Culture of Djibouti

Culture of Djibouti

The culture of the Republic of Djibouti is ethnically diverse, due to its strategic location at a crossroads of trade and commerce. Its population consists of 793,000 citizens. Sixty percent are Somali; thirty-five percent are Afar; and French, Arab, and other minorities make up the remaining five percent. The use of khat is widespread, to the extent that Djibouti has been called the world's first futuristic “narco-state”, a la Brave New World.[1]

Location - Djibouti is in northeastern Africa, on the Red Sea coast. Djibouti is located on the Horn of Africa. The country of Djibouti is bordered by Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia.

Ethnic Groups - The culture of Djibouti is deeply affected by the unique ethnic groups. There are two main dominant groups in Djibouti; the Issa-Somali and the Afar.

The Issa-Somali: The Somali first arrived in Africa around 1200 CE. Around 1550 CE the Somali people converted to Islam. A quarter of the Issa-Somali tribe live a shepherding nomadic style. They live in small huts that are made from woven mats or boiled bark. The huts are able to be packed up and moved around on camels.

The Afar: The Afar tribe is also known as the Danakil, but the tribe does not like being called this because it has an offensive meaning in Arabic. The Afar is broken up into two different subgroups: the Asaemara (meaning the red ones) and the Adaemara (meaning the white ones). The Asaemara is a prestigious, powerful group of nobles that live along the coast. The Adaemara is a group of commoners that live in the mountains and the desert. The Afar tribe has a population of roughly 130,000 to 170,000. The Afar tribe makes up about 40% of the Djibouti population. The Afar are Eastern Cushite people, and have a similar language and culture to the Somali and Oromo.

See also

Reference List

http://www.everyculture.com/Cr-Ga/Djibouti.html