Lisi
Encyclopedia
Lisi is a collective term used to describe three closely associated Chad
ian ethnic groups living in the same geographical area, represented by the Batha
and Chari-Baguirmi
prefectures
: the Bilala
(136,000), the Kuka (76,000) and the Medogo (19,000).
The Lisi are mainly farmers growing crops such as sorghum
, millet
, cotton
and manioc; herding is occasionally associated with farming. They live in compact villages, each of which is governed by a chief, that settles local disputes, a duty he discharges with the help of the village's elders. Polygamy
is quite common, but the husband must guarantee a separate house for every wife. The first wife retains a privileged status over the others.
In religion they are all Muslim
, and represent the people that were part of the Yao Sultanate in pre-colonial Chad. The sultanate was founded by the Bulala
in the 15th century, conquering the Kuka, who successively passed them their language. For this they all now speak the same language, known as Naba language
.
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
ian ethnic groups living in the same geographical area, represented by the Batha
Batha Prefecture
This article refers to one of the former prefectures of Chad. From 2002 the country was divided into 18 regions.Batha was one of the 14 prefectures of Chad. Located in the center of the country, Batha covered an area of 88,800 square kilometers and had a population of 288,458 in 1993. Its capital...
and Chari-Baguirmi
Chari-Baguirmi Prefecture
This article refers to one of the former prefectures of Chad. From 2002 the country was divided into 18 regions.Chari-Baguirmi was one of the 14 prefectures of Chad. Located in the west of the country, Chari-Baguirmi covered an area of 82,910 square kilometers and had a population of 720,941 in...
prefectures
Prefectures of Chad
Chad was divided into 14 prefectures from 1960, the year of independence, to 1999, when the country was divided in 28 departments:A further reorganisation in 2002 divided the country into the current 18 regions.NB : Alphabetic order...
: the Bilala
Bilala
The Bilala, or Bulala, are a Muslim people that live around Lake Fitri, in the Batha Prefecture, in central Chad. The last Chadian census in 1993 stated that they numbered 136.629 persons. Their language, Naba, is divided in four dialects and is in the Nilo-Saharan group; it is shared by two of...
(136,000), the Kuka (76,000) and the Medogo (19,000).
The Lisi are mainly farmers growing crops such as sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
, millet
Millet
The millets are a group of small-seeded species of cereal crops or grains, widely grown around the world for food and fodder. They do not form a taxonomic group, but rather a functional or agronomic one. Their essential similarities are that they are small-seeded grasses grown in difficult...
, cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
and manioc; herding is occasionally associated with farming. They live in compact villages, each of which is governed by a chief, that settles local disputes, a duty he discharges with the help of the village's elders. Polygamy
Polygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
is quite common, but the husband must guarantee a separate house for every wife. The first wife retains a privileged status over the others.
In religion they are all 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...
, and represent the people that were part of the Yao Sultanate in pre-colonial Chad. The sultanate was founded by the Bulala
Bilala
The Bilala, or Bulala, are a Muslim people that live around Lake Fitri, in the Batha Prefecture, in central Chad. The last Chadian census in 1993 stated that they numbered 136.629 persons. Their language, Naba, is divided in four dialects and is in the Nilo-Saharan group; it is shared by two of...
in the 15th century, conquering the Kuka, who successively passed them their language. For this they all now speak the same language, known as Naba language
Naba language
Naba is a Nilo-Saharan language spoken by 232,000 people in Chad. Those who speak this language are called Lisi, a collective name for three closely associated ethnic groups, the Bilala, the Kuka and the Medogo, that represent the three dialects in which Naba is subdivided. They live mainly in the...
.