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Abaza family

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The Abaza clan, "deeply rooted in Egyptian society and... in the history of the country"[1] is an Egyptian family that plays a powerful and long-standing role in Egyptian economic, intellectual and political life. Their main stronghold is the Sharqia Governorate and Beheira Governorate in the Nile Delta.

The family is noted for producing a large number of noble Pashas, Beks/Beys, Hanims, Saheb or Sahebet Ezza, Mqama, Saada, Maaly and Oussma, intellectuals, politicians, business people and men of letters. It is considered the largest extended family in Egypt. In addition several living Abazas hold the title 'His or Her Excellency', for example serving ministers in government or serving diplomats.

Currently there are at least six Abaza members of either of Egypt's two Houses of Parliament, two Ministers in government, an opposition party leader, and the Chief District Attorney of Cairo is also an Abaza. In addition, a large amount of economic activity is undertaken by the wealthiest Abaza Family members.

Historical Overview

Perhaps the largest Noble entity in Egypt, the Abaza Family originated in Abazinia, a region in north Georgia bordering the Caucasus mountains. However, intermarriage into native Egyptian families, specifically native upper class families, was and remains common for Abazas thus ensuring native Egyptian ancestry for the entire clan.

The Abazins were one of several Muslim ethnic groups living in the Russian Empire who emigrated during the Muhajir (Caucasus) in the mid-19th century, although some sources indicate that the Egyptian Abazas emigrated 600-800 years ago. Many moved to Turkey, but later emigrated again and settled in various Arab countries. In their new Arab home, the Abazins took – or were given – the last name "Abaza".

Afaf Lutfi Sayyid-Marsot in the study, Egypt in the Reign of Muhammad Ali, makes mention of a traditional belief amongst the Egyptian Abaza Family that they were named after a "beloved grandmother...or her place of birth". Family elders sat on the Majlis created by Ibrahim Pasha, "uhda" (or royal endowments) of villages and land were obtained by the Family and "the Abaza flourished" (pp.123-124).

During the accession of the young King Farouk, "the Abaza family had solicited palace authorities to permit the royal train to stop briefly in their village so that the king could partake in refreshments offered in a large, magnificently ornamented tent they had erected in the train station." [1] (Al-Ahram Weekly).

Members of the Egyptian Abaza clan consider themselves a family, and are categorized as a 'family' or 'clan' in the country in which they are well-known. The Egyptian Abaza Family is most often thought to number 10-15000 members, most of which are of an at least Upper-Middle-Class status. Their members are active both in Government and opposition circles, and are generally known to value their aristocratic and noble class position. However, they have been famed for exceptional generosity to the poor in the past and present. This is most obvious in the tale famed throughout Egypt that the people of Sharqia, where the Abazas are powerful, are called idiomatically "those who invited the train", referring to an occasion where a full train had difficulties and the Sharqia residents invited all passengers to dine with them. This led to an almost legendary saying about the Sharqia governate's population (which does not consist of Abazas alone but of ordinary Egyptians) are extremely generous.

There is also a town in Russia named Abaza (town).

Notable Egyptian Abaza

Living Figures

Deceased Figures and holders of Royal style

  • Doctor Mustafa Ismail Abaza-[Omdet Abaza family]

There was also a noble Russian-Greek Abaza Family, of which Alexander Abaza was a member.


References

  1. ^ 1 http://www.bibalex.org/alexcinema/actors/Rushdi_Abaza.html
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