East Africa Caste systems in Africa

1 east africa

1.1 amhara people
1.2 borana people
1.3 oromo people
1.4 somali people

east africa
amhara people

the social stratification of amhara people of ethiopia includes castes. according donald levine – professor of sociology specializing in ethiopian society, amhara society has consisted of high-ranking clans, low-ranking clans, caste groups (artisans), , slaves. amhara caste system hierarchically higher lowest slaves strata.

the amhara caste system consisted of: (1) endogamy, (2) hierarchical status, (3) restraints on commensality, (4) pollution concepts, (5) each caste has had traditional occupation, , (6) inherited caste membership. caste system has been rigid, endogamous , occupationally closed social stratification among amhara , other afro-asiatic-speaking ethiopian ethnic groups. however, state economically closed, endogamous class system or occupational minorities, whereas others such historian david todd state system can unequivocally labelled caste-based.

borana people

the borana people found in southern ethiopia, somalia , northeastern kenya. have historically had castes, among hunters , artisans have constituted depressed strata. these endogamous castes each specialized inherited occupation, , include strata constitutes outcastes. found in virtually every cushitic or semitic community of region. these castes neither negroid nor bushmanoid physical features or first language.

the lower castes of borana people, states herbert lewis – professor of anthropology specializing on east african societies, show no physical differences noble castes of somalia , somalilands. other endogamy , occupational differences between castes, ritual, social , political positions different, beliefs held each nature of other. example, castes have long considered each other ritually impure, , food prepared either nobles or artisans castes considered taboo others. similarly, traditionally, craftsman , noble ritually forbidden enter house of other. low caste people expected not handle farm equipment or cattle.

in ethiopia, outcaste groups include weyto, live on shores of lake tana , despised eating hippopotamus meat.

oromo people

the oromo people largest ethnic group in ethiopia, found in northern kenya , somalia, estimated total population of on 35 million.

like other ethnic groups in horn of africa , east africa, oromo people regionally developed social stratification consisting of 4 hierarchical strata. highest strata nobles called borana, below them gabbaro (some 17th 19th century ethiopian texts refer them dhalatta). below these 2 upper castes despised castes of artisans, , @ lowest level slaves.

in islamic kingdom of jimma, oromo society s caste strata predominantly consisted of endogamous, inherited artisanal occupations. each caste group has specialized in particular occupation such iron working, carpentry, weapon making, pottery, weaving, leather working , hunting.

the castes in oromo society have had designated name, such tumtu smiths, fuga potters, faqi tanners , leatherworkers, semmano weavers, gagurtu bee keepers , honey makers, watta hunters , foragers. while slaves endogamous strata within oromo society, victims of slavery. 19th century, oromo slaves sought after , major part of slaves sold in gondar , gallabat slave markets @ ethiopia-sudan border, massawa , tajura markets on red sea.

somali people

the somalis muslim ethnic group of between 15 , 20 million people, constituting largest ethnicity in somalia, many of whom live in ethiopia, kenya, , djibouti.

they have historically exhibited social stratification has included embedded castes referred higal (or higalki, argobba). upper noble strata has been called gob (or asha), while lower servile strata have been referred sáb. 3 main somali castes called tumal (sometimes spelled tomal), midgan , yibir (sometimes spelled yebir). these fell outside of traditional clan structure. castes have been endogamous, person born inherited occupation. midgan have been hunters, tumal smiths, pottery , leatherworking caste, , yibir have been saddle , prayer mat makers , magician caste. below castes have been somali bantu jareer community, , these have been descendants of former slaves, including runaway , emancipated slaves.

according mohamed eno , abdi kusow, somali caste communities ethnically indistinguishable each other, upper castes have stigmatized lower ones mythical narratives such being of unholy origins or being engaged in dirty occupations. 4 strata social system – high lineage, low lineage, caste groups , slaves – found among somalis has been common in horn of africa region, states donald levine, , found among ethnic groups such afar, amhara, borana, leqa, sidamo, kefa, janjero , other peoples.

according catherine besteman - professor of anthropology, widespread purchase of non-somali african slaves during medieval age helped structure complex status hierarchy among somalis. however, adds besteman, somali people upper strata have been egalitarian in matters of clan leadership, while have included concepts of social status, inferiority , exclusion of sáb , slaves. in northern regions somalis traditionally found, states iaon lewis, somali communities have traditionally distinguished between artisanal somali castes , slaves, in south have blurred these distinctions.

the castes among somali people have existed in other east , northeast african ethnic groups. in east african ethnic groups, such oromo people example, cognates somali castes have been recorded in 16th century texts, states cornelius jaenen. table below illustrate alternate terms castes mirroring somali madhiban in other ethnic groups share region somali people. similarly, equivalent terms castes in other northeast , east african ethnic groups mirror other castes such tomal , yibir of somali people.