Egyptians (Balkans)
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| Balkan Egyptians | |
|---|---|
| Total population | unknown |
| Regions with significant populations | Kosovo: 87,000 (1996) Macedonia: |
| Language | Albanian language |
| Religion | Predominantly Islam |
| Related ethnic groups | Roma and other Indo-Aryan peoples |
Balkan Egyptians or simply Egyptians (Albanian: Egjiptian, Serbian: Египћани/Egipćani or Ђупци/Đupci, Macedonian: Ѓупци (trans:Gjupci) are an Albanian-speaking ethnic minority of Kosovo and the Republic of Macedonia. They should not to be confused with the Egyptians of Egypt, to whom they may or may not be related.
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[edit] Identity and origin
Balkan Egyptians were previously regarded as part of the Roma nationality, but now they are recognized as a separate ethnic group. Their origin is not clear. According to one theory, they are descendants of Roma who claim to have come to the Balkans from Egypt. Another theory claims that they are descendants of the Egyptian soldiers who came to Balkans in the 4th century.
[edit] Location
Most of the Egyptians live in Kosovo and Macedonia, but some also live in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, Central Serbia, and Vojvodina.
According to 1996 data, there were 87,000 Egyptians in Kosovo, while according to 1994 census in Macedonia, 3,169 Egyptians lived in this country.
After the Kosovo War in 1999, many of them fled from Kosovo and settled in Central Serbia, Vojvodina, and Montenegro.
[edit] Name
Despite the fact that ethnic Roma are also in some languages referred to by terms derived from the word "Egyptian" (such as the English name "Gypsy"), the Serbs who live in Kosovo do not use the name "Egyptians" to designate ethnic Roma, but only to the Albanian speakers who refer to themselves as "Egyptians", while Serb (potentially derogatory) name for ethnic Roma is "Cigani". Albanians that live in Kosovo, however, use name "Magjup" that presumably derived from the word "Egyptian" to tell the balkan egyptians and for their origine from Egypt.
[edit] References
- Dragan Novaković, Potomci faraona u Srbiji, DT Magazin, 4. april 1998.
- Marushiakova, E. and All. Identity Formation among Minorities in the Balkans: The cases of Roms, and Ashkali in Kosovo. Sofia: Minority Studies Society "Studii Romani", 2001.
[edit] See also
Ethnic groups in FYROM
