Baggara

Baggara (also Baqqara; Arab البقارة, DMG al - Baqqara of بقرة / baqara / 'cow' ) is the collective term for semi-nomadic cattle herders living Arabic in Sudan, Chad and partly in other Sahelian countries. The term is Baggara partitioning to Aballa ( camel nomads ) and Zurga ( farmers ) used and summarizes a number of different tribes.

The Baggara go at least partly due to camel nomads who, as they were advancing from the north coming in more humid areas, abandoned the camel breeding in favor of cattle. In its present distribution area they have assimilated other rinderzüchtende nomads in their ethnic group, including parts of the Fur

The Baggara belong to different tribes, which are important for their identity as their identity as Baggara. They were traditionally known as a slave trader, the agriculture driving people further invaded the south. In the American Civil War in South Sudan, the Sudanese government Baggara militias equipped in order to fight against the southern Sudanese rebels. Such militias, Popular Defence Forces or Murahalin known as, raided villages of the South Sudanese Dinka and other ethnic groups in competition with those over land and water. They often abducted civilians into slavery. Also in the Darfur conflict Baggara militias are involved on the part of government.

The Baggara are Sunni Muslims.

The Baggara of Darfur and Kordofan were the main supporters of the Mahdi in the Mahdi uprising in 1881 until 1899.

The important second sura of the Qur'an called al -Baqara ( the cow ) is, however, written with a q, the second vowel is short and therefore the first stressed ( vs. Baqarah. Baqqara ).