCwC&pg=PA667 |
||
| }} | }} | ||
| The '''Tigre people''' ({{ |
The '''Tigre people''' ({{langx|tig|ትግረ|tigre}} and {{langx|tig|ትግሬ|tigrē|}}) are an ethnic group indigenous to ]. They mainly inhabit the lowlands and northern highlands of Eritrea, with a small population in Sudan. | ||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| The Tigre are a nomadic agro-pastoralist community living in the northern, western, and coastal highlands of ] (Gash-Barka, Anseba, Northern Red Sea regions of Eritrea and other regions too), as well as areas in eastern ]. The Tigre speak the ], which belongs to the ] branch of the ] family. They are not ethnically homogeneous; diversity is mainly along familial and clan lines. The Tigre ethnic group is broken into the ], Beit Asgede, Ad Shaikh, Mensa, Beit Juk, and ] peoples.<ref name="WM" /> | The Tigre are a nomadic agro-pastoralist community living in the northern, western, and coastal highlands of ] (Gash-Barka, Anseba, Northern Red Sea regions of Eritrea and other regions too), as well as areas in eastern ]. The Tigre speak the ], which belongs to the ] branch of the ] family. They are not ethnically homogeneous; diversity is mainly along familial and clan lines. The Tigre ethnic group is broken into the ], Beit Asgede, Ad Shaikh, Mensa, Beit Juk, and ] peoples.<ref name="WM" /> | ||
| The original speakers of the Tigre language were mainly Christian, reflecting cultural exchange with neighboring Ethiopia.<ref name="WM" /> The first Tigre converts to Islam were those who lived on islands in the ] and adopted Islam in the 7th century during the religion's earliest years. Mainland Tigre adopted Islam much later on including as late as the 19th century.<ref name="olson" /> During World War II, many Tigre served in the Italian Colonial army, part of the period of ].<ref name="WM" /> | The original speakers of the Tigre language were mainly Christian, reflecting cultural exchange with neighboring Ethiopia.<ref name="WM" /> The first Tigre converts to Islam were those who lived on islands in the ] and adopted Islam in the 7th century during the religion's earliest years. Mainland Tigre, the near total majority, adopted Islam much later on including as late as the 19th century.<ref name="olson" /> During World War II, many Tigre served in the Italian Colonial army, part of the period of ].<ref name="WM" /> | ||
| The Tigre are closely related to the ] of Eritrea,<ref name="olson">{{cite book|last=Olson|first=James Stuart|title=The peoples of Africa: an ethnohistorical dictionary|year=1996|publisher=Greenwood|isbn=978-0-313-27918-8|pages=557–58|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MdaAdBC-_S4C&pg=PA557}}</ref> as well as the ] (particularly the Hadendoa).<ref>{{cite book|title=Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute|publisher=Royal Anthropological Institute|page=609|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SIRxMmigw8wC|access-date=25 July 2017}}</ref> There are also a number of Eritreans of Tigre origin living across the ], ], the ] and ].{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}} | The Tigre are closely related to the ] of Eritrea,<ref name="olson">{{cite book|last=Olson|first=James Stuart|title=The peoples of Africa: an ethnohistorical dictionary|year=1996|publisher=Greenwood|isbn=978-0-313-27918-8|pages=557–58|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MdaAdBC-_S4C&pg=PA557}}</ref> as well as the ] (particularly the Hadendoa).<ref>{{cite book|title=Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute|publisher=Royal Anthropological Institute|page=609|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SIRxMmigw8wC|access-date=25 July 2017}}</ref> There are also a number of Eritreans of Tigre origin living across the ], ], the ] and ].{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}} | ||
| Line 31: | Line 30: | ||
| ==Religion== | ==Religion== | ||
| About 95% of Tigre practice ], the remainder practice ], and both incorporate elements of the ] ].<ref name="WM" /><ref name=":0">{{cite book|last=Yakan|first=Muḥammad Zuhdī|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B4VgTJaVqCwC&pg=PA667|title=Almanac of African peoples & nations|publisher=Transaction|year=1999|isbn=978-1-56000-433-2|pages=667}}</ref> Religious divisions have not been of particular concern within the Tigre.<ref name=":0" /> Most are ] Muslims, but there are a small number of ] | About 95% of Tigre practice ], the remainder practice ].<ref name="WM" /><ref name=":0">{{cite book|last=Yakan|first=Muḥammad Zuhdī|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B4VgTJaVqCwC&pg=PA667|title=Almanac of African peoples & nations|publisher=Transaction|year=1999|isbn=978-1-56000-433-2|pages=667}}</ref> Religious divisions have not been of particular concern within the Tigre.<ref name=":0" /> Most are ] Muslims, but there are a small number of ] | ||
| (who are members of the ], the ], and the ]) among them as well (often referred to as the ''Mensaï'' in Eritrea).{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}} | (who are members of the ], the ], and the ]) among them as well (often referred to as the ''Mensaï'' in Eritrea).{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}} | ||
| Line 50: | Line 49: | ||
| *] | *] | ||
| == |
==Notes== | ||
| ===Notes=== | |||
| {{reflist|group=Note}} | {{reflist|group=Note}} | ||
| ==References== | |||
| {{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
| ==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
| *{{cite book |editor=Lusini, Gianfrancesco |title=History and language of the Tigre-speaking peoples : proceedings of the International Workshop, Naples, February 7–8, 2008 |year=2010 |publisher=Università degli studi di Napoli "L'Orientale," Dipartimento di studi e ricerche su Africa e paesi arab |isbn=978-8895044682 }} | *{{cite book |editor=Lusini, Gianfrancesco |title=History and language of the Tigre-speaking peoples : proceedings of the International Workshop, Naples, February 7–8, 2008 |year=2010 |publisher=Università degli studi di Napoli "L'Orientale," Dipartimento di studi e ricerche su Africa e paesi arab |isbn=978-8895044682 }} | ||
Latest revision as of 01:35, 20 January 2025
Eritrean ethnic group Not to be confused with Tigrinya people or Tigrayans. For other uses, see Tigre (disambiguation). Ethnic group| ትግረ | |
|---|---|
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Eritrea | 1.8 million |
 Sudan | c. 20,000 refugees |
| Languages | |
| Tigre | |
| Religion | |
 Islam (95%) Christianity (5%) | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Tigrinya, Tigrayans, Amhara, Gurage and other Ethio-Semitic People | |
The Tigre people (Tigre: ትግረ, romanized: tigre and Tigre: ትግሬ, romanized: tigrē) are an ethnic group indigenous to Eritrea. They mainly inhabit the lowlands and northern highlands of Eritrea, with a small population in Sudan.
History
The Tigre are a nomadic agro-pastoralist community living in the northern, western, and coastal highlands of Eritrea (Gash-Barka, Anseba, Northern Red Sea regions of Eritrea and other regions too), as well as areas in eastern Sudan. The Tigre speak the Tigre language, which belongs to the Semitic branch of the Afroasiatic family. They are not ethnically homogeneous; diversity is mainly along familial and clan lines. The Tigre ethnic group is broken into the Beni-Amer, Beit Asgede, Ad Shaikh, Mensa, Beit Juk, and Marya peoples.
The original speakers of the Tigre language were mainly Christian, reflecting cultural exchange with neighboring Ethiopia. The first Tigre converts to Islam were those who lived on islands in the Red Sea and adopted Islam in the 7th century during the religion's earliest years. Mainland Tigre, the near total majority, adopted Islam much later on including as late as the 19th century. During World War II, many Tigre served in the Italian Colonial army, part of the period of Italian Eritrea.
The Tigre are closely related to the Tigrinya people of Eritrea, as well as the Beja (particularly the Hadendoa). There are also a number of Eritreans of Tigre origin living across the Middle East, North America, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Religion
About 95% of Tigre practice Islam, the remainder practice Christianity. Religious divisions have not been of particular concern within the Tigre. Most are Sunni Muslims, but there are a small number of Christians (who are members of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Eritrea) among them as well (often referred to as the Mensaï in Eritrea).
Language
The Tigre language is an Afroasiatic language of the Semitic branch. Like Tigrinya, it is a member of the Ethiopian Semitic group, and is similar to ancient Ge'ez. There is no known historically written form of the language. The Eritrean government uses the Ge'ez writing system (an abugida) to publish documents in the Tigre language.
Tigre is the lingua franca of the multi-ethnic lowlands of western and northern Eritrea, including the northern coast. As such approximately 75% of the Western Lowlands Eritrean population speaks Tigre.
Since around 1889, the Ge'ez script (Ethiopic script) has been used to write the Tigre language. Tigre speakers formerly used Arabic more widely as a lingua franca. Due to most Tigre speakers being Muslim, the language is also written in the Arabic alphabet.
The Tigre people, language and their area of inhabitation should not be confused with that of the Tigrayans, who live in northern Ethiopia and the Biher-Tigrinya who live in the central Eritrean highlands, both of which speak varying dialects of Tigrinya, a closely related Semitic language.
Dialects
There are several dialects of Tigre, some of them are; Mansa’ (Mensa), Habab, Barka, Semhar, Algeden, Senhit (Ad-Tekleis, Ad-Temariam, Bet-Juk, Marya Kayah, Maria Tselam) and Dahalik, which is spoken in Dahlak archipelago. Intelligibility between the dialects is above 91% (except Dahalik), where intelligibility between Dahalik and the other dialects is between 24% and 51%.
Notable Tigre people
Notes
References
- "Africa :: Eritrea — The World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. 18 July 2022.
- ^ Skutsch, Carl (2013-11-07). Encyclopedia of the World's Minorities. Routledge. pp. 1200–1201. ISBN 978-1-135-19388-1.
- Yakan, Muḥammad Zuhdī (1999). Almanac of African peoples & nations. Transaction. p. 667. ISBN 978-1-56000-433-2.
- Joireman, Sandra F. (1997). Institutional Change in the Horn of Africa: The Allocation of Property Rights and Implications for Development. Universal-Publishers. p. 1. ISBN 978-1581120004.
- ^ Olson, James Stuart (1996). The peoples of Africa: an ethnohistorical dictionary. Greenwood. pp. 557–58. ISBN 978-0-313-27918-8.
- Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. Royal Anthropological Institute. p. 609. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
- ^ Yakan, Muḥammad Zuhdī (1999). Almanac of African peoples & nations. Transaction. p. 667. ISBN 978-1-56000-433-2.
- Allen, H (1888). Th Encyclopedia of Britannica. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
- "Tigré". Ethnologue. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
- Weekes, Richard V. (1978). Muslim peoples: a world ethnographic survey. Greenwood Press. p. 418. ISBN 0837198801.
- Eritrean census figure cited by Ethnologue.
Further reading
- Lusini, Gianfrancesco, ed. (2010). History and language of the Tigre-speaking peoples : proceedings of the International Workshop, Naples, February 7–8, 2008. Università degli studi di Napoli "L'Orientale," Dipartimento di studi e ricerche su Africa e paesi arab. ISBN 978-8895044682.
| Ethnic groups in Eritrea | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afro-Asiatic |
| ||||
| Nilo-Saharan | |||||