Messiria

The Messiria belong to the Baggara Arabs tribes and speak Sudanese Arabic. Numbering over one million, the Baggara are the second largest people group in Western Sudan, extending into Eastern Chad. They are primarily nomadic cattle herders and their journeys are dependent upon the seasons of the year [http://www.sudan101.com/baggara.htm Baggara Profile] .

Georgraphy of Messiria Country (Dar Al Messiria)

The term "Dar" means land or location. The word "Al" or "al" and sometimes "El" or "el" corresponds to the definite article "The" in English. The term "Dar Al Messiria" means "the land or location of the Messiria". According to Ian Cunnison 1966 Ian Cunnison, 1966, Baggara Arabs, Power and the lineage in a Sudanese Nomad Tribe, Clarendon Press, Oxford, pages: 1-3] , the Arab nomads of the Sudan and Chad republics are of two kinds: camelmen (called Abbala) and cattlemen (called Baggara). the Term Baggara means simply cattlemen but the sudanese apply the word particularly to the nomadic cattlemen, who span the belt of savanna between Lake Chad and the White Nile. This belt is the homeland for the Baggara people for centuries. Ian Cunnison, referenced above said "History and environmnet together throw light on their distribution". In Sudan, while the Abbala lives on the semi-desert part of the region: northern Kordofan and Darfur, the Baggara on the other hand lives on their southern fringes; ocuppying the area roughly south of 12 degree north and extending well into flood basins of the While Nile to the south.

In general the Dar Al Messiria or their zones can be divided into three areas:
1.1. Dar Al Messiria in Kordofan, Sudan.
1.2. Dar Al Messiria in Darfur, Sudan.
1.3. Dar Al Messiria in Chad.

It should be noted that the Messiria in the three different zones are separated for long times to the point that they have developed localized cultural and social differences. The Messiria in Kordofan know little if any about the Messiria in Dar Fur and Chad, but they belong to the same tribe and they have similar subtribal divisions and diversities.

Dar Al Messiria in Kordofan, Sudan

In Kordofan, the Messiria occupies the area historically known as West Kordofan, among their well known locations are: Abyei, Babanousa, El Muglad, Lagawa, El Mairam, and Lake Kailak.

Messiria Divisions in Kordofan:

The main divisions of Messiria in Kordofan are "Messiria Zurug"; literally the name means the "The dark ones" and "Messiria Humr"; means "The red ones". These names: "Zurug" and "Humr" do "not" mean in any way that the "Zurug" are more darker in skin color than "Humr", but most likely the "Humr" are more darker than "Zurug" ones. According to MacMichael, 1967 Harold Alfred MacMichael, 1967, The Tribes of Northern and Central Kordofán, Published by Cass, ISBN 0714611131, 9780714611136, 260 pages.] : The two divisions have become so distinct that the "Humr" have ceased to rate themselves "Messiria". However, in Sudan today, still they are called "Messiria Humr" and "Messiria Zurug" and still they acknowledge thier common history and ancetory.

*Messiria Zurug — According to MacMichael, 1967 Harold Alfred MacMichael, 1967, The Tribes of Northern and Central Kordofán, Published by Cass, ISBN 0714611131, 9780714611136, 260 pages.] the "Messiria Zurug" have the following divisions:

A — "Awlád Um Sálim"

B — "El Ghazáya"

C — "El Diráwi"

D — "El Enenát"

E — "Awlá Abu Na'amán"

F — "El Zurug"

G — "Awlád Haybán"Still there subtribal divisions with each subtribes.

*Messiria Humr — According to Ian Cunnison, 1966 Ian Cunnison, 1966, Baggara Arabs, Power and the lineage in a Sudanese Nomad Tribe, Clarendon Press, Oxford, pages: 1-3] : The "Humr" are divided into:

A —"'Ajaira":

1. "Fayyarin"

2. "Awlád Kamil"

3. "Mezaghna"

4. "Fadliya"

5. "Menama"

6. "'Addal"

B — "Felaita":

1. "Metanin"

2. "Ziyud"

3. "Awlád Serur"

4. "Jubarat"

5. "Salamat"

II . Dar Al Messiria in Darfur, Sudan

The area known as Nitega ("نتيقة") is the mainland of the Messiria in Dar Fur, among the land marks in the area is the Mountain Karou ("جبل كرو").
Note: I will expand this part.

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