ZAGHAWA

'Zaghawa' is an African ethnic group or tribe, mainly living in eastern Chad and western Sudan, including the Darfur province of Sudan.
They refer to themselves as the Beri, while the name Zaghawa was given to them by the nearby Arab peoples, and became more well-known. They have their own language, which is also called Zaghawa, and the breed of sheep that they herd is called Zaghawa. They are semi-nomadic and obtain much of their livelihood through herding cattle, camels and sheep, and harvesting wild grains.
While they are not very powerful in Sudan, they politically dominate Chad. The current president, Idriss Déby and several former prime ministers of Chad are Zaghawa, as well as many other members of the government.
The Zaghawa have been among the tribes in Darfur who have been referred to as "African" even as other tribes that have fought with them have been called "Arab". Both groups are black, indigenous, African and Muslim, although "Arab" and "African" affiliations have been adopted for political reasons, often concerned with gaining support from those outside Darfur. [1]de Waal, Alex, "Darfur's deep grievances defy all hopes for an easy solution", opinion article, ''The Observer'' of London, July 25, 2004, accessed September 4, 2007
In the time of the Kanem-Bornu Empire of the 13th Century, they converted to Islam, although they still maintain some of their religious traditions. In Darfur, the Zaghawa is well-known for its piety.

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