Buduma people

The Buduma are an ethnic group of Chad, Cameroon, and Nigeria who inhabit many of the islands of Lake Chad. They are predominantly fishers and cattle-herders. In the past, the Buduma carried out violent raids on the cattle herds of their neighbors. They were feared villains with aggressive reputations; thus, they were respected and left alone for many years, protected by their own habitat of water and reeds. Today, they are a peaceful and friendly people willing to adopt some modern changes. Although their neighbors call them Buduma, meaning "people of the grass (or reeds)," they prefer to be called Yedina. Their language is known as Yidena.

References

• Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.) (2005): "Buduna". Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 15th ed. Dallas: SIL International. Accessed 13 January 2007.
• Profile of the Buduma people