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Population,
ethnic groups, languages and religion
The population
Situated at the African juncture, Chad’s population is made up by
people from West-and North Africa, between the Sahara and the
subequatorial forests. The country has thus seen various
civilizations develop throughout its history. Three African
linguistic families (Niger-Congo, Nilo-Saharan and Afro-Asian) are
represented by many hundreds of ethnic ensembles constantly in
transformation. Some have assimilated, other change language,
religion, some endorse their identity, and others are rather
indifferent. Based on linguistic facts we can distinguish a dozen of
population groups with different lifestyles.
North of the Massakory-Biltine line, the native languages from the
east-Saharan region (Nilo-Saharan family), are spoken by nomads and
resident population. The nomadic population of the Sahara, named “Goranes”,
spread between the Toubou and the Daza de Borkou.
The
Arabo-phones are Arabs nomads coming from Arabia who settled between
the 17th and 19th century, and Arab influenced
people, who became Muslim, like the Yalnass du Guera and the Haddad
of Bartha have assimilated to the Arabs long time ago. Heir of the
Sao civilization, the Boudouma and the Kouri inhabit the north river
side of Lake Chad. While the Peuls, named Foulbe, established
resident population villages, others, like the Wodaabe are nomads
that face a rapid phase of islamization. The two largest ethnic
groups are the Arbas and the Ngambaye. French and Arabic are the
two official languages. French is mostly spoken by people in urban
agglomerations and by elites. Arabic serves as everyday speech,
whereas the Sara is spoken in the outskirts of the country.
Ethnic groups
The Toubou: dominant in the Bet and in parts of Kanem, Kreda,
Kecherda and Zaghawa.
The Arabs: dominant in a part of the centre; Batha,
Chari-Baguirmi and Salamat. Composed of Missiries, Ouled Rachid,
Salamat, Mahamit, Djaatne and Khozam, Hemad and some Charafa.
In the centre: multicultural predominance.
In the west: Kanembous, Kouris and Boudoumas. At the coast of
the Chari towards the east and the south: Bilalas, Kouka, Medogo and
Baguirmiens.
In
the Guéra: the Hadjaraï, splitt into Kenga and Arab Dangaléat,
Djonkor and Moubi. In Batha, the
Rattanimé, and Massalat. In the east, the Ouaddaien (Maba),
Dadjo, Bidio Massalat and Tama.
The Sara: dominant in the
Moyen-Chari, the west and
oriental Logone. They allot in a dozen of sub-groups, like
the SaraKaba, Sara-Mandjingaye,
Nar, Goulaye, Mbaye, Gor,
Mongo, Mouroum, Kaba de Goré. Ngambaye, Daye and Mboum,
Toumak.
Mayo Kebbi: Massa, Mousseye, Toupouri,
Moudang, Kado.
Tandjilé: Nantchéré, Gabri, Kabalaye, Lélé,
Marba, Toumak, Ndamet Soumraye, Mesmé,
Mouroum.
Languages
Chad’s population speaks about 110 local and national languages.
These languages can be divided into five groups:
- the group of west Saharan languages
- Chadian languages
- Sara-Bongo-Baguirmien languages
- Massa, Moundang languages
- Toupouri and Mboum languages.
Religions
The
three main big religions of Chad are Christianity, Islam, and
Animism.
Islam
Introduced around the 11th century via Kanem, in
Baguirimi in the 16th century and in Quaddai in the 17th
century, Islam is practiced today by a little over 54 per cent of
Chadian, predominantly among the populations of the north. Chad’s
capital was in ancient centuries a pilgrim point for people on their
way to Mecca. Today, N’Djamena harbours one of the largest mosques
in Africa.
Christianity
Catholics and Protestants represent 35 per cent of the population.
The mass celebrations in N’Djamena integrate the use of traditional
sonorities.
Animism
Largely based on the belief of the existence of God the Creator,
invisible to people and the master of destiny of all people and his
earthly representatives (trees, streams, rain, animals, etc.) the
animist religion is the oldest, however, statistically loosing its
validity: only seven per cent of the population practices the
animism.
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