Benadiri people
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Languages | |
| Somali and Arabic | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Arabs, Somalis |
The Benadiri people (Template:Lang-so, Template:Lang-ar), also known as Reer Xamar (pronounced "Hamar") or "people of Mogadishu",[1] are an ethnic group in Somalia.
Overview
The Benadiri are not ethnically related to the Somali people. They are mainly descended from Yemeni merchants who came to set up businesses in present day Southern Somalia in the early 1800s.
Benadiri traditionally live in Mogadishu, Merca and Barawa on the Benadir coast, and are principally engaged in business and fishing. They speak a dialect of the Somali language referred to as "Coastal Somali" or Benadiri Somali as it now commonly known.
The arab roots of Benadiri people is easily identifiable by their light skin and Arabic features, as well as their dialect which consists of many Arabic words. Whilst they share some customs with Somali people having lived there for so long, their typical traditions and culture are most closely related to the Yemeni.
See also
Notes
- ^ Abbink, p.18.
References
- Abbink, J. (1999). The total Somali clan genealogy: a preliminary sketch. African Studies Centre.
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