The Bagirmi (also spelled "Baguirmi") or Barma are an ethnic group who inhabit the Chari-Baguirmi region of Chad. They are one of Chad's major ethnic groups.[3]
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| c. 70,000[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Chad | |
| Languages | |
| Bagirmi, Fula, Chadian Arabic | |
| Religion | |
| Folk Islam[2] |
Social structure
editLanguage
editThe Bagirmi mostly speak the Bagirmi language as their native language, although some of them speak Fula[1] or Chadian Arabic[4] instead.
Religion
editTheir main religion is Folk Islam[2], a form of Islam that incorporates elements of Islam with native folk beliefs and practices. Historically, islam was introduced to the Bagirmi by the start of the 17th century, however it never fully replaced their traditional beliefs.[1]
Government
editBagirmi society has a royal family[1][3] and their king is known as mbang, a tradition that dates back to the Sultanate of Bagirmi.
See also
editNotable Bagirmi
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Bagirmi". Encyclopaedia Britannica. 2014.
- ^ a b "Barma of Chad". People Groups.
- ^ a b Yakan, Mohamad (2017). Almanac of African Peoples and Nations. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781351289306.
- ^ Stokes, Jamie (2009). Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Africa and the Middle East. Facts on File. p. 89. ISBN 9781438126760.