The Afar are one of Eritrea’s nine officially recognized ethnic groups, with a unique culture shaped by the Danakil Desert and Red Sea coastline.

 

1. Location & Population

 

• Region: Primarily in southern coastal Eritrea and the southern Red Sea (Southern Denkel) area, stretching toward the borders with Djibouti and Ethiopia.

• Major Towns: Assab and surrounding settlements.

• Population in Eritrea: Estimated at about 5% of the national population (tens of thousands).

• The Afar people are also found in Djibouti and Ethiopia, forming a cross-border community.

 

2. Language

 

• Name: Afar (also called Afar Af or Qafar Af).

• Language Family: Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic family.

• Writing Systems:

   

  • Latin script in modern use.

  • Also written in the Ge’ez script in the past.

  • The Afar have their own traditional script called Qafar Feera, though it’s less common today.

 

3. Lifestyle & Economy

 

• Traditionally: Nomadic or semi-nomadic pastoralists, herding camels, goats, and sheep in the desert.

• Coastal Afar: Engage in fishing, salt trading, and small-scale farming near oases.

• Danakil Depression: Known for salt mining and trading routes that have been active for centuries.

 

4. Culture & Traditions

 

• Social Structure: Clan-based, with strong loyalty to family and tribe.

• Attire: Men often wear a sanafil (wrap skirt) and carry a jile (curved dagger), while women wear brightly colored dresses and beaded jewelry.

• Hospitality: Guests are highly respected, often offered food, coffee, or camel milk.

• Music & Dance: Includes rhythmic drumming and call-and-response songs, especially at weddings.

• Religion: Almost entirely Muslim, with deep integration of Islamic traditions into daily life.

 

5. Environment & Climate

 

• The Afar region is part of one of the hottest inhabited areas on Earth, with summer daytime temperatures often exceeding 45°C (113°F).

• Landscapes include volcanoes, lava fields, salt flats, and the Red Sea coast.

 

6. Modern Life

 

• Many Afar still maintain pastoral traditions, though some have settled in towns like Assab.

• Education and healthcare access are expanding but remain limited in remote areas.

• The Eritrean government includes Afar language programming in national media and schools in Afar areas.

 

Fun fact: The Afar are among the world’s oldest known salt traders — caravans of camels carrying salt slabs from the Danakil Depression have operated for hundreds of years, a tradition still alive today.