People of Tigre    

Tigré-speaking people who share a common heritage with the Christian Tigrinya-speaking people,  who founded the ancient kingdom of Aksum in present-day Ethiopia. Both the Tigré and the Tigrinya languages are related to Ge'ez, the ancient liturgical language of Ethiopia. The two peoples and the two languages are sometimes confused by outsiders. Thus, the Muslim Tigré are sometimes called the northern Tigre in order to distinguish them from the Tigrinya speakers who live to the south. It is thought that the ancestors of the Tigré migrated into the region shortly before the first century. The nomadic pastoralist Tigré, however, were converted to Islam by Muslim traders who brought Islam to the lands bordering the Dahlak Islands and down the coast shortly after the start of the eighth century. Politically, the Tigréare organized into clans based on family ties.

GENDER ROLES AND STATUSES

Division of Labor by Gender. Since subsistence agriculture is the main production activity in Tigreland, the division of labor is influenced by custom. Women's input in agricultural production is vital but certain tasks, such as plowing and sowing, are conducted only by men. Animals are generally herded by young boys, while young girls assist in fetching water and firewood for the household

The Relative Status of Women and Men. Since Tigren society is still highly influenced by customary principles, the status of women in many communities is inferior to that of men. The war of liberation, where female fighters served side by side with men, was believed to have changed the status of women. However, did not penetrate deeply into the Tigre patriarchal culture. But changes are slowly occurring in the status of Tigre women.

MARRIAGE, FAMILY, AND KINSHIP

Marriage. Customary rules of marriage vary among the Tigre groups. Generally, girls marry at an early age, sometimes as young as fourteen. A large share of the marriages in the rural areas are still arranged by the family groups of concern.

Domestic Unit. Generally, people live together in nuclear families, although in some Tigre groups the family structure is extended. The man is the public decision-maker in the family, whereas the woman is responsible for organizing the domestic activities of the household.

Inheritance. Inheritance rules in Tigreland follow the customary norms of the different Tigre groups. Generally, men are favored over women, and sons inherit their parents' household possessions.

Kin Groups. The nuclear family, although forming the smallest kin unit, is always socially embedded in a wider kin unit. The lineage and/or clan hold an organizing function in terms of social duties and obligations and as a level of identity. All Tigre Tribes are patrilineal, that is, descent is traced through the male line.

SOCIALIZATION

Infant Care. In all Tigre tribes, children are raised under the strong influence of parents and close relatives, as well as neighbors and the kin group. While conducting domestic chores or working in the fields, mothers usually carry the infants on their backs.

Child Rearing and Education. From an early age, both boys and girls are expected to take part in the household's activities: boys as herders of the family's livestock, girls as assistants to their mother in domestic affairs. An increasing number of children is joining the formal educational system, although education sometimes conflicts with the children's household obligations. In some of the nomadic and seminomadic communities, children might be unable to regularly attend classes in the formal educational system.

In some Tigre tribes, circumcision is used as an initiation ritual into adulthood. The majority of both Tigre men and women are circumcised. Female circumcision, or female genital mutilation, is carried out both among Muslims and Christians, although the type of circumcision differs from clitoridectomy to infibulation (the removal of the labia and partial closing of the vagina by approximating the labia majora in the midline).

Higher Education. The institutions of higher education in Eritrea are few, and the only university, Asmara University, admits a limited number of students. In the rural areas most people take up farming, which does not presuppose any formal education. The better-off families and those with relatives abroad try to send their children to the Arab lands or Europe for further education and work.

Tigre men have traditionally been considered the family decision-makers.

ETIQUETTE

Tigres pride themselves on being hard working and resilient, and they show great social responsibility. Respect for elders and authority is deeply rooted. Compared to the urban population of Keren, Massawa and Asmara, the peasantry keeps a tighter social discipline in relation to open, public affection between two people of the opposite sex. Boys and men.

All traditional foods are eaten using the right hand only and without the use of silverware. The left hand is considered impure.

RELIGION

Religious Beliefs. The majority of the Tigre are Muslims, with some Lutheran Christians (Mensa)

Religious Practitioners. All Tigres are either Muslims or Christians, thus the religious practitioners are formalized by ulama and clergy respectively. Since the rural Tigre community is deeply religious, the ulama and clergy have an influential position in the everyday lives of their followers.

Rituals and Holy Places. The main religious holidays of faith are observed, Muslim celebrations:

Such as Id Al-Fetir and Id Al-Adha, and Mewlid El-Nabi.

Death and the Afterlife. The beliefs and practices concerning death, funerals, and the afterlife follow some of the norms of Islam.

MEDICINE AND HEALTH CARE

The formal health care system is poorly developed. Poor sanitary conditions in the rural areas and lack of tap water create a high rate of infant mortality. Numerous other health problems, including malaria, lack of food and proper water supplies, and lack of trained personnel, continue to burden Eritrea's development of an efficient health care system. Traditional medical beliefs are widespread in the rural areas.

THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES

Music and dance

Songs are usually celebratory in nature, and sung on such special occasions as weddings, holidays, and religious festivals.

 Singing is usually accompanied by clapping hands and the beating of the kabaro, while celebrants dance together in a circle. Everyone joins in the sesie(barej), or circle dance, which often occurs spontaneously when a joyous event occurs. Dancing the sesiet(barej) is a boisterous activity, which builds in momentum as the rhythms of songs increase in tempo and the beating of the kabaro grows faster. More and more family members and friends join in a large circle, which moves slowly around.    Singing and dancing is accompanied by a great deal of laughter and joking, and spirits remain high among the participants.

Because of the protracted war of liberation, the development of arts and humanities has been hindered. Some new artists in postliberation Eritrea are emerging, however, with an artistic focus on the country's struggle for independence