Magyarab
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| Magyarab | |
|---|---|
| Total population | 6,000 - 7,000 |
| Regions with significant populations | Egypt: 6,000 - 7,000 Sudan: ? |
| Language | Arabic |
| Religion | Islam |
| Related ethnic groups | Magyars, Nubians, Arabs |
The Magyarab are a people living along the Nile River in Egypt and Sudan. They are of Hungarian ancestry, probably dating back to the late 16th century. According to legend, Christian Hungarians who had only recently been brought under the control of the Ottoman Empire formed a part of the Ottoman army that was fighting in southern Egypt. Evidently, a portion or the entirety of the fighting unit remained there and intermarried with the local Nubian women.
They were not discovered by Europeans until 1935, when László Almásy, himself a Magyar, happened upon their tribe in the Nubian region. Representatives of the tribes had attempted to make contact with Hungarian officials, but were unable to do so because of the outbreak of World War II.
These people now appear Middle Eastern due to the intermarriage with the local Nubian population and no longer speak the Hungarian language. But still they profess themselves to be Magyars and take great pride in their ancestry.
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[edit] Name
The name "Magyarab" is not a concatenation of the words "Magyar" and "Arab" as is commonly assumed. Instead, the name is a mix of "Magyar" (ethnic group of Hungary) and "Ab" which in Nubian simply means "tribe." So Magyarab combined translates to "Tribe of the Magyars." In fact, to the Magyarab people, their Hungarian identity specifically sets them apart from the surrounding Arabs.
[edit] Proverbs about the Magyarab
The people of various ethnicities neighbouring the Magyarab have proverbs that tell us more about the historical Magyarab people.[1]
Ál-Mágyárí lá jiszálli fíl-meszgyid. - The Hungarian does not pray in the mosque.
Rá'sz el-mágyár zejj el-hágyár. - The Hungarian's head is as hard as a stone.
El-mágyárí jilbisz burnétá. - The Hungarian wears a hat.[2]
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ (Hungarian) Magyarok a Nílus mentén Hungarians by the Nile The transcription is phonetic and based on Hungarian phonology. It is included in this way because the source article only offers them this way, without originals in Arabic alphabet or more common international transliteration.
- ^ The surrounding Muslim populations wear turbans, differentiating their headwear from the Magyarab.
[edit] External links
- (Hungarian) Article about the Magyarab (Archive)
- (Hungarian)A magyarabok földjén
