Djiboutian

Djiboutians
Djiboutiennes

Flag of Djibouti
Total population
(c. 921,000-935,000^[a])
Languages
Somali, Afar and Others
Religion
Islam (majority) Sunni · Sufism Christianity (minority)

Djiboutians are natives of Djibouti and their descendants. Djibouti is a multi-ethnic and multilingual state. Most Djiboutians belong to two related Hamitic ethnic groups, the Somali and Afar.

History

The Somali and Afar first appear in the historical record in of the late 9th century.

Ethnic groups

Population history from 1927 - 2016

The populations in the French colonial era of Djibouti (1927), Republic of Djibouti (1984 - 2016) were:

Ethnic composition of Djibouti 1927 - 2016
1927	Population	1984	Population	2016	Population
Somali	32,287	Somali	250,500	Somali	524,000
Afar	48,520	Afar	175,100	Afar	306,000
Arabs	4,135	Arabs	30,000	Arabs	59,000
French Somaliland	165,000	French Territory of the Afars and the Issas	367,210	Djibouti	846,687

Culture

Djiboutian celebrating independence day in Australia.

Djiboutians culture is primarily rooted in Somali and Afar traditions who are characterized by slender physique, regular features, and proud bearing, they speak different languages Cushitic languages part of the great Kamito-Semitic language family, however, have a way of life same: authentic legendary warriors, they are nomadic pastoralists. However, the population tends to settle because today more than half of its citizens live in the capital and the towns and villages of the interior. This land, traditional crossing point between Egypt, Sudan and Saudi crossroads of nations between Africa and Asia, has likely undergone mixing of populations who have played an important role in the fate of the original peoples of the Djibouti nation. Poetry traditionally recited in the villages by special readers called gabaye was a way of recording the community's history and customs, as well as current events.

Cuisine

Djiboutian cuisine is a mixture of Somali, Afar, Yemeni, and French cuisine, with some additional South Asian (especially Indian) culinary influences. Local dishes are commonly prepared using a lot of Middle Eastern spices, ranging from saffron to cinnamon. Spicy dishes come in many variations, from the traditional Fah-fah or "Soupe Djiboutienne" (spicy boiled beef soup), to the yetakelt wet (spicy mixed vegetable stew). Xalwo (pronounced "halwo") or halva is a popular confection eaten during festive occasions, such as Eid celebrations or wedding receptions. Halva is made from sugar, corn starch, cardamom powder, nutmeg powder and ghee. Peanuts are sometimes added to enhance texture and flavor.^[1] After meals, homes are traditionally perfumed using incense (cuunsi) or frankincense (lubaan), which is prepared inside an incense burner referred to as a dabqaad.

Music

Djiboutian music has Somali and Afar roots, Most Somali songs are pentatonic. That is, they only use five pitches per octave in contrast to a heptatonic (seven note) scale such as the major scale. At first listen, Somali music might be mistaken for the sounds of nearby regions such as Ethiopia, Sudan or the Arabian Peninsula, but it is ultimately recognizable by its own unique tunes and styles. Traditional Afar music resembles the folk music of other parts of the Horn of Africa such as Ethiopia; it also contains elements of Arabic music. The history of Djibouti is recorded in the poetry and songs of its nomadic people, and goes back thousands of years to a time when the peoples of Djibouti traded hides and skins for the perfumes and spices of ancient Egypt, India and China. Afar oral literature is also quite musical.

Diaspora

Approximately 30,000 are dispersed throughout the rest of Europe, during the Civil War in 1991, many Djiboutians sought asylum in Europe and North America. Emigration of Djiboutians has increased during the last decade. It is Approximately that 40,000 or 55,000 Djiboutians live abroad, as many Djiboutians moved from Djibouti mainly to the Europe, North America and Middle East. In Australia there are a total of 1,000 Djiboutians.

Languages

The languages of Djibouti include Arabic and French (official), and Somali and Afar (primary), which are the mother tongues of the Somali and Afar ethnic groups, respectively. Both languages belong to the larger Afro-Asiatic family.

Religion

Islam entered the region very early on, as a group of persecuted Muslims had sought refuge across the Red Sea in the Horn of Africa at the urging of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. In 1900, during the early part of the colonial era, there were virtually no Christians in the territories, with only about 100–300 followers coming from the schools and orphanages of the few Catholic missions in the French Somaliland. Islam is the driving force behind the unity of varying ethnic groups from different parts of the country, and has significantly shaped the values and traditions of Djiboutian.

Notable Djiboutians

• Hassan Gouled Aptidon, first President of Djibouti from 1977 to 1999
• Ahmed Dini Ahmed, Prime Minister of Djibouti from 1977 to 1978
• Dileita Mohamed Dileita, Prime Minister of Djibouti from 2001 to 2013
• Hussein Ahmed Salah, Djiboutian marathon runner
• Abdourahman Waberi, novelist

Notes

1. Barlin Ali, Somali Cuisine, (AuthorHouse: 2007), p.79