Rashaida Girl
The Rashaida (meaning “refugees” in Arabic) are an Arabic speaking tribe living in northeast Eritrea (100,000) and Sudan (120,000). They migrated from Saudi Arabia in 1846 because of ethnic warfare. They are said to be related to the Bedouins of KSA and are the only nomadic tribe remaining in Eritrea. Rashaida people lead a simple life in goat skin tents with no electricity or running water. They are herdsmen breeding goats, sheep and camels. The racing camel breeds of the Rashaida are greatly valued across Sudan & the Arabian Peninsula and highly priced, which makes the tribe unusually wealthy. Rashaida people kept their traditional dress, culture, customs and practice of Sunni Islam. Women are famous for their black and red geometrically patterned dresses, as well as their burkas elaborately embroidered with silver thread, beads and sometimes seed pearls. Once a Rashaida girl reaches the age of 5, she is required to wear a veil that covers most of her face, with the exception of her eyes. The veil needs to cover the nose –which has a high sexual appeal in Rashaida culture– as well as the mouth. Since sexes do not mix, girls and boys have little chances to meet. As a consequence, marriages are usually arranged by families before girls reach the age of 16. However, Rashaida girls sometimes approach the man she wishes to marry and flirtatiously lifts her veil so that he can see her chin. If he agrees, the groom will need to give 100 camels for the dowry.
Size: 6639px × 4431px
Location: Massawa, Eritrea
Photo credit: © François-Olivier Dommergues / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., 1846, arabia, bedouins, eritrea., ethnic, ksa, migrated, nomadic, rashaida, related, saudi, tribe, warfare.
