Cultural portrait · Sahara and Tibesti
Zaghawa / Bideyat / Kobe
Cross-border herders of Ennedi and Darfur, Zaghawa language, contemporary political role.
Credit : Zaghawa Bour, homme zaghawa et chameaux, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Context
People profile
- Language family
- Nilo-Saharan (Saharan: Zaghawa / Beria)
- Region / province
- Ennedi, Wadi Fira, Ouaddaï; toward Darfur
- Livelihoods
- herding
- Customs and oral literature
- Warrior songs, mountain and camp dances.
- Present-day situation
In 2019 the east of the country (Ouaddaï, Sila) saw deadly intercommunal violence, mostly between Arab herders and settled communities; a state of emergency was declared there in August 2019. Since April 2023 these provinces, together with Wadi Fira and Ennedi Est, have hosted refugees from the war in Sudan. (International Crisis Group, Rapport Afrique n°284, « Avoiding the Resurgence of Intercommunal Violence in Eastern Chad », ; UNHCR, « Chad: Forcibly Displaced Persons » (octobre 2025), )
In Tibesti, Zaghawa are among the gold miners who came with the gold rush. (International Crisis Group, Rapport Afrique n°274, « Tchad : sortir de la confrontation à Miski », )
- Sources
- Wikipédia, « Zaghawa (peuple) » · EDS-MICS 2014-2015 · Sources
- Last reviewed
- Share (EDS-MICS 2014–2015)
- 1.1%
- Subgroups
- Zaghawa, Bideyat, Kobe
- Culture
- Saharan people of the east, Muslim, camels and zebu, recent Beria script. Census: Zaghawa/Bideyat/Kobe (1.1%). Strong ties with Sudan.
- Food / staple foods
- Milk, grilled meat, millet, dates.
- To remember
- Zaghawa (Beria) language. Ennedi: arches, rock paintings, routes to Darfur.
SourcesPortraits and pages draw on public sources. Population shares follow the 2014-2015 EDS-MICS household survey, not the last census (RGPH 2009). Main photographs are documentary stills (Festival Dary, Wiki Loves Folklore, Wiki Loves Africa, Wikimedia archives) under Creative Commons, credited to the photographer.
Subgroups
Each subgroup shares the essentials with the main people, with its own nuances of language, place and custom.
- Zaghawa (Wegi)
- Area
- Wadi Fira, Sudanese border
- Language or dialect
- Beria (Zaghawa)
Main branch, present on both sides of the border with Darfur.
- Kobe
- Area
- Wadi Fira, Iriba area
- Language or dialect
- Beria (Kobe variety)
- Towns and villages
- Iriba
Chadian Zaghawa subgroup, with its chieftaincy around Iriba.
- Bideyat
- Area
- Ennedi Est
- Language or dialect
- Beria (Bideyat variety)
- Towns and villages
- Amdjarass
Camel herders of the Ennedi plateaus, more nomadic than the southern Zaghawa.
Passing on between generations
Camel brands, genealogies and songs are passed on in the family; the Beria alphabet was created to write the language down for younger generations.
Quick quiz
Pick an answer: the correction and its source appear right away.
Question 1 of 3
Sources for this section
In-depth portrait
Machine translation from French, under review. The French text is authoritative.
What the encyclopedia says
The Zaghawa or Beri are an African people living mainly in north-western Sudan and north-eastern Chad, on both sides of the border. Their language, Zaghawa or Beria, belongs to the Saharan language family. Their population exceeds 7,600,000. Known for their courage, discipline and moral values, the Beri have developed a strict code of honour based on bravery and loyalty. These values and behaviours are passed down from generation to generation, strengthening identity and social cohesion.
Cultural profile
1 of 6 sections documented
- History and origins To document
- Language Documented fact
- Social organisation To document
- Beliefs and religious practice To document
- Life cycle (birth, initiation, marriage, funerals) To document
- Housing, crafts and dress To document
Documented fact: based on a published written source, cited under the section. Reported oral account: testimony from a community member, published with their consent, not confirmed in writing. Empty sections stay empty rather than being filled in.
History and origins
To be documented: awaiting verified sources and community testimony.
Language
Documented fact
A dedicated script, called Beria Giray Erfe, has been proposed for writing the Zaghawa language, spoken in Darfur and Chad.
Social organisation
To be documented: awaiting verified sources and community testimony.
Beliefs and religious practice
To be documented: awaiting verified sources and community testimony.
Life cycle (birth, initiation, marriage, funerals)
To be documented: awaiting verified sources and community testimony.
Housing, crafts and dress
To be documented: awaiting verified sources and community testimony.
Population share source: EDS-MICS 2014-2015 (INSEED / ICF).
Location
Sahara and Tibesti
Provinces listed in our data: Ennedi-Est · Ennedi-Ouest · Wadi Fira
Cultural identities extend beyond provincial boundaries. See on the map
Media
Entry photo: Zaghawa Bour, homme zaghawa et chameaux, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
References
Key: Documented: based on the published sources cited below.
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