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Shocking facts about the Tigray people.
Hi and welcome to another video on the various tribes of Africa. They are the descendants of King Solomon and Queen Sheba. Their history is nothing short of fascinating. They are one of the oldest and magnificent civilizations known to man. And they are The Tigray people, of Northern Ethiopia.
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Number one. The Origins.
The Tigray people are related to the Amhara and Tigre people of Ethiopia and Eritrea who together make up the Habesha people. These people can trace their origins back to Shem, eldest son of Noah. They left present day Yemen and settled on the African side of the Red Sea inhabiting the Nile Delta and all land East of the valley down to the Ethiopian Highlands where they mixed with the native black populations. This explains their mixed look.
Number two. Their land.
Tigray is the northernmost region of the second most populous country of Africa, Ethiopia. Tigray is known for its mountainous terrains that have often helped the people protect their territory from invaders, such as the Greeks, the Turkish, and the Italians.
Number three. Their Beliefs.
They are mainly Christian and members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
This said, they were the first African converts to Islam after sheltering Muhammad's followers in the holy city of Negash, located in the Tigray Region, from their enemies in Mecca. The converted Habeshans (especially Tigray Muslims) became known as the Jeberti.
Number Four. Their Demographics.
Tigrayans constitute approximately 6.1% of the population of Ethiopia and are largely small holding farmers inhabiting small communal villages. The Tigrayans constitute the fourth largest ethnic group in the country after the Oromo, Amhara and Somali.
Number Five. The Famine.
The decline of the Tigrayan population in Ethiopia was caused by the 1958 famine in Tigray, when over 100,000 people died. Later on during the famine years of 1983-85, the Mengistu Haile Mariam-led brutal military dictatorship organized government policies that deliberately multiplied the effects of the famine. Around 1.2 million people died in Ethiopia from this famine. The majority were from Tigray province.
Number Six. Aksum Kingdom.
Before incorporation into Ethiopia, Tigray was formerly a separate kingdom. 1st to the 7th centuries. At its apogee (3rd-6th century CE), Aksum became the greatest market of northeastern Africa; its merchants traded as far as Alexandria and beyond the Nile River.
Menelik , the founder of the Aksum Kingdom and also the son of King Solomon of Israel and Queen Sheba, captured the Ark of the Covenant from the Israelites and brought it to Axum in what is now the Tigray region in Ethiopia, where it remains to this day.
Number Seven. Political History.
Since the ouster of the socialist government of Mengistu Haile Mariyam in 1991, Tigray have dominated the Ethiopian government. This went on till 2018 when Ahmed Abiy, a mixed Oromo-Amhara prime minister took office. This saw the radical weakening of the TPLF through a purge that removed its key figures from powerful positions in government. Abiy’s peace deal with Eritrea, which won him the Nobel peace prize, further isolated the TPLF. Escalations of warfare ensued and to date the Ethiopian government and the TPLF is in serious conflict, which has resulted in widespread human loss on both sides, moreso the Tigray civilian population.
Number eight. The Culture.
When a Tigray man or woman arrives at someone's house, he or she does not knock on the door to signify he or she has arrived at someone's house; rather, he clears his throat. Guests are usually offered coffee. Traditional Tigray clothing is white, which is regarded as Christian, with little adornment. In Tigray, using the left hand to touch food that others will have contact with is regarded as very bad manners. The same relationship between left and right can be seen in many settings. For example, sitting on the right side of someone important is better than having to sit on the left. The right side of the church, as viewed from the altar, is holier than the left.
Number Nine. Food.
Some foods like pork are believed to be unfit for Christian Tigray to eat. The justification for these food prohibitions is found in the Christian Old Testament book of Leviticus.
Number ten. Economic Background.
Until recently, most rural Tigray considered farming to be the most honorable work. Today's food shortages have made many parents rethink this proposition. Nearly all parts of Tigray are subject to drought. Trade and government employment are seen as providing better opportunities.
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ethiopia, horn of africa, tigray people