13 Interesting Facts About the People of Shuwa (Baggara Arabs) Ethnic Group in Nigeria

August 11, 2023

The Shuwa (Baggara Arabs) are a minority group in Nigeria who are mainly found in
Borno state. They are known as “Baggara Arabs” derived from the Arabic word, “Bagar” which means “cow” because they are a cattle-herding people. This article will give you 13 Interesting Facts About the People of Shuwa (Baggara Arabs) Ethnic Group in Nigeria.

Most people are unaware of a number of fascinating facts about the Shuwa Arabs. They have their own unique cultures as well as beliefs. You can also learn about their religion, food as well a festivities from this article.

13 Interesting Facts About the People of the Shuwa Ethnic Group in Nigeria

The following are interesting and educational facts that you can learn about the people of Shuwa ethnic group in Nigeria:

1. Origin

During the reign of Muhammad El-Amin El-Kanemi, Shuwa migrated to this region of the nation. They moved to Borno in the eleventh century, and ever since then, they have played a significant role in the culture and society of the area.

2. Population

There are approximately 2 million members of this ethnic group, who are spread across several nations. Since they make up about 20% of the population, the Shuwa (Baggara
Arabs) are the dominant ethnic group in Borno State.

3. Language is One of the Interesting Facts About the People of Shuwa Ethnic Group

Chadian Arabic is spoken there as a first language. About 1.6 million people, both city dwellers and nomadic cattle herders, are native speakers of this language.

4. Locality

They are found in the nations of Sudan, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, and the Central African Republic, stretching from the area around Lake Chad eastward to the Nile River. Their environment is hot and semi-arid, with regions that range from sparsely vegetated
grasslands to sparsely populated shrublands.

5. Religion

The primary religion of the Shuwa Arabs is Folk Islam, a belief system that combines traditional aspects of Islam with superstitious customs like warding off spirits and reciting verses from the Qur’an to perform miracles.

6. Circumcision is Another Interesting Facts About the People of Shuwa Ethnic Group

As a part of their cultural identity, the Shuwa Arabs of Borno State practice female circumcision, which is thought to uphold a woman’s dignity and shield her from social
taboos.

7. Occupation

People in this area frequently lead nomadic lifestyles as part of their daily lives. They cultivate crops like millet, sorghum, and rice and are expert farmers as well.

8. Traditional settings

The men in the Shuwa community tend to the cattle, while the women take care of the household and milk the cows. The Shuwa people inhabit straightforward, transportable dome-shaped tents that women make. The tents are also simple to pack up and move along with the herds.

9. Food is Among the Interesting Facts About the People of Shuwa Ethnic Group

They eat cheese and milk and are dependent on their animals for survival. Additionally used as healing ointments are animal fat and dung. Their traditional cuisine includes dishes like Shuwa, Kilishi, Full Medames, Kabsa, as well as Sambusa.

10. Subgroups

The Baggara and the Kanembou are the two main subgroups of Arabs living in Shuwa. In contrast to the Kanembou, who are more stationary farmers, the Baggara are nomadic herders of cattle.

11. Local transportation

The Shuwa Arabs are expert horse riders and have long relied on horses for both short as well as long journeys.

12. Marriage custom; Interesting Facts About the People of Shuwa Ethnic Group

The Shuwa Arabs practice matrilocal marriage, which means that after marriage, the bride relocates to live with the groom’s family. It is just like the majority of ethnic groups in Nigeria.

13. Phenotype

Despite being of Arab descent and generally retaining the Arabian features of light skin and a prominent nose, many Baggara have evolved thick lips and extremely dark skin. Due to frequent intermarriages with nearby tribes like the Kanuri, Babur, Hausa, as well as others, they lost their original phenotype.

Conclusion

Thankfully, the people of the Shuwa Arab ethnic group are here to stay. If you found these people pretty interesting, I encourage you to learn more about them when you can.

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