Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Rashaida Women - Eritrea

I've tagged Nancy on a UNESCO tag and the she asked me if we could swap a few cards. I said yes and that's how I got this card from Eritrea, a new country in my collection 😃 

The Rashaida migrated to Eritrea and north-eastern Sudan from Saudi Arabia in 1846. The cause of their migration was due to ethnic warfare breaking out in Saudi Arabia. The Rashaida are thought to be related to the Bedouin of Saudi Arabia and are the only true nomadic people left in Eritrea. They are primarily Muslim, and very few Christians are known to exist among the group. According to the Eritrean government, the Rashaida made up 2.4% of Eritrea's population, and numbered around 78,000 in 1996. The language spoken by them is Arabic, although some are capable in speaking Tigre.
 
 
Photograph © Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher
Rashaida women are famous for their black-and-red geometrically patterened dresses, and their burkas (long, heavy veils) elaborately embroidered with silver thread, beads and sometimes seed perals. Once a Rashaida girl reaches the age of 5, she is required to wear a veil that covers most of her face, with the exception of her eyes. Since the sexes do not mix freely in Rashaida culture, young men and women have few chances to meet of their own accord. As a result, marriages are usually arranged by familes. However, if a Rashadian girl is ready to marry, she will at times approache the man she wants and flirtatiously lift her veil so that he can see her chin. If he accepts her offer he must find 100 camels for her bride price. - in: http://www.madote.com

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