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Dom people
Encyclopedia
The Dom of the Middle East
are an Indo-Aryan
ethnic group. Some authors relate them to the Domba
people of India
.
and history
through music
, poetry
and dance
. Initially it was considered that they are a branch of the Romani people, but recent studies of the Domari language suggest that they departed earlier from the Indian subcontinent
, probably around the 6th century. The world wide used name for Gypsies to identify themselves was term “Rrom”, which in Romani language means a man. The words Rom, Dom and Lom was used to describe proto-Romani people that split in 6th century. Several tribes moved forward into Western Europe and were called Rom, while the ones that remained in Persia and Turkey were called Dom.
Among the various Domari subgroups, the Ghawazi are the most famous for their dancing and music.
The Ghawazi dancers have been associated with the development of the Egyptian raqs sharqi
style which ultimately gave rise to Western schools of belly dance
.
, Egypt
and Iran
with significant numbers in Iraq
. Smaller populations are found in Libya
and other countries of the Middle East.
The actual population is unknown as some Dom are excluded from national censuses
and others label themselves in national terms rather than as Dom. Nowadays, they speak the dominant languages of their larger societies, but Domari
, their national language
, continues to be spoken by more insular communities. Iranians and Afghans called them gurbati or kouli, both of which mean "foreigners". The Iranian singer, Googoosh
made a song "Koeli", where she mentions the Dom people, the gypsies of Iran. Another group of Dom origin found in Iran
are the Lori
, who are found in the Baloch
regions of south east Iran
. Doms also exist in Pakistan controlled Gilgit-Baltistan in small numbers as well as Chitral, Swat, Kohistan and Ladakh regions of Pakistan and India. In Gilgit, Dom are coupled with the Kameen and Mons, who are also musicians, blacksmith and do similar menial jobs.
There's a large concentration of Dom/Gypsies in Jordan
, researchers claim that "They accommodate Arab racism by hiding their ethnic identity." As they wouldn't be accepted into Arabian society once their true identity is revealed.
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
are an Indo-Aryan
Indo-Aryans
Indo-Aryan is an ethno-linguistic term referring to the wide collection of peoples united as native speakers of the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-Iranian family of Indo-European languages...
ethnic group. Some authors relate them to the Domba
Domba
The Domba or Dom are an ethnic or social group, or groups, scattered across India. They are usually segregated from the mainstream community as outcastes.The Domba are sometimes also called "Chandala". Both terms also came to be used in the sense of "outcaste" in general...
people of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Culture
They have an oral tradition and express their cultureCulture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
and history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
through music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
and dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
. Initially it was considered that they are a branch of the Romani people, but recent studies of the Domari language suggest that they departed earlier from the Indian subcontinent
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
, probably around the 6th century. The world wide used name for Gypsies to identify themselves was term “Rrom”, which in Romani language means a man. The words Rom, Dom and Lom was used to describe proto-Romani people that split in 6th century. Several tribes moved forward into Western Europe and were called Rom, while the ones that remained in Persia and Turkey were called Dom.
Among the various Domari subgroups, the Ghawazi are the most famous for their dancing and music.
The Ghawazi dancers have been associated with the development of the Egyptian raqs sharqi
Raqs sharqi
Raqs sharqi is the classical Egyptian style of belly dance that developed during the first half of the 20th century.Based on the traditional ghawazi and other folk styles and formed by western influences such as marching bands, the Russian ballet, Latin dance, etc., this hybrid style was...
style which ultimately gave rise to Western schools of belly dance
Belly dance
Belly dance or Bellydance is a "Western"-coined name for a traditional "Middle Eastern" dance, especially raqs sharqi . It is sometimes also called Middle Eastern dance or Arabic dance in the West, or by the Greco-Turkish term çiftetelli...
.
Distribution
The majority of the estimated population of 2.2 million live in TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, 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...
and Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
with significant numbers in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. Smaller populations are found in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
and other countries of the Middle East.
The actual population is unknown as some Dom are excluded from national censuses
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
and others label themselves in national terms rather than as Dom. Nowadays, they speak the dominant languages of their larger societies, but Domari
Domari language
Domari is an Indo-Aryan language, spoken by the Dom people across the Middle East, mainly in Iran and Egypt, but significant numbers of speakers are also found in India where they are known as Domba....
, their national language
National language
A national language is a language which has some connection—de facto or de jure—with a people and perhaps by extension the territory they occupy. The term is used variously. A national language may for instance represent the national identity of a nation or country...
, continues to be spoken by more insular communities. Iranians and Afghans called them gurbati or kouli, both of which mean "foreigners". The Iranian singer, Googoosh
Googoosh
Faegheh Atashin also known by her stage name Googoosh is an Iranian singer and actress. She is known for her contributions to Iranian pop music, but also starred in a variety of movies from the 1950s to the 1970s. She achieved the pinnacle of her fame and success towards the end of the 1970s...
made a song "Koeli", where she mentions the Dom people, the gypsies of Iran. Another group of Dom origin found in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
are the Lori
Lori (ethnic group)
The Lori are a nomadic community found in the Balochistan region of Iran and Pakistan. They must not be confused with Lurs, who are an entirely distinct people.- Origin :...
, who are found in the Baloch
Baloch people
The Baloch or Baluch are an ethnic group that belong to the larger Iranian peoples. Baluch people mainly inhabit the Balochistan region and Sistan and Baluchestan Province in the southeast corner of the Iranian plateau in Western Asia....
regions of south east Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. Doms also exist in Pakistan controlled Gilgit-Baltistan in small numbers as well as Chitral, Swat, Kohistan and Ladakh regions of Pakistan and India. In Gilgit, Dom are coupled with the Kameen and Mons, who are also musicians, blacksmith and do similar menial jobs.
There's a large concentration of Dom/Gypsies in Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, researchers claim that "They accommodate Arab racism by hiding their ethnic identity." As they wouldn't be accepted into Arabian society once their true identity is revealed.
See also
- Lom people
- LyuliLyuliLyuli are a subgroup of the Dom people living in Central Asia, primarily Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.Lyuli speak a Lyuli dialect of the Domari language....
- NarikuravaNarikuravaThe Narikuravar are a community of people from Tamil Nadu, India.The main occupation of the people who originally belong to the indigenous tribes, is hunting. But as they were prohibited entry into the forests to pursue this livelihood, they were forced to take up other alternatives such as...
- ZottZottZott is the Arabic term for gypsies.The Zott were musicians who migrated in great numbers from India to Sassanid Persia under Behram Gour....
- Nawar (Syria)
- Origin of the Romani people