Bedouin

A Bedouin family in Oman
Total population
8,000,000 - 10,000,000
Regions with significant populations
Saudi Arabia 5,000,000[citation needed]  Jordan 910,000[citation needed]  Iraq 600,000[citation needed]  Libya 530,000[citation needed]  Egypt- mainly in Sinai 380,000 (2007)[1]  Israel 170,000 (1999)[2]  Syria  Tunisia  Algeria  Morocco  Western Sahara  Mauritania  Sudan  Kuwait  UAE  Bahrain  Qatar  Oman  Yemen
Languages
Arabic dialects:  Najdi • Hassānīya • Bedawi
Religion
majority adhere to Sunni Islam; small numbers adhere to Shia Islam and other religions
Related ethnic groups
Arabs

The Bedouin ( /ˈbɛdʉ.ɪn/; from the Arabic badawī بَدَوِي, pl. badū بَدْو or al-badaw البَدَوِ) are a part of a predominantly desert-dwelling Arabian ethnic group traditionally divided into tribes or clans, known in Arabic as ʿašāʾir (عَشَائِر).

Etymology[link]

The term "Bedouin" derives from a plural form of the Arabic word badawī, as it is pronounced in colloquial dialects. The Arabic term badawī derives from the word bādiyah (بَادِية), which means semiarid desert (as opposed to ṣaḥrāʾ صَحْرَاء, which means very arid desert). The term "Bedouin" therefore means, "those in bādiyah" or "those in the desert".

History[link]

Starting in the late nineteenth century, many Bedouin under British rule began to transit to a seminomadic life. In the 1950s and 1960s, large numbers of Bedouin throughout Midwest Asia started to leave the traditional, nomadic life to settle in the cities of Midwest Asia, especially as hot ranges have shrunk and populations have grown. For example, in Syria the Bedouin way of life effectively ended during a severe drought from 1958 to 1961, which forced many Bedouin to abandon herding for standard jobs. Similarly, governmental policies in Egypt and Israel, oil production in the Persian Gulf, as well as a desire for improved standards of living, effectively led most Bedouin to become settled citizens of various nations, rather than stateless nomadic herders. Governmental policies pressing the Bedouin have in some cases been executed in an attempt to provide service (schools, health-care, law enforcement and so on—see Chatty 1986 for examples), but in others have been based on the desire to seize land traditionally roved and controlled by the Bedouin. In recent years, the Bedouin have adopted the pastime of raising and breeding white doves.

Society[link]

Bedouin Shepherd in Syrian Desert

A widely quoted Bedouin saying is "I against my brother, my brothers and I against my cousins, then my cousins and I against strangers". This saying signifies a hierarchy of loyalties based on proximity of kinship that runs from the nuclear family through the lineage, the tribe, and even, in principle at least, to an entire genetic or linguistic group (which is perceived to have a kinship basis). Disputes are settled, interests are pursued, and justice and order are maintained by means of this frame, according to an ethic of self-help and collective responsibility (Andersen 14). The individual family unit (known as a tent or bayt) typically consisted of three or four adults (a married couple plus siblings or parents) and any number of children.

When resources were plentiful, several tents would travel together as a goum. These groups were sometimes linked by patriarchal lineage, but were just as likely linked by marriage (new wives were especially likely to have close male relatives join them), acquaintance or even no clearly defined relation but a simple shared membership in the tribe.

The next scale of interaction within groups was the ibn ʿamm (cousin, or literally "son of an uncle") or descent group, commonly of three to five generations. These were often linked to goums, but where a goum would generally consist of people all with the same herd type, descent groups were frequently split up over several economic activities, thus allowing a degree of 'risk management'; should one group of members of a descent group suffer economically, the other members of the descent group would be able to support them. Whilst the phrase "descent group" suggests purely a lineage-based arrangement, in reality these groups were fluid and adapted their genealogies to take in new members.

The largest scale of tribal interactions is the tribe as a whole, led by a Sheikh (Arabic: شيخ‎ šayḫ, literally, "elder"). The tribe often claims descent from one common ancestor—as mentioned above. This appears patrimonial but in reality new groups could have genealogies invented to tie them in to this ancestor. The tribal level is the level that mediated between the Bedouin and the outside governments and organizations.

Bedouin traditionally had strong honor codes, and traditional systems of justice dispensation in Bedouin society typically revolved around such codes. The bisha'a, or ordeal by fire, is a well-known Bedouin practice of lie detection. See also: Honor codes of the Bedouin, Bedouin systems of justice.

Bedouins in Israel[link]

Prior to the 1948 Israeli Declaration of Independence, when the Negev became part of Israel, an estimated 65,000–90,000 Bedouins lived in the Negev. According to Encylopedia Judaica 15,000 Bedouin remained in the Negev after 1948, other sources put the number as low as 11,000.^[3] An Israeli study in 1999 estimated a total Bedouin population in Israel of 170,000 for 1998, of which 110,000 in the Negev, 50,000 in the North and 10,000 in the "central region".^[2] This figure may include Bedouins residing in Palestinian territories who do not hold Israeli citizenship; those who do are classified by Israel as Arab citizen of Israel. After 1948, some Negev Bedouins were displaced. The Jahalin tribe, for instance, lived in the Tel Arad region of the Negev prior to the 1950s. In the early 1950s, the Jahalin were among the tribes which, according to Emmanuel Marks, "moved or were removed by the military government."^[4] They ended up in the so-called E1 area East of Jerusalem.

Successive Israeli administrations tried to urbanize Bedouins in the Negev. The first Bedouin town, Tel as-Sabi or Tel Sheva, was founded in 1967. The largest, Rahat, had a population of 28,000 by 1998; by that time, about half of all Negev Bedouins lived in urban areas.^[2] Approximately half of all Bedouins who are citizens of Israel live in so-called unrecognized villages.

Bedouin tribes and populations[link]

There are a number of Bedouin tribes, but the total population is often difficult to determine, especially as many Bedouin have ceased to lead nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyles. Below is a partial list of Bedouin tribes and their historic place of origin.

• Al-Abbadi One of tribes in Jordan.
• Al Adwan One of the tribes in Jordan.
• al-Ajman from eastern Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf States.
• Aniza, some Anizes are of Bedouin tribes that lives in northern Saudi Arabia, western Iraq, the Persian Gulf States, and the Syrian steppe.
• al-Awazem, mostly located in Kuwait, with a small section in north-eastern Saudi Arabia.
• 'Azazme, Negev.
• Al-Baggara, in Syria, Iraq.
• Bani Hajer (Al-Hajri or Al-Hajeri) a large and powerful tribe in Saudi Arabia and the eastern Persian Gulf States.
• Beni Hamida East of Dead Sea.
• Bani Khalid, a large tribe spanning Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, UAE, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, Iraq and other countries, said to be descendants of Prophet Mohamed's companion "Khaled ibn Al-Waleed".
• Bani Rasheed Rashaida in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Jordan, Lebanon, Persian Gulf States and North Africa.
• Bani Truf in Ahwaz which is located in southwest of Iran near Iraqi border.
• Bani Arak or Al-arkiyon or Al-Arakiya or Al-Boaraki (Bahrain & Kuwait) a large tribe that originates from Yemen but now a minority in the country currently the tribe is found in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, West Bank, Bahrain, Sudan and Egypt. The tribe is of qahatanite origin but the tribe was first known as Al-araki in Iraq as the name Araki is a diversion of the word Iraqi, the tribe is a sub-tribe of the ancient tribe Juhayna.
• Banu Yam centered in Najran Province, Saudi Arabia.
• alatwy a tribe (also known as Beni Ateyah), live in north-western part of Saudi Arabia, Tabuk province.
• Beni-Hasan One of the largest tribes in Jordan.
• Beni Sakhr One of the largest tribes in Jordan.
• Beni Sakhr in Sudan (Shokriya), Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.
• Al Buainain
• Al Bu Romaih
• al-Da'ajah Bedouin of Balqawi Amman in Jordan.
• Dulaim, a large tribe in Al Anbar western Iraq.
• al-Duwasir, south of Riyadh, and Kuwait.
• Ghamid, large tribe from Al-Bahah Province, Saudi Arabia, mostly settled, but with a small Bedouin section known as Badiyat Ghamid.
• Al-Hadid Large Bedouin tribe found in Iraq, Syria and Jordan. Now mostly are settled in cities such as Haditha in Iraq, Homs & Hama in Syria, and Amman Jordan. Yet tribal law still exists within their families as their Sheikh still governs the tribe. Sheikh Barjas Al-Hadid now leads the tribe in Jordan and previously Sheikh Raslan Al-Hadid in Syria.
• Al-Hajaya One of the largest tribes in Jordan (Al-Hesa).
• Harb, a large tribe, centered around Medina, but also extending northwards towards Tabuk and eastwards towards Al-Qassim.
• Hareeb 100 Miles South of Marib in Yemen.
• Hajaya in al-Qatarneh, and al-Hasa, Jordan.
• Al-Howaitat One of the largest tribes in Jordan (Al-Hesa).
• Al-Khassawneh One of the largest tribes in northern Irbid Jordan and well known for the long history dominating the north
• Ja'alin tribe found in north Sudan they are Hashemite Arab tribe tracing their origin to ‘Abbas ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib.
• Al Jalahma.
• Juhayna (tribe), a large tribe, many of its warriors were recruited as mercenaries during World War I by Prince Faisal, surrounds the area of Mecca, and extends to Southern Medina and can also be found in Sudan as the biggest Qahtani tribe.
• Al-Magableh One of the largest tribes in Jordan and well known for the long history dominating the north.
• Khawalid in Jordan, Israel, Lebanon and Syria.
• Al-Majali South Jordan Majalis have long dominated Karak Bedouin society, Strongest tribe in Karak one of the largest political power in Jordan
• Makki tribes from banu Abdul Qays they live in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar,Sudan and Oman.
• Manasir a large tribe found the Persian Gulf region and eastern Sudan.
• al-Mawasi, a group living on the central Gaza Strip coast.
• al-Massaed tribe found in Jordan.
• Al-Matheel also spelled Mathil, a prominent Yemeni tribe based in the Damt region of Yemen, most have spread to the capital Sana'a.
• al-Murrah in Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Upper-Egypt.
• Murad, a tribe living 150 miles south-east of the capital of Yemen.
• Mutair, estimated at about 1,200,000 members;^{[citation needed]} live in the Nejd plateau, many families from the Mutair tribe live in the Persian Gulf States (especially Kuwait).
• Muzziena tribe in Dahab and South Sinai (Egypt).
• Al Nuaim a large tribe in Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan (Noaymat), Palestine, Iraq,Sudan (Noaymayen), United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain.
• al-Rashaydah, a large international tribe, originally centered around Medina, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait but also extending in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan, Libya and Mali, see also Bani Rasheed
• Riyalat, it now resides in Sult, Jordan.
• Rwala, a large clan from the Aniza tribe, live in Saudi Arabia, but extend through Jordan into Syria, Lebanon and Iraq, in the 1970s, according to Lancaster, there were 250,000–500,000 Rwala.
• al-salaita,An ancient tribe in Jordan.
• Shahran Al-Ariydhah, very large tribe from Bisha city to Khamis Mushait and Abha cties Al-Arydhah 'wide' is a famous name for Shahran because it has a very large area, Saudi Arabia.
• Shaigiya a tribe found in the north of Sudan, they share the same origin with the ja'alin, a Rubattab tribe.
• Shammar in Saudi Arabia, central, and western Iraq, eastern Syria, Jordan and Lebanon
• Subay', central Nejd, and Kuwait.
• Swellat,A Large Bedouin tribe, found in Lebanon and Syria.
• Al-Tarabeen One of the largest tribes in Jordan and Israel. They include many families like Al-Sanea'.
• Tarrabin, Negev
• Tuba-Zangariyye, Israel near Syria.
• Ubeidah, 150 miles west of the capital of Yemen.
• Ummur tribe of around 1,200 persons near Palmyra, Syria.
• Utaybah large tribe in western and central Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.
• Yahia, a group from Morocco of about 96,000 people.
• Zaab, a small tribe, live with the Al-Ajman, in eastern Saudi Arabia.
• Al-Zinati Bedouin of Northern Jordan Valley.
• Al-Araqeeb, a small farming village in Israel (demolished)

See also[link]

• Bedouin music
• Ardha
• Ghinnawa

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Brous, Devorah. "The 'Uprooting:' Education Void of Indigenous 'Location-Specific' Knowledge, Among Negev Bedouin Arabs in Southern Israel;" International Perspectives on Indigenous Education. (Ben Gurion University 2004)
• Chatty, D Mobile Pastoralists 1996. Broad introduction to the topic, specific focus on women's issues.
• Chatty, Dawn. From Camel to Truck. The Bedouin in the Modern World. New York: Vantage Press. 1986
• Cole, Donald P. "Where have the Bedouin gone?". Anthropological Quarterly. Washington: Spring 2003.Vol.76, Iss. 2; pg. 235
• Falah, Ghazi. “Israeli State Policy Towards Bedouin Sedentarization in the Negev,” Journal of Palestine Studies, 1989 Vol. XVIII, No. 2, pp. 71–91
• Falah, Ghazi. “The Spatial Pattern of Bedouin Sedentarization in Israel,” GeoJournal, 1985 Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 361–368.
• Gardner, Andrew. The Political Ecology of Bedouin Nomadism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In Political Ecology Across Spaces, Scales and Social Groups, Lisa Gezon and Susan Paulson, eds. Rutgers: Rutgers University Press.
• Gardner, Andrew. The New Calculus of Bedouin Pastoral Nomadism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Human Organization 62 (3): 267-276.
• Gardner, Andrew and Timothy Finan. Navigating Modernization: Bedouin Pastoralism and Climate Information in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. MIT Electronic Journal of Middle East Studies 4 (Spring): 59-72.
• Gardner, Ann. "At Home in South Sinai." Nomadic Peoples 2000.Vol.4,Iss. 2; pp. 48–67. Detailed account of Bedouin women.
• Jarvis, Claude Scudamore. Yesterday and To-day in Sinai. Edinburgh/London: W. Blackwood & Sons; Three Deserts. London: John Murray, 1936; Desert and Delta. London: John Murray, 1938. Sympathetic accounts by a colonial administrator in Sinai.
• Lancaster, William. The Rwala Bedouin Today 1981 (Second Edition 1997). Detailed examination of social structures.
• S. Leder/B. Streck (ed.): Shifts and Drifts in Nomad-Sedentary Relations. Nomaden und Sesshafte 2 (Wiesbaden 2005)
• Lithwick, Harvey. "An Urban Development Strategy for the Negev’s Bedouin Community;" Center for Bedouin Studies and Development and Negev Center for Regional Development, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, August 2000
• Mohsen, Safia K. The quest for order among Awlad Ali of the Western Desert of Egypt.
• Thesiger, Wilfred (1959). Arabian Sands. ISBN 0-14-009514-4 (Penguin paperback). British adventurer lives as and with the Bedu of the Empty Quarter for 5 years

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