Kuchis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kuchis ("Those who are moving") are a tribe of Pashtun and some Baloch nomads in Afghanistan. Pashto speakers represent an estimated 6 million of Afghanistan's 25 million people. Kochis make up over half of the Pashtun population. They are also known as Koochee or Koochi, depending on location. The group has been identified out by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan as one of the largest vulnerable populations in the country. Hashmat Ghani Ahmadzai is their ethnic leader.

Provisions are written into the Afghanistan Constitution (Article 14) aimed at improving the welfare of Kuchis, including provisions for housing, representation and education.

Kuchi means 'nomad' in the Persian language and they are mostly of Pashtun origin from the Durrani and Ghilzai tribes. They are not to be compared to the ancient people of Kushans who came from the grasslands of eastern Central Asia, in modern-day Xinjiang and Gansu, who were of Scythian origin.

[edit] Trivia

Traditional Kuchi dress, particularly the colorful textiles and silver jewelry (often made of coins), has gained popularity among the American Tribal Style belly dance community.