Eritrea's nine ethnic groups

Eritrea recognises nine ethnic groups, each with its own language and traditions. Together they give a small country a great variety of music, dress, food and ways of life - all of which are on show when Eritreans celebrate together, from Independence Day to weddings abroad.

This is a short introduction; each community deserves a guide of its own, and we plan to write them with people from each community.

The nine

• Afar - living mainly along the southern Red Sea coast, in one of the hottest places on earth; many have traditionally lived from herding, fishing and salt trading. Language: Afar.
• Bilen - centred on Keren and the surrounding area. Language: Bilen, a Cushitic language.
• Hidareb - in the west, near the border with Sudan. Language: Tu Bedawi, also called Beja.
• Kunama - in the Gash-Barka region in the south-west. Language: Kunama, a Nilo-Saharan language.
• Nara - also in Gash-Barka, in the west. Language: Nara, a Nilo-Saharan language.
• Rashaida - mainly along the northern coast; historically herders and traders. Language: Arabic.
• Saho - along the eastern escarpment and nearby lowlands. Language: Saho, a Cushitic language.
• Tigre - across the northern and western lowlands and much of the coast. Language: Tigre, a Semitic language related to Tigrinya.
• Tigrinya - mainly in the central and southern highlands, including Asmara. Language: Tigrinya, the most widely spoken language in the country.

Languages at school and at work

Children are taught in their mother tongue in the first years of primary school. Tigrinya and Arabic are the languages most used in public life, and English is the language of secondary and higher education.

Help us write more

If you would like to help write a guide about your community - its history, music, dress or food - please write to us.