Holger Hoffmann - On the Move With Arab Nomads in Chad

The Nomadic Arab Tribes

- By Sylvia Furrer

Early in the morning, the caravan starts to move: First the camel herd, followed by the donkeys with the baskets, then the camels with the palanquins called gors and finally the goats and sheep. Holger Hoffmann © All rights reserved.

The Chadian Arabs, related to the Baggara of Sudan, constitute about 12-14% of the population of Chad. They migrate north-south between the 12th and 15th parallel and vice versa.

After the river crossing, the landscape changes. For hours the caravan walks between picturesque doum palms towards the south. Holger Hoffmann Ⓒ All rights reserved.

Their way of life does not correspond to the 'modern' concept of a controllable citizen. As we learn, nomads pay an annual head tax of CFA 1000, which is less than 2 Euros. Many nomads have family members who live in villages and spend part of the year farming. This allows them to supply their nomadic relatives with grain and vegetables.

When the gor is loaded, the legs are untied, and the camel gets up. Holger Hoffmann © All rights reserved.