Afro-Saudis
Total population
about 1,880,000; or about 10% of Saudi Arabia’s total population
Regions with significant populations
Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Mecca
Languages
Arabic
Religion
Islam (mostly Sunni)
Related ethnic groups
Afro-Arabs, Afro-Jordanians, Afro-Palestinians, Afro-Syrians, Afro-Iraqis, Afro-Omanis

Afro-Saudis are Saudi citizens of partial or full black African heritage. Afro-Saudis are the largest Afro-Arab group.[1] They are spread all around the country, but they are mostly found in the major cities of Saudi Arabia.[2] Afro-Saudis speak Arabic and adhere to Islam.[3] Their origins date back centuries ago to the Arab slave trade.[4]

History

Bilal ibn Rabah, an Abyssinian who was enslaved by Pre-Islamic Arabs was Islam’s first Muezzin

Arabia and Africa have been in contact starting with the obsidian exchange networks of the 7th millennium BC. These networks were strengthened by the rise of Egyptian dynasties of the 4th millennium BC. Anthropologists have indicated the likely existence of settlements in Arabia, from the people of the Horn of Africa, as early as the 3rd and 2nd millenniums BC.[5]

Population

In 2021, their population was 1,880,000, or around 5% of Saudi Arabia’s 35,950,000 population.[4] [6] [7]

Social condition

Unlike in the Americas of the 19th century, slaves in the Middle East were allowed to own land, and their children were generally not born into slavery. Also, conversion to Islam precluded further servitude and gave freedom. Skin color played a distinctive role even amongst slaves.[8] Many activists amongst Afro-Saudis complain that they are not given media representation and are unable to find opportunities to improve their social condition.[9]

Notable Afro-Saudis

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Being "Black" in the MENA region". mena.fes.de.
  2. ↑ "What it means to be a black Saudi". Arab News. March 1, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Saudi Arabia - Religion". Encyclopedia Britannica.
  4. 1 2 "Black Saudi Author Focuses on Neglected History of African Migration and Slavery". July 24, 2020.
  5. ↑ Richards, Martin; Rengo, Chiara; Cruciani, Fulvio; Gratrix, Fiona; Wilson, James F.; Scozzari, Rosaria; Macaulay, Vincent; Torroni, Antonio (April 2003). "Extensive Female-Mediated Gene Flow from Sub-Saharan Africa into Near Eastern Arab Populations". The American Journal of Human Genetics. 72 (4): 1058–1064. doi:10.1086/374384. PMC 1180338. PMID 12629598.
  6. ↑ https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/saudi-arabia/
  7. ↑ https://portal.saudicensus.sa/portal
  8. ↑ Planet, Fair. "Forgotten slavery: The Arab-Muslim slave trade | FairPlanet". Fair Planet.
  9. ↑ Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refworld | Saudi Arabia: Treatment of racial minorities, particularly black African Saudi nationals, by society and authorities (2012-2013)". Refworld.
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