Sara people
Encyclopedia
The Sara are an ethnic group
in Central Africa
, who reside mostly in Chad
, making up approximatively 30% of its southern population.
, are the largest group in Chad, making up to 30% of Chad's population. They are a mostly non-Muslim people — about a sixth of them are believed to be Christians, with most practising traditional faiths — who reside in the central African nation of Chad and neighboring countries.
Located in the south-east, especially in the Moyen-Chari
, Logone Oriental
, Logone Occidental
, and parts of the Tandjile
regions, they are Nilotic
people who are believed to have migrated
to the Chad during the 16th century. Many traditional cultural systems broke down over centuries because of constant riff from the Arab slave raiders
. The women used to artificially elongate their lips using lip plates, and some nineteenth century explorers and missionaries suggested that this, like other cosmetic practices of various African peoples, were adopted to make themselves unattractive to Arab slave raiders .
They are a patrilineal society, who speak a Nilo-Sudanic language and comprise some Twelve tribes or clans. Included among the Sara are the Ngambaye, the Mbaye, the Goulay, the Madjingaye, the Kaba, the Sara-Kaba, the Niellim, the Nar, the Dai and Ngama.
The Sara (Sa-Ra) designation appears to have been given to them by the Arabs, meaning the Sons of Ra
, the ancient Egyptian Sun-God. The Sara lived in the north-east along the Nile River before they sought refuge in the south against northern Arab slave raids, whom eventually overtook and Arabized North Africa. Most Sara are Traditionalist in religion, some worshipping the Sun. The Sara are agriculturalists; they form the backbone of the Chadian economy, producing cotton, rice, peanuts, corn, millet, sorghum, and cassava. They live in the most productive part of the country.
During the French colonial period
, they became targets for recruitment, forced labor, and the military. In fact, during World War II
they were the largest number of Africans to fight in the war . The French often romanticized their tall, physically powerful presence and referred to them as "La Belle Race" (The beautiful race) .
The Sara people enthusiastically grasped the meagre educational and religious opportunities offered by the French. They since have mastered most disciplines available and now occupy many positions in the civil service. In the 1970s, François Tombalbaye
, the first President of Chad and from Sara origins, introduced in an Africanization
aim the yondo
initiation rites of the Sara for all those who wanted to obtain positions in the civil service and the army, rites that were seen as anti-Christian.
, making it the fourth largest ethnic group in the country.
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
in Central Africa
Central Africa
Central Africa is a core region of the African continent which includes Burundi, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda....
, who reside mostly in Chad
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...
, making up approximatively 30% of its southern population.
In Chad
The Sara (kameeni), better known as the descendants of the legendary SaoSao civilisation
The Sao were an African civilisation that flourished from ca. the 6th century to as late as the 15th century. The Sao lived by the Chari River south of Lake Chad in territory that would later be part of Cameroon and Chad. They are the earliest people to have left clear traces of their presence in...
, are the largest group in Chad, making up to 30% of Chad's population. They are a mostly non-Muslim people — about a sixth of them are believed to be Christians, with most practising traditional faiths — who reside in the central African nation of Chad and neighboring countries.
Located in the south-east, especially in the Moyen-Chari
Moyen-Chari Region
Moyen-Chari is one of the 22 regions of Chad and its capital is Sarh. Its economy is based on subsistence agriculture, breeding, cotton and sugarcane.-Demography:The region's population was 598,284 inhabitants in 2009 ....
, Logone Oriental
Logone Oriental Region
Logone Oriental is one of the 22 regions of Chad and its capital is Doba. It is composed by the former Logone Oriental Prefecture.-Subdivisions:The region of Logone Oriental is divided in 4 departments:-Demography:...
, Logone Occidental
Logone Occidental Region
Logone Occidental is one of the 22 regions of Chad and its capital is Moundou. It consists of the former Logone Occidental Prefecture.-Subdivisions:The region of Logone Occidental is divided in 3 departments:-Demography:...
, and parts of the Tandjile
Tandjilé Region
Tandjilé is one of the 22 regions of Chad and its capital is Laï.-Subdivisions:The region of Tandjilé is divided in 2 departments:-Demography:...
regions, they are Nilotic
Nilotic
Nilotic people or Nilotes, in its contemporary usage, refers to some ethnic groups mainly in South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, and northern Tanzania, who speak Nilotic languages, a large sub-group of the Nilo-Saharan languages...
people who are believed to have migrated
Human migration
Human migration is physical movement by humans from one area to another, sometimes over long distances or in large groups. Historically this movement was nomadic, often causing significant conflict with the indigenous population and their displacement or cultural assimilation. Only a few nomadic...
to the Chad during the 16th century. Many traditional cultural systems broke down over centuries because of constant riff from the Arab slave raiders
Arab slave trade
The Arab slave trade was the practice of slavery in the Arab World, mainly Western Asia, North Africa, East Africa and certain parts of Europe during their period of domination by Arab leaders. The trade was focused on the slave markets of the Middle East and North Africa...
. The women used to artificially elongate their lips using lip plates, and some nineteenth century explorers and missionaries suggested that this, like other cosmetic practices of various African peoples, were adopted to make themselves unattractive to Arab slave raiders .
They are a patrilineal society, who speak a Nilo-Sudanic language and comprise some Twelve tribes or clans. Included among the Sara are the Ngambaye, the Mbaye, the Goulay, the Madjingaye, the Kaba, the Sara-Kaba, the Niellim, the Nar, the Dai and Ngama.
The Sara (Sa-Ra) designation appears to have been given to them by the Arabs, meaning the Sons of Ra
Ra
Ra is the ancient Egyptian sun god. By the Fifth Dynasty he had become a major deity in ancient Egyptian religion, identified primarily with the mid-day sun...
, the ancient Egyptian Sun-God. The Sara lived in the north-east along the Nile River before they sought refuge in the south against northern Arab slave raids, whom eventually overtook and Arabized North Africa. Most Sara are Traditionalist in religion, some worshipping the Sun. The Sara are agriculturalists; they form the backbone of the Chadian economy, producing cotton, rice, peanuts, corn, millet, sorghum, and cassava. They live in the most productive part of the country.
During the French colonial period
Colonial Chad
Chad was a part of the French colonial empire from 1900 to 1960. Colonial rule under the French began in 1900 when the Military Territory of Chad was established. From 1905, Chad was linked to the federation of French colonial possessions in Middle Africa, known from 1910 under the name of French...
, they became targets for recruitment, forced labor, and the military. In fact, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
they were the largest number of Africans to fight in the war . The French often romanticized their tall, physically powerful presence and referred to them as "La Belle Race" (The beautiful race) .
The Sara people enthusiastically grasped the meagre educational and religious opportunities offered by the French. They since have mastered most disciplines available and now occupy many positions in the civil service. In the 1970s, François Tombalbaye
François Tombalbaye
François Tombalbaye, also called Ngarta Tombalbaye , was a teacher and a trade union activist who served as the first president of Chad. He was born in the southern region of the country in the Moyen-Chari Prefecture near the city of Koumara and was of the Sara ethnic group, the prominent ethnicity...
, the first President of Chad and from Sara origins, introduced in an Africanization
Africanization
Africanization or Africanisation has been applied in various contexts, notably in naming and in the composition of staff.-Africanization of names:...
aim the yondo
Yondó
Yondó is a town and municipality in Antioquia Department, Colombia. The first settlers arrived around 10000 BC, archaeological site. The town was founded in 1941 for lodge the, at that time, discovered Casabe oilfield's workers. The town became into a municipality in 1979...
initiation rites of the Sara for all those who wanted to obtain positions in the civil service and the army, rites that were seen as anti-Christian.
In the Central African Republic
The Sara, people make up 10% of the Central African RepublicCentral African Republic
The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the north east, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west. The CAR covers a land area of about ,...
, making it the fourth largest ethnic group in the country.
Famous Sara people
- François TombalbayeFrançois TombalbayeFrançois Tombalbaye, also called Ngarta Tombalbaye , was a teacher and a trade union activist who served as the first president of Chad. He was born in the southern region of the country in the Moyen-Chari Prefecture near the city of Koumara and was of the Sara ethnic group, the prominent ethnicity...
, first President of Chad - Noël Milarew OdingarNoël Milarew OdingarNoël Milarew Odingar was a Chadian officer who briefly served as head of state and was later one of the nine members of the Supreme Military Council, the military junta that ruled Chad between 1975 and 1978....
, who overthrew Tombalbaye during the 1975 coupChadian coup of 1975The Chadian coup of 1975 was in considerable part generated by the growing distrust of the President of Chad, François Tombalbaye, for the army. This distrust came in part from the Chadian Armed Forces incapacity to deal with the rebellion that was inflaming the Muslim north from when the rebel... - Fidèle MoungarFidèle MoungarFidèle Abdelkérim Moungar is a Chadian doctor and a veteran politician who served as Prime Minister of Chad in 1993. He is currently Secretary-General of Chadian Action for Unity and Socialism , a left-wing opposition party....
, Prime minister of Chad in 1993, president of Action for Unity and Socialism
See also
- Demographics of ChadDemographics of ChadThe people of Chad speak more than 100 different languages and divide themselves into many ethnic groups. However, language and ethnicity are not the same. Moreover, neither element can be tied to a particular physical type. In Chad, European conquest and administration intensified feelings of...
- Demographics of the Central African RepublicDemographics of the Central African RepublicThis article is about the demographic features of the population of the Central African Republic, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population....
- Sara languagesSara languagesThe Sara languages comprise half a dozen Bongo–Bagirmi languages spoken mainly in southern Chad; a few are also spoken in the north of the Central African Republic. They are members of the Central Sudanic language family...