Saho people

Saho
ساهو

Saho women in traditional attire.
Total population
213,800
Regions with significant populations
Eritrea	191,000
Ethiopia	22,800
Languages
Saho
Religion
Islam
Related ethnic groups
Afar • Agaw • Amhara • Beja • Oromo • Somali • Tigray • Tigre[1]

The Saho (Arabic: ساهو‎), sometimes called Soho,^[2] are an ethnic group inhabiting the Horn of Africa. They are principally concentrated in the Southern and Northern Red Sea regions of Eritrea, but some also live in adjacent parts of Ethiopia. They speak Saho as a mother tongue, which belongs to the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family.

Demographics

According to Ethnologue, there were approximately 213,800 Saho speakers in 2006. Most are concentrated in Eritrea (191,000 speakers), with the remainder inhabiting Ethiopia (22,800 speakers).^[3]

According to www.allsaho.com, Eritrea has yet to conduct national census to determine Eritrea’s population. Therefore, sources regarding estimate of Saho population is not based on evidence. However, it is acknowledged that Saho are the third largest ethnic group in Eritrea. Many Saho observers estimate Saho population as being a little over 10% of Eritrea’s estimated 3.1- 3.9 million inhabitants. In Eritrea, Saho mainly dwell in the Eastern foothills of Akele-Saho (aka Akele-guzai) and Semhar occupying 60% or more of the landmass. Sahos’ are also found intermingled amongst Tigrinia speaking populace in parts of Eritrea’s highland regions (Akeleguzai, Seraye and Hamasein). They also intermingle with Tigre speaking tribes in Lowland regions such as Barka.

Saho history in Eritrea extends to thousands of years, if they are not the first, they definitely are among the country’s longest-established peoples. For over three thousand years of their known history they have watched civilizations flourish and decay with their own lives. Unfortunately, no attempt has been made to document the very rich history and culture Saho’s are endowed with either by Saho themselves or other interested scholars. Therefore, sources regarding social structure, mode of life, history and culture of Saho are at best scarce or nonexistent.

Saho history

Ancient Saho speaking people are descendants of ancient Kushites. The term Kushite derives from the ancient peoples of North East Africa, which started to live in this part of Africa since more than 5000 BC, with their own culture and language. The ancient Kushite peoples are those who spoke languages of the Kushite branch of the Afro-Asiatic (also known as Hamito-Semitic) family. They are the indigenous peoples of the present day Eritrea, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya.

The history of over 5,000 years of Kushitic civilization is preserved through the interconnections of Kushitic culture and languages. The Kushitic languages are divided into 3 major subgroups. These include: (a) East Kushitic languages (Saho, Afar, Somali and Sidama), (b) Central Kushitic or Agaw language (such as Bilen ), (c) South Kushitic languages in Kenya and Tanzanya.

According to linguistics, the Kushites spoke historically closely related dialects of the same language and they all shared a common cultural heritage. For instance the present Saho and Afar languages are still very closely related and according to Dr Abdulkadir Salih, they share over 70% of linguistic relations. Similarly, Saho language shares many words and vocabularies with Oromo and Somali languages.

The modern day Kushites, such as descendants of ancient Saho speaking people, are descendants of ancient Kushites who ruled Egypt in 25th dynasty and played a central role in one of Africa’s greatest and oldest civilization at Meroe, the present day northern Sudan and lower Egypt.

Ancient Saho speaking people, as descendents of ancient Kushites, have left strong traceable evidence of their over 5,000 years of rich history.

The traceable evidence include ancient rock paintings, monuments steles, ruined building, ancient pottery … etc. Some of these are found in Saho land such as in (Qohaito, Kaskase, Adulis (Adola/Ado-Lai ), Balaw Kalaw, ruins of Matara ).

Kushite civilisation

The Kushites belonged to a great civilization along the Upper Nile Valley during the second and first Millennium BC. They were the founders and the rulers of the 25th Dynasty in Egypt. The rise and the decline of the various Kushite kingdoms continued in various parts of North East Africa until the late 1880s. There are scientific indications that East Africa is a cradle of humanity whereas some prominent historians point out that North East African civilization predates Greek Classical Civilization.

The Kushitic civilization in the Upper Nile Valley of North East Africa reached its height during the second millennium BC. The Kushitic Kingdom located in Nubia survived well into the first millennium BC when it was finally defeated by the Nubian people. However, other historians argue that the Kushitic Kingdom flourished for six more centuries until the third century AD and made Meroe, the capital of its kingdom. On the other side, South East of Meroe, the Kingdom of Aksum was growing in power around the third century AD. In 350 AD, Axumite King Ezana was able to capture Meroe and undermined the Kushitic civilization until the Agaw (Zagwe), (Highland Kush Dynasty) recaptured it in 922 AD. The Kushitic speaking Agaw(Zagwe) dynasty ruled in North East Africa between 922 AD when Aksum declined, until 1270 AD.

Ancient beliefs of Kushites

The Kushites were followers of Amon (or Amun) who was the most prominent God in Nubia, and its surrounding regions. Most of the temples were built in honor of this God, including the largest two temples in Nubia; the Amon temples at Napata and the Amon temple at Meroe. Amun, whose name means the Invisible One, was usually depicted as a man wearing two tall plumes on his head, and holding a sceptre in his hand. His sacred animals were the ram and the goose, both symbols of virility – which was one of Amun’s characteristics. His great temple at Karnak is a demonstration of his status as king of the gods.

Decline of Kushite empire

During the hundred years of ruling Egypt, Kush had extensively interacted with, and had influence upon, the Near East and the Far East, in politics, economy, and cultures. The impact of such interaction is still waiting deeper investigations. Nonetheless, apparently the Kushite culture had not witnessed big differences in basic norms and traditions.

The golden age of Kush ended around 350 BC. The last known Kushite king to be buried under a Pyramid was Pharaoh Yesbokheamani. Since then grand building projects disappeared and large pyramids and temples seized to be established. The scarce archeological evidence suggests that after the fourth century BC, the kingdom of Kush had experienced extensive nomadic invasions from the surrounding deserts. In addition, the Kushite state used to endure some small-scale conflicts with the kingdom of Axum which was established around 300 BC.

Due to the dynamics of conflicts, migration, assimilation and other politico-demographic influences over the past seven millennia, the Kushitic population reduced to a small minority in Eritrea, Sudan, and Kenya while they are still majorities in Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia. In Ethiopia over 52% of the current population of 80 million are Kushitic peoples while almost the entire population in Somalia and Djibouti are Kushitic.

Since the late 1880s the majority of Kushites land in Eritrea and Ethiopia, has been annexed by the Abyssinian settlers and colonial invaders subjecting the Kushites to unrestrained economic exploitation and political subjugation for over 100 years. This resulted in putting the Kushites under huge restraints which led them primarily to focus their energy and human resources on fighting for survival and for defending their land from repeated aggressions of foreign invaders and colonial powers. Thus, nowadays the Kushites find themselves seen as minorities, excluded from participating in the political leadership, suffering great social, economic and political marginalization and injustice.

Ancestors of Saho people

Historians and anthropologists as yet to accurately determine the exact archeological time in which Kushitic languages started to split until they become as separate languages as know in modern times. According to Bender and most scholars, the split of the Saho language from the rest of the East Kushitic language took place about four thousand years ago. It is believed that this split happened slowly and gradually over many centuries. Thus, Saho speaking ancestors started to become a separate ‘linguistic and ethnic group’ about four thousand years ago.

According to the oral traditions, the Idda, Kabota and Asa-bora are the most ancient Saho ancestors in the current Saho region. The Saho call these three tribes the guardians of the Saho land (Badho Ambalish or Badho Sugus in Saho language).

Oral traditions maintain that some Saho clans came from diverse geographical origins and all adopted Saho, as their common language and all shared a common cultural heritage. Some Saho clans affiliate their origins to Islamic dignitaries during Khilafa period including to one of the four Khalifas themselves. This should not be surprising, as well known in this region; peoples of the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula have a long history of human migration across the red sea, intermarriage, intensive linguistic, social and cultural exchange.

The people of Saho were known for their fierce opposition to any foreign invaders and colonial aggressors. Their oral history and poems tell many amazing stories of bravery and sacrifices they had offered over the last two centuries. They uncompromisingly and heroically defended their beloved land from repeated attempts of highland Abyssinian rulers to invade their land and had defeated Raas Araia and Raas Alula until the Italians invaded Eritrea in 1889.

The Saho, before the Italians’ occupation, were organised as clans, which have become federated into several major tribes. They had chiefs, their affairs being managed by councils of elders. This did not suit the Italians’ need for close control and accordingly they appointed chiefs in charge of each tribe: a measure, which made for administrative efficiency if not for popularity. These chiefs have been dismissed outright by the current government without introducing an alternative system.

Today, the risk of losing oral Saho history and heritage is greater than ever. It is like watching strong winds spreading great fire with little resistance hoping that we would be left with some of our possessions. Therefore there is an urgent call for spreading awareness and a massive responsibility upon every concerned individual and every organised Saho group of the current generation, wherever they are, to collate and document their ancestors’ history, however they can.

Historical towns in Saho land

1) The port of Adolay (Adulis in ancient geography): In the 5th Century there was greater trade between north east region of Africa (see map below) and southern Arabia, mainly with the port of Saba. Adulis (Adola) became an important commercial centre in the region. Trade links increased and expanded from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, with Egypt, Greece, and Rome, to the Black Sea, and to Persia, India, and China. By the 5th century BCE, the region was very prosperous, exporting ivory, gold dust, spices, and live elephants. It imported silver, gold, olive oil, and wine.

2) Hergigo (Dakano in Saho): Oral traditions attribute the foundation of Hegigo to the Saho speaking group of Idda who in some type of association with elements of the holey Muslim cal Bayt Shaykh Mahmud, based in Zula, settled in Hegigo. The historic traditions shed some light on the early history of Massawa’s inhabitants. Some of the Massawa families that claim to have been among the first inhabitants of the town belong to Hassab Allah and Bayt Shaykh Mahmud. The Adulay family, who is thought of by many contemporary Massawans as among the early settlers, came from Zula. This data coincides with traditions of the foundation of Hegigo by originally Saho-speaking elements moving from the Zula region.

In the 6th century, Aksum was powerful enough to add Saba on the Arabian Peninsula to her empire. At the end of the 6th century, the Persians pushed Aksum out of peninsula causing Aksum to decline.

3) Qohaito: This ancient urban city lies approximately 14-15 Kilometres southeast of Asa Dik (Adi Keih). Its position at the crossroads of the main communication axes between the Red Sea area in the North-East and mainland of Kaskase, Matara and Axum in the South, made it one of the most political centres of the Kingdoms of ancient civilizations in the region.

4) Saanafè/Senafe: The ancient name for Senafe is Hakir. Senafe is also home to famous archaeological ruins of Balaw Kalaw. They are also known by nearby village called Matara. The ruins at Matara site are considered to be the third largest pre-Aksumite or Aksumite historical site. A western visitor who saw Senafe described it as a scene from wonder land. That is because the city seats on very pleasant plains and is encircled by most striking mountains. Arab Tarika from North, Dorho Coma from east, Farkila and Saim Coma from South, Matara Coma from South West and Ain Senafefrom West are key features of the town.

Saho Language

Saho language is one of the Kushitic languages of the ancient Kushite people. The Kushites spoke languages of the Kushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic (previously known as Hamito-Semitic) family. The Kushites are the indigenous peoples of the present day Eritrea, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. The history of over 5,000 years of Kushitic civilization is preserved through the interconnections of Kushitic culture and languages. The Kushitic languages are divided into 3 major subgroups. These include: (a) East Kushitic languages (Saho, Afar, Somali and Sidama), (b) Central Kushitic or Agaw language (such as Bilen ), (c) South Kushitic languages in Kenya and Tanzanya. According to linguistics, the Kushites spoke historically closely related dialects of the same language and they all shared a common cultural heritage.

Historians and anthropologists as yet to accurately determine the exact archeological time in which Kushitic languages started to split until they become separate languages as known in modern times. According to Bender and most scholars, the split of the Saho language from the rest of the East Kushitic language took place about four thousand years ago. It is believed that this split happened slowly and gradually over many centuries. Thus, Saho speaking ancestors started to become a separate ‘linguistic and ethnic group’ about four thousand years ago.

Saho language is mainly spoken in territories bounded by the bay of Idhafale in the east of Eritrea, the Laasi Ghedé valleys in the south, the Eritrea highlands to the west (Akele-Guzai, Shimezana) as well as in borders with Tigre on the west of Eritrea. It is also spoken in Ethiopia mainly in Tigray Region.

Saho language has four main dialects: Tarua, Assawurta, Minifre, and Irob.

Although there is no reliable accurate statistics so far, it is believed that Saho is spoken by over 320,000 speakers.

Relationship between Saho & Afar language

"The Afar & Saho have over 70% of linguistic relationships and they can communicate easily with each other without any difficulty". (Abdulkader S. Mohammed, 1977 p8)

"The Afar & Saho share a large number of words with the same meaning, cognates are usually closely related. This is because once people speaking a common language have become socially or geographically separated (…). But some words are more resistant to borrowing than others, that means they hare less subject to change over time. In East-Cushitic languages, such words include those for universal concepts [eat, drink, rain, sky, Sun, moon, Star, Earth, cattle, etc..] and basic parts of human body". M Nuuh Ali (1985: 21-22).

According to Leo Reinisch, (1886:795) that the Afar & Saho are not two languages but the same language. The structure & grammatical forms are the same one language. And this lies in their geographical location and isolation especially by the Saho in the highlands who kept the language.

Herbert S. Lewis (1966:42) assumes that Afar & Saho have evidently been in their area long enough to have diverged into two closely related but distinctly different languages.

Religion

The Saho are predominantly Muslim. A few Christians, who are also known as the Irob, live in the Tigray region of Ethiopia and the Debub Region of Eritrea.^[4]

Saho tribes and subdivisions

1- ASA BORA and it consists of; Asa Asa Bora, Da’ Asa Bora

2- ASAWURTA and it clans comprise;

A) Asa Lesan and it consists of: Hassan Dik, Hussain Dik, Malasa Dik, Hummad Durwa, Ahmaddin Dik, Gaddali Dik.

B), Lelish Are and it consists of: Abdalla Dik, Omar Dik, Eishe Dik, Diot Abusa.

C)Fokroti Are*, Asa Kare*, Faqih Dik*, Sarma Are*, Uruske Dabbasit Abusa*.

D) Beit Tawakkal, Beit Khalifa, Adefer & Beit Danya, Beit Suleiman, Logo Chewa & Inda Asmail of 4te Asmera, Zingar of Dorfo.

3-BARADOTTA*

4-DABRI MELA and it consists of; Alades Are, Labhalet Are.

5-GADAFUR*

6-GALLE GIYA*

7-GINNI KARA*

8-HADO(aka HAZO) and it comprises the following clans:

A) Asa Alila and consist of: Asa Ali Gaisha, Hammadi Gaisha, Asa Alila, Musabaggo, Bokite, Mahammad Kayya, Higoga, Omarto, Konsubifire, Amo-buri Gaisha, Danderi Hazoita.

B) LAASA and it consists of :Ona Dawud Gaisha, Ona Abdalla Gaisha, Ona Ismaeel Gaisha, Ona Omar Gaisha, Ona Ahmaddin Gaisha, Ona Ali Gaisha, Sheikha Abusso, Ab Dawuud Gaisha, Shum Omarto, Asa Lak Hena, Toujoumona, Shum Ahmaddo, Shum Hasanto, Ona Mahammad Dik, Bokite shum Bukoh dik, Maar dik, Asa Ibrahim Dik, Asa Abdalla dik, Semaye and Surrugso.

C) Shum Hummad Dik and it consist of : Sheikh Adamto, Dawud gafo dik, Talak, Maadar dik, Asa Alila (Barah).

9-HASABAT ARE, and it consists of;Hamad Are; Aleit Are; Mieenqut Are and Sandaqa Are.

10-IDDA*

11-IROB and it consists of; Algadi Are, Buknaitee Are, Hasaballa

12-KABOTA and it consists of; Gorbey, Tabita, Hataba, Shekhait, Zakarit, Alirga

13-MINIFRE and it consists of the following tribes;

A) GAASO and it is made up of the following clans: Shum Abdallah Gaisha, Yofish Gaisha, Shum Ahmad Gaisha, Hassan Gaisha, Silyan Gaisha, Asa Ushmaal, Oni Maal.

B) DAASAMO is made up of the following clans: Abdallah Harak, Naefie Harak, Mosat Harak, Subakum Are, Daili Are, Kundes, Illas.

C) SILAITA and it comprises: Hakatti Are, Qum Mee Are, Zeila Are, Hilato, Abbarior, Abdiaa

D)FAKAD HARAK (aka FAKIH HARAK) and it comprises: Faqih Abubakar, Faqih Omar, Faqih Ahmad

14-NAFEEAA*

15-SHEIKHA (These are families and tribes that crossed the Red Sea to spread Islam in Eritrea at different times. Hence, do not trace their linage to a common ancestor).

A) Intile Sheikh Are B) Sheikh Salim Are including Bet Sheikh Mahmoud and Ad Dirke in Sahel C) Danagulta D) Hajji Abkur E) Iror Naba F) Sheikh Dimbagog G) Sheikh Lahlaha H) Akhadar Abusa I)Muallim Dik J) Hajji Hedor

16-TARU3A and it consists of; Sara7 Are, Mosat Are.

17-SAATOT*

18- SALMUNTA and it consists of; A’sa Salmunta and Dat Salmunta

19-SANAFE (SAN3FE) and it consists of; Sheikh Umori and Uwaal Dik, Hassan Silah Dik,Umar Gorxxi Dik,Sancaffe Mahmoud Dik.

20-Samhar is home to a number of Saho clans and families that branched out from the main tribes that are listed above. Some of those we can trace are;

Qadida, Chewai Dik, Barole Dik, Sabbe Dik, Harak Dik, Haggi Wad Hamid Are, Shenghebai Dik, Sangor Dik, Khalifa Are, Adulai Are, Minni Are, Shehabi Are, Habona Are, Amir Dik, Zakaria Dik, Shemo Are, Tsewai Are, Hasino Are, Talke Are, Shikan Are, Sadiko Are, Edim Bagi Are, Sheik Humad Arkale Are, Sheikh Yassin Are, Ansara Are, Debrom Are, Falul Are, Dini Are, Gubbala Are, Yusuf Are, Unda Ali Are, Haggi Abdu Are, Khalifa Ahmad Are, Nabara Dik, Ali Babu Dik, Gadam Dik.

Notes

External links

• List of Saho communities
• Saho videos