Semi-Nomadic Barbaig In Tanzania
The Barbaig society is one of the strongest and toughest societies in Tanzania, who are said to have lived nearly one hundred and fifty (150) years ago in Hanang Mountain. The name ‘Barbaig’ usually refers to the knobbed still that the Barbaig men are still carrying.
The barbaig are the semi-nomadic people who are practicing pastoral activities such as keeping animals and cultivating crops. They can shortly be explained as those people who are animal keepers in the Hanang Mountain.
In Tanzania, they are said to have well over one hundred and twenty (120) tribes with different and peculiar ethnic fundamentals. Each tribe is said to have its own cultural practices and traditional values, including language. The Barbaig are said to be one of the largest tribal groups in the ward.
These (Barbaig) originated from the Nile River, and hence they are Nilotic people. Their origin is said to be in the Nile valley. Apart from having their languages, the Barbaig also have their special dialect, which is called the Datooga. So, the Barbaig are the Datooga-speaking people. They are believed to have lived around the high plateau surrounding Hanang Mountain for over 150 years.
As it is common for every person to have enemies, the Barbaig also have a lot of enemies who are mostly their fellow nomads. The Maasai are one of the tribes that are the great traditional enemies of the Datooga-speaking people, the Barbaig. They consider the Maasai to be one of the dominant and strong tribes, recalling how they were evicted from the plains of Serengeti by the Maasai. Being inferior, the Datooga-speaking people were forcefully evicted from the plains of Serengeti by the Maasai. To them, the Maasai are not only their permanent enemies but also their traditional ones.
The main socio-economic activity of the Barbaig is animal keeping, especially breeding of cattle. The Barbaig are raising goats, cows, sheep, donkeys and chickens, whereby their food also depends on the animals’ products, such as leather, milk, animal fat, meat, and blood, just to mention a few. So, spending time with the Barbaig as a traveler and a tourist is exposing you to such kinds of meals that are basically natural meals. These foods are said to be natural and they can enable people to look healthy and to fight against some diseases. Spending time with them also provides an ample chance of exploring the Barbaig’s kinds of food that are tasty and very enjoyable.
The Barbaig also have a clear separation of power whereby they divide duties on the basis of age. Everyone is having their duties based on their age. For instance, the children and the young people are required by any means to maintain the highest order of discipline and residence management.
The elders of the Barbaig tribe are responsible for making sure that the traditions, customs and values of their tribe are under high supervision and protection. The elders are also mandatory in the provision of punishments to evildoers and lawbreakers and to give praises to those who deserve it. So, visitors, travelers and tourists are also obliged to maintain high order discipline without showing any sign of despising the Datooga-speaking people’s traditions, customs and values in order to have remarkable and unforgettable moments with them.
Unlike Muslims and Christians who believe in some set of spiritual and religious teachings, the Barbaig believe in their gods whom they worship and offer their sacrifices to. This is one of the few tribes in Tanzania that are believed to be very brave.
The brave Barbaig young people are required to test their braveness and courage by one of the fierce animals, such as the buffalo, elephants or lions. To them, this is an effective way to prove the courage of their youth. Also, the Barbaig are said to be one of the tribes that have a high ability to cope with different kinds of situations and environments.
Visiting the Barbaig gives the travelers and visitors a wide range of experiences about the lifestyles of other people and how they cultivate their traditional practices and cultural values.
Their marriage system also resembles that of other Nilotic people, as they share a common background. This is one of the tribes that practice a polygamous kind of marriage where women (wives) are supposed to rank according to their marriages. Most Barbaig marriages occur outside of their clans. It is strictly prohibited for any man or woman to marry a wife or husband from the same clan. During the marriage events, the Barbaig men are drinking the traditional alcohol known as Gisuda, which women are not allowed to partake of. It is only prepared and served for men.
Thus, the Datooga-speaking people are some of the best people to spend time with for exposing oneself to a wide range of experiences.
