The Nara are one of Eritrea’s nine officially recognized ethnic groups, known for their unique language and agricultural traditions in the western lowlands.

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1. Location & Population

• Region: Primarily in the northwestern lowlands of Eritrea, especially around the Barka River basin near towns like Agordat (Akordat) and villages in the Gash-Barka region.

• Population: Estimated at 60,000–80,000 people.

• Geography: The Nara inhabit some of Eritrea’s most fertile farmland, suitable for crops and livestock.

2. Language

• Name: Nara (also called Nara-Bana by its speakers).

• Language Family: Nilo-Saharan, making it linguistically closer to Kunama than to most other Eritrean languages (which are Afro-Asiatic).

• Status: Minority language; used mostly in daily life, while Tigrinya and Arabic are often used for schooling and administration.

• Writing System: Historically oral; literacy in Nara is limited, with no widely established written standard.

3. Lifestyle & Economy

• Traditionally: Sedentary agriculturalists and agro-pastoralists.

• Crops: Sorghum, millet, maize, and sesame are staples.

• Livestock: Goats, cattle, and donkeys are common.

• Fishing: In river areas, some Nara also fish for food.

• Unlike nomadic groups such as the Afar or Hedareb, the Nara have long been settled farmers.

4. Culture & Traditions

• Social Structure: Clan-based, with extended family units playing a central role.

• Attire: Traditional dress includes colorful woven garments for women and simple wraps or robes for men.

• Music & Dance: Often features group dances during harvest celebrations, weddings, and community festivals.

• Religion: Historically animist, but today most Nara are Muslim, with Islamic traditions blending into older customs.

5. History

• Oral history suggests the Nara have lived in the Barka region for centuries, possibly migrating from further south in the Nile Valley.

• Their history has been shaped by trade and interaction with neighboring Tigre, Beja, and Kunama peoples.

• The fertile lands of the Nara have historically attracted settlers and invaders, leading to both cultural blending and pressures on their autonomy.

6. Modern Life

• Most Nara still farm, though some younger generations migrate to towns like Keren or Asmara for work or education.

• Development challenges include limited healthcare, schooling in their own language, and infrastructure in rural areas.

• Government media includes occasional Nara-language programming, but preservation efforts are modest.

Interesting fact: The Nara language is one of only two Nilo-Saharan languages in Eritrea — the other is Kunama — making the Nara linguistically distinct from the country’s majority populations.

People of Eritrea