Afridi
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Afridi (Urdu: آفریدی ) (Pashto: اپريدي ) is a Pashtun tribe. The Afridi tribe is the most powerful and dominant tribe of the Khyber Agency[citation needed]. The Afridis inhabit about 1000 square miles of rough hilly area in the eastern Safed Koh range, west of the Peshawar Valley. Maidan in Tirah which can be accessed by the Kajurhi plains and the valleys of Bara and Churah. The tribe numbers about 315,000 people.
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[edit] History
The famous historian Herodotus mentions a country bordering on the banks of the Indus occupied by a people called the Pactyae who were divided into four nations, one which was the Aparthea, or Aparutai, identified with the modern Afridis. They lay claim to an inaccessible upland area of refuge, the Tirah and its central place, Maidan and at Bagh. As a result, they have literally have been able to force every passing conqueror to pay toll tax for use or passage through the Khyber Pass. Some writers think that some tribes like the Afridis and Khattaks are indigenous, considering, for instance, that the Afridis inhabited this terrain even during pre-historic times, which is before the recorded movement of other notable Pashtun tribes to their present abodes. Olaf Caroe and Aurel Stein are reported to have suggested that the Afridis may be the original inhabitants of the Gandhara area rather than an integral part of the great clans allegedly descended from the tribes of Israel.
[edit] Clans
There are eight clans in the Afridi tribe:
- Adam Khel
- Aka Khel
- Kamar Khel
- Kambar Khel
- Kuki Khel
- Malikdin Khel
- Zakka Khel
- Sipah
All of the Afridi clans have their own areas in the Tirah, and most of them extend down into the Khyber Pass over which they have always exercised the right of toll. The Malikdin Khel live in the center of the Tirah and hold Bagh, the traditional meeting place of Afridi jirgas or assemblies. The Aka Khel are scattered in the hills south of Jamrud. All of this area is included in the Khyber Agency. The Adam Khel live in the hills between Peshawar and Kohat. Their preserve is the Kohat Pass. In which several of the most important Afridi gun factories are located. The Adam khel Afridis are further divided into seven clans: Jawakies, Bosti Khel, Sherakies, Zarghoon Khel, Tor Chaaper, Akhorwal and Hassan Khel.
[edit] Crime
The Afridis gained notoriety for indulging in smuggling of foreign goods, and narcotics etc. They are also well-known as robbers of merchant caravans in the past, and in the present day context, Spain notes them to be "consummate smugglers", with an avid interest in trade, and some are involved in smuggling, the narcotics trade and kidnapping for ransom.
[edit] Religion
Most Afridis follow the religion of Islam. There Afridis are said to have been initially converted to Islam during the time of Mahmud of Ghazni, and then during the time of Shahabuddin Ghaur. The Afridis are found to throng the Masjids at the time of prayers. A pleasant surprise comes, at the time of Eid Milad-ul-Nabi (the Holy Prophet's birthday), when the festival is held with unusual fervor and religious zeal, which is a spectacular sight. They are also observed to subscribe to many religious rituals.
[edit] Description
Olaf Caroe refers to their Grecian features, standing as a model of the Greek god Apollo, and the elderly lot resembling Zeus. To Spain they convey an impression of an assembly of Old Testament Prophets because of their light skin, pleasant looks, Hebraic cast of features and beards.
[edit] Cuisine
Most of the Afridis are healthier compared to other Pakistanis which is evidence of their good eating habits. Meat is an important part of their diet which they eat in the form of kabab (minced meat fried in oil in a special way), lamb curry (lamb is the favourite meat of Afridis in contrast with other groups in Pakistan who mostly like goat), chicken curry, goat curry and much more. The hotels in Peshawar Namak Mandi Bazar represent the traditional food of Afridis, especially Lamb Karahi . In vegetable cuisine bendi (okra), kurkha (red beans), dal and sag are notable. Their desserts include kheer (rice pudding), meenchai (sugared noodles). They drink a lot of kava (green tea).
[edit] Famous Afridis
- Ajab Khan Afridi, a brave Pashtun who fought with the British soldiers, kidnapped the daughter of the then British Army Chief in the region and handed them her back himself. She was kept in respect and hospitality and when she went back to her family and army, she used to tell stories of the respect and hospitality that was given to her by the family of Ajab Khan Afridi.
- Khatir Afridi, a prominent poet who wrote over 40,000 poems in his only four years of writing poetry. He died very young at the age of 32. Only one of his sons is still alive, and this man has collected all his poems and made a book out of them, a book which has achieved a good market value among speakers of Pashto.
- Shahid Afridi, Pakistani cricketer. Holds world record for fastest century (off only 37 balls).
- Ayub Afridi, an associate of Abdul Qadir, described as a notorious drug baron.[1]
- Malik Nader Khan Afridi Zakka Khel, A leader in the Khyber Agency.
- Barrister Salman Hamid Afridi, a prominent lawyer and philanthropist.
- Dr. Munawar Khan Afridi, Chairman & President of WHO
[edit] References
