"The Beja people (Arabic: البجا, Beja: Oobja, Tigre: በጃ) are a nomadic tribal confederation inhabiting an area from southeastern Egypt through Sudan and into Eritrea. The Beja are descended from peoples who have inhabited the area since 4000 BC or earlier, although they mixed with Arabians who settled in the region. In recent history, they have lived primarily in the Eastern Desert. They number around 1,900,000 to 2,200,000 people. Most of the Beja speak Arabic, while some speak the Cushitic language of Beja and the Semitic language of Tigre. In Eritrea and southeastern Sudan, many members of the Beni-Amer grouping speak Tigre. Originally, the Beja did not speak Arabic, however the migration of the numerous Arab tribes of Juhaynah, Mudar, Rabi'a, and many more to the areas the Beja inhabited contributed to the Arabization and Islamization of them. The Beja have mixed with Arabs through intermarriages over the centuries, and by the 15th century were absorbed into Islam as a result of the marriages. The process of Arabization led to the Beja adopting the Arabic language, Arab clothing, and Arab kinship organization." - (en.wikipedia.org 17.09.2022)
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