Abaza family
Encyclopedia
The Abaza clan
, "deeply rooted in Egyptian society and... in the history of the country" is an Egyptian family that has played a powerful and long-standing role in Egyptian economic, intellectual and political life. Their main stronghold is the Sharqia Governorate.
The family is noted for producing the largest number of noble style holders in Egypt, such as Pasha
s, Beks/Bey
s, Hanims, Saheb or Sahebet Ezza, Mqama , Saada, Maaly and Oussma, intellectuals, politicians, business people and men/women of letters.
It is considered the largest extended family in Egypt.
In addition several living Abazas hold the title 'His or Her Excellency
', for example serving minister
s in government or serving diplomat
s.
Currently there are several Abaza members of either of Egypt's two Houses of Parliament
, two Minister
s in government
and the Chief District Attorney
of Cairo is also an Abaza. In addition, a large amount of economic activity is undertaken by the wealthiest Abaza Family members. The Abaza opposition
Wafd
party leader lost his position in 2010.
The Abaza Family name is widely recognized by people in most of Egypt.
, a region at the northern mountainside of the Caucasus Major, now the northern part of Karachay-Cherkessia
n Republic, Russia
. Abazinia is home of the Abazins
, a people related to the Abkhaz people
and speaking the Abazin language. However, intermarriage into native Egyptian families, specifically native upper class families, was and remains common for Abazas thus ensuring native Egyptian ancestry for the entire clan.
The Abazins
were one of several Muslim
ethnic groups living in the Russian Empire
who emigrated during the Muhajir (Caucasus)
in the mid-19th century, although some sources indicate that the Egyptian Abazas emigrated 600–800 years ago. Many moved to Turkey
, but later emigrated again and settled in various Arab countries. In their new Arab home, the Abazins took – or were given – the last name "Abaza".
Afaf Lutfi Sayyid-Marsot in the study, Egypt
in the reign of Muhammad Ali Pasha
, makes mention of a traditional belief amongst the Egyptian Abaza Family that they were named after a "beloved grandmother...or her place of birth". Family elders sat on the Majlis
created by , "uhda" (or royal endowments) of villages and land were obtained by the Family and "the Abaza flourished" (pp. 123–124).
During the accession of the young King Farouk, "the Abaza family had solicited palace authorities to permit the royal train to stop briefly in their village so that the king could partake in refreshments offered in a large, magnificently ornamented tent they had erected in the train station." http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/762/chrncls.htm (Al-Ahram Weekly).
Members of the Egyptian Abaza clan consider themselves a family, and are categorized as a 'family' or 'clan' in the country in which they are well-known. The Egyptian Abaza Family is most often thought to number 10-15000 members, but this is difficult to verify. There is a common stereotypical assumption widely held in Egypt that all Egyptian Abaza are exceedingly wealthy. This is a false generalization, although most of the Abazas are of an at least Upper-Middle-Class status and have incomes higher than the vast majority of the Egyptian population. In addition, most feudal land held by the Abazas was lost in the land reform
s conducted in the 1950s and 60s under the government of Gamal Abdel Nasser
, before that, the Abazas had also lost land during the Great Depression
of the 1930s.
Family members are active both in Government and opposition circles, and are generally known to value their aristocratic and noble class position.
Additionally, the people of Sharqia have been traditionally famed for exceptional generosity to the poor in the past and present. This is most obvious in the tale famed throughout Egypt that the people of Sharqia, where the Abazas are powerful, are called idiomatically "those who invited the train", referring to an occasion where a full train had difficulties and the Sharqia residents invited all passengers to dine with them. This led to a legendary saying about the Sharqia governate's population are extremely generous.
It is important to note that this community does not consist of Abaza Family only and there are other well-reputed families in the Sharqaia governorate that share pride in the generosity of inviting the train. This legend is also colloquially applied to the local farmer population as well as the leading clans.
There is also a town in Russia
named Abaza
.
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
, "deeply rooted in Egyptian society and... in the history of the country" is an Egyptian family that has played a powerful and long-standing role in Egyptian economic, intellectual and political life. Their main stronghold is the Sharqia Governorate.
The family is noted for producing the largest number of noble style holders in Egypt, such as Pasha
Pasha
Pasha or pascha, formerly bashaw, was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors, generals and dignitaries. As an honorary title, Pasha, in one of its various ranks, is equivalent to the British title of Lord, and was also one of the highest titles in...
s, Beks/Bey
Bey
Bey is a title for chieftain, traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. Accoding to some sources, the word "Bey" is of Turkish language In historical accounts, many Turkish, other Turkic and Persian leaders are titled Bey, Beg, Bek, Bay, Baig or Beigh. They are all the same word...
s, Hanims, Saheb or Sahebet Ezza, Mqama , Saada, Maaly and Oussma, intellectuals, politicians, business people and men/women of letters.
It is considered the largest extended family in Egypt.
In addition several living Abazas hold the title 'His or Her Excellency
Excellency
Excellency is an honorific style given to certain members of an organization or state.Usually, people styled "Excellency" are heads of state, heads of government, governors, ambassadors, certain ecclesiastics, royalty, aristocracy, and military, and others holding equivalent rank .It is...
', for example serving minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
s in government or serving diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
s.
Currently there are several Abaza members of either of Egypt's two Houses of Parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
, two Minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
s in government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
and the Chief District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
of Cairo is also an Abaza. In addition, a large amount of economic activity is undertaken by the wealthiest Abaza Family members. The Abaza opposition
Opposition (politics)
In politics, the opposition comprises one or more political parties or other organized groups that are opposed to the government , party or group in political control of a city, region, state or country...
Wafd
WAFD
WAFD is a Hot Adult Contemporary formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Webster Springs, West Virginia, serving East Central West Virginia. WAFD is owned and operated by Summit Media Broadcasting, LLC.-External links:*...
party leader lost his position in 2010.
The Abaza Family name is widely recognized by people in most of Egypt.
Historical overview
The Abaza family originated in AbaziniaAbazinia
Abazinia, Abazashta or Abaza is a historical country at the northern mountainside of the Caucasus Major, now the northern part of Karachay-Cherkessian Republic, Russia. Abazinia is a home of the Abazins, a people related to the Abkhaz people and speaking the Abazin language.Abazinia once was a part...
, a region at the northern mountainside of the Caucasus Major, now the northern part of Karachay-Cherkessia
Karachay-Cherkessia
The Karachay-Cherkess Republic , or Karachay-Cherkessia is a federal subject of Russia . Population: -Geography:*Area: *Borders:**internal: Krasnodar Krai , Kabardino-Balkar Republic , Stavropol Krai ....
n Republic, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Abazinia is home of the Abazins
Abazins
The Abazins are a people who live mostly in Karachay-Cherkessia and Adygea of Russia.An Abazin diaspora exists in Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Egypt , and other Islamic countries, most of which are descendants of refugees from the Caucasian War...
, a people related to the Abkhaz people
Abkhaz people
The Abkhaz or Abkhazians are a Caucasian ethnic group, mainly living in Abkhazia, a disputed region on the Black Sea coast. A large Abkhazian diaspora population resides in Turkey, the origins of which lie in the emigration from the Caucasus in the late 19th century known as Muhajirism...
and speaking the Abazin language. However, intermarriage into native Egyptian families, specifically native upper class families, was and remains common for Abazas thus ensuring native Egyptian ancestry for the entire clan.
The Abazins
Abazins
The Abazins are a people who live mostly in Karachay-Cherkessia and Adygea of Russia.An Abazin diaspora exists in Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Egypt , and other Islamic countries, most of which are descendants of refugees from the Caucasian War...
were one of several Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
ethnic groups living in the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
who emigrated during the Muhajir (Caucasus)
Muhajir (Caucasus)
Circassians, the indigenous peoples of the Northwest Caucasus were cleansed from their homeland at the end of the Caucasian War by victorious Russia, which by its manner of suppression of the Caucasus directed at the Crimean Tartars and Circassians can be credited with "inventing the strategy of...
in the mid-19th century, although some sources indicate that the Egyptian Abazas emigrated 600–800 years ago. Many moved to Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, but later emigrated again and settled in various Arab countries. In their new Arab home, the Abazins took – or were given – the last name "Abaza".
Afaf Lutfi Sayyid-Marsot in the study, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in the reign of Muhammad Ali Pasha
Muhammad Ali of Egypt
Muhammad Ali Pasha al-Mas'ud ibn Agha was a commander in the Ottoman army, who became Wāli, and self-declared Khedive of Egypt and Sudan...
, makes mention of a traditional belief amongst the Egyptian Abaza Family that they were named after a "beloved grandmother...or her place of birth". Family elders sat on the Majlis
Majlis
' , is an Arabic term meaning "a place of sitting", used in the context of "council", to describe various types of special gatherings among common interest groups be it administrative, social or religious in countries with linguistic or cultural connections to Islamic countries...
created by , "uhda" (or royal endowments) of villages and land were obtained by the Family and "the Abaza flourished" (pp. 123–124).
During the accession of the young King Farouk, "the Abaza family had solicited palace authorities to permit the royal train to stop briefly in their village so that the king could partake in refreshments offered in a large, magnificently ornamented tent they had erected in the train station." http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/762/chrncls.htm (Al-Ahram Weekly).
Members of the Egyptian Abaza clan consider themselves a family, and are categorized as a 'family' or 'clan' in the country in which they are well-known. The Egyptian Abaza Family is most often thought to number 10-15000 members, but this is difficult to verify. There is a common stereotypical assumption widely held in Egypt that all Egyptian Abaza are exceedingly wealthy. This is a false generalization, although most of the Abazas are of an at least Upper-Middle-Class status and have incomes higher than the vast majority of the Egyptian population. In addition, most feudal land held by the Abazas was lost in the land reform
Land reform
[Image:Jakarta farmers protest23.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Farmers protesting for Land Reform in Indonesia]Land reform involves the changing of laws, regulations or customs regarding land ownership. Land reform may consist of a government-initiated or government-backed property redistribution,...
s conducted in the 1950s and 60s under the government of Gamal Abdel Nasser
Gamal Abdel Nasser
Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein was the second President of Egypt from 1956 until his death. A colonel in the Egyptian army, Nasser led the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 along with Muhammad Naguib, the first president, which overthrew the monarchy of Egypt and Sudan, and heralded a new period of...
, before that, the Abazas had also lost land during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
of the 1930s.
Family members are active both in Government and opposition circles, and are generally known to value their aristocratic and noble class position.
Additionally, the people of Sharqia have been traditionally famed for exceptional generosity to the poor in the past and present. This is most obvious in the tale famed throughout Egypt that the people of Sharqia, where the Abazas are powerful, are called idiomatically "those who invited the train", referring to an occasion where a full train had difficulties and the Sharqia residents invited all passengers to dine with them. This led to a legendary saying about the Sharqia governate's population are extremely generous.
It is important to note that this community does not consist of Abaza Family only and there are other well-reputed families in the Sharqaia governorate that share pride in the generosity of inviting the train. This legend is also colloquially applied to the local farmer population as well as the leading clans.
There is also a town in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
named Abaza
Abaza (town)
Abaza is a town in the Republic of Khakassia, Russia, located on the Abakan River south of Abakan. Population: It was founded in 1856 and developed on the strength of iron ore deposits; the extraction industry is still important to the local economy....
.
Notable Egyptian Abaza
- Hassan Pasha Abaza Shiekh of the Arabs - major elder.
- Rushdy AbazaRushdy AbazaRushdy Said Bughdady Abaza was an Egyptian actor. He died of cancer at the age of 53.-Family:...
- A popular actorActorAn actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
in Egypt and the Arab World. he has also appeared in a number of famous Hollywood films - Fekry Pasha Abaza PashaPashaPasha or pascha, formerly bashaw, was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors, generals and dignitaries. As an honorary title, Pasha, in one of its various ranks, is equivalent to the British title of Lord, and was also one of the highest titles in...
- A famous writer and a former Pasha - Maher Abaza - Former Egyptian Minister of Electricity .
- Wagih Abaza - Former Governor of CairoCairoCairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Beheira & Gharbia and Founder of PeugeotPeugeotPeugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
Egypt. - Mahmoud Abaza - Past President of New Wafd PartyNew Wafd PartyThe New Wafd Party is a nationalist liberal party in Egypt.It is the extension of one of the oldest and historically most active political parties in Egypt, Wafd Party, which was dismantled after the 1952 Revolution. The New Wafd was re-established in 1983...
In Egypt. - Karim Abaza
See also
- Abaza languageAbaza languageThe Abaza language is a language of the Caucasus mountains in the Russian Karachay-Cherkess Republic by the Abazins...
- Abkhaz languageAbkhaz languageAbkhaz is a Northwest Caucasian language spoken mainly by the Abkhaz people. It is the official language of Abkhazia where around 100,000 people speak it. Furthermore, it is spoken by thousands of members of the Abkhazian diaspora in Turkey, Georgia's autonomous republic of Adjara, Syria, Jordan...
- Abaza
- Sharqia Governorate