Bravanese people
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Bravanese people are a distinct ethnic group within Somalia. As their name suggests, they are found only in the town of Barawa, or Brava, of which they were the sole inhabitants until the 1970s. Local historians variously trace the group's origin to Arabia, India, Persia, Egypt, or Java.[1] They are actually descendants of local groups who have fought over the area, including the Wardaay (Bantu), Tunni, Wajiddu (Jiddu), Ajuran, and Wambalazi (Oromo).[1] They are also believed to be of partial Portuguese descent, following Portugals's occupation of the city from 1506 to 1758 A.D.[1][2]
Following the collapse of the Somali state in the Somali Civil War, the Bravanese have faced persecution and many have fled the town. A famous Bravanese singer, Habibi, created a song about this event and how the Bravanese people have scattered abroad as a consequence of the war.
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[edit] References
- ^ a b c Mohamed Mukhtar (2002). Port Cities of the Horn: Barawa, Marka, Mogadishu, & Zayla. The Indian Ocean Littoral: Cartography and Port Cities. University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved on June 16, 2007.
- ^ Mohamed Kalif Babou. A Brief History of Brava. Baraawepost. Retrieved on June 16, 2007.
