The Saho people of Eritrea are a nomadic people, whose lives are built around their herds. Numbering only 180,000 people they compose only about five percent of the total population of Eritrea. They roam throughout much of Eritrea though they are particularly present in the central region. Eritrea has a total land area of 121,000 square kilometres - roughly the size of Pennsylvania or three times the size of the Netherlands. The Saho are predominantly Sunni Muslim, with a significant level of animism incorporated.
Six Major Tribes among the Saho of Eritrea
The Saho are divided into six major tribes: the Asaorta, the Mini-Fere, the Tero'a, the Haso, the Debri-Mela, and the Irob. The Asaorta is the largest tribe, which itself is broken down into five sub-tribes. The Saho are a semi-nomadic people who migrate seasonally from the eastern lowlands during the cooler winter months back up to the highlands during the intense heat of the summer. Today, the Saho often tend other people's cattle, in exchange for grain. Many Saho children wear little leather pouches around their neck, which are supposed to ward off evil spirits. Honey has traditionally been an important part of the Saho diet and the people are also known as good beekeepers.
Flag of Eritrea
Map of Eritrea
An ancient Tradition among the Saho of Eritrea
Traditionally, the Saho have used a cow's horn called a mahmuga to remove blood from those members who are ill. Using the cow's horn, the blood is leached from the one who is ill in an effort to remove the illness. They believe the sickness is contained within the blood of the individual, and by removing the blood life and health will be restored.
Pray for the Muslim Saho of Eritrea:
* Pray the Lord will reveal to the Saho that blood and sickness are indeed integrally related, but that it is the blood of Christ, which can cure them physically and above all from the sickness of sin.
* Pray that the Lord would send out workers to the Saho. "Therefore, beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest" (Matthew 9:38)
* Pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal to the Saho the truth about sin, real righteousness, and a sound understanding of God's judgment. (John 16:8)
* May the Lord prepare and raise up faithful spiritual leaders from within the Saho. "And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also" (II Timothy 2:2).
* Pray for physical, spiritual, and emotional strength for those who labour among the Saho.
* Pray for an open door for the Gospel among the Saho. "They began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles." (Acts 14:27).
Background on Eritrea (World Factbook)
It is unlawful to practice a faith unless it is one of four "registered" religions: Eritrean Orthodox, Muslim, Catholic, or Lutheran.
Reporters Without Borders classified the media environment in Eritrea at 178 out of 178, the lowest possible rating, and below that of North Korea at 177. Eritrea is the only African country to have no privately-owned news media (BBC quote).
Eritrea was awarded to Ethiopia in 1952 as part of a federation. Ethiopia's annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean rebels defeating governmental forces; independence was overwhelmingly approved in a 1993 referendum. A two-and-a-half-year border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN auspices in December 2000. Eritrea currently hosts a UN peacekeeping operation that is monitoring a 25 km-wide Temporary Security Zone on the border with Ethiopia. An international commission, organized to resolve the border dispute, posted its findings in 2002 but final demarcation is on hold due to Ethiopian objections.
Economy of Eritrea
Since independence from Ethiopia in 1993, Eritrea has faced the economic problems of a small, desperately poor country, accentuated by the recent implementation of restrictive economic policies. Like the economies of many African nations, the economy is largely based on subsistence agriculture, with 80% of the population involved in farming and herding. The Ethiopian-Eritrea war in 1998-2000 severely hurt Eritrea's economy. In January 2005, the government essentially banned all imports. The government strictly controls the use of foreign currency, limiting access and availability. Few private enterprises remain in Eritrea. Eritrea's economy is heavily dependent on taxes paid by members of the diaspora. Erratic rainfall and the delayed demobilization of agriculturalists from the military continue to interfere with agricultural production, and Eritrea's recent harvests have not been able to meet the food needs of the country.
Statistics on Eritrea
Population: 5,939,484 (July 2011 est.) World Rank #107
Life Expectancy at Birth: 62.52. World Rank #179
Ethnic groups: Tigrinya 55%, Tigre 30%, Saho 4%, Kunama 2%, Rashaida 2%, Bilen 2%, other (Afar, Beni Amir, Nera) 5%
Religions: Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Languages: Afar, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other Cushitic languages
Literacy: 58.6% | male: 69.9% / female: 47.6%
School Life Expectancy: 5 years
Video: Saho Traditional Song
A traditional Saho song. Video was shot at a "liberation fest" in Sahel during Eritrea's struggle for independence
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Pray for any known Saho believers to be encourged