Culture of Djibouti in Encyclopedia

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Culture of Djibouti

Culture of Djibouti - The Republic of Djibouti is ethnically diverse, due to its strategic location at the crossroads of trade and commerce. Its population consists of 652,000 citizens. Sixty percent are Somali, thirty-five percent are Afar, and French, Arab, and other minorities make up the remaining five percent. The use of khat is widespread, to the extent that Djibouti has been called the world's first futuristic "narco-state," a la Brave New World.http://www.worldhum.com/weblog/item/high_in_hell_chewing_khat_in_djibouti_20060823/

Location - Djibouti is in northeast. It is on the Red Sea coast. The country of Djibouti is bordered by Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Samalia.

Ethnic Groups - The culture of Djibouti is really affected by the unique ethnic groups. There are two main dominant groups in Djibouti; the Issa-Somali and the Afar.

The Issa-Somali: The Somali first arrived in Africa around 1200 AD, Around 1550 AD the Somali people converted to Islam. A quarter of the Issa-Somali tribe live a shepherding nomadic style. They live in small mats that are made from woven mats or boiled bark. The huts are able to be packed up and moved around on camels.

The Afar: The Afar tribe is also known Danakil, but the tribe does not like being called the Danakil because it has an offensive meaning in Arabic. The Afar is broken up into two different subgroups; the Asaemara (meaning the red ones) and the Adaemara (meaning the white ones). The Asaemara is a prestigious, powerful group of nobles that live along the coast. The Adaemara is a group of commoners that live in the mountains and the desert. The Afar tribe has a population of roughly 130,000 to 170,000. The Afar tribe makes up about 40% of the Djibouti population. The Afar are Eastern Cushite people, and have a similar language and culture to the Samali and Oromo.