Majority of the Saudis are ethnically Arab. Some are of mixed ethnic origin and are descended from Turks, Iranians, Indonesians, Indians, Africans, and others, most immigrated as pilgrims and reside in the Hijaz region along the Red Sea coast. There is also a cosmopolitan aspect with significant numbers of Westerners and Asian expatriates mostly from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Bedouin
men singing and playing instruments around a campfire.
Photograph from National Geographic.
Photograph from National Geographic.
Indigenous People
Bedouins are one of the many types of indigenous people of Saudi Arabia and traditionally lead a nomadic lifestyle. The word 'bedouin' comes from the Arab word 'Bedou' that means "desert dweller." Nomadic Bedouins constitute about one-tenth of the population of the Middle East, spreading from the Persian Gulf to the Atlantic Ocean, and from the borders of Turkey to Yemen. Other smaller tribes in many different provinces of Saudi Arabia include the Beni Ateyah, Aniza, Bani Khalid, Banu Yam and many more.
Bedouin life is generally pastoral, herding camels, sheep, goats and cattle. They usually migrate seasonally, depending on grazing conditions.Bedouins define themselves as members of tribes and families. People are divided into social classes, depending on ancestry and profession. Passing from one class to another is relatively feasible, but marriage between a man and a woman of different classes is difficult.
Bedouin tribal leaders meet at the tent of a
prominent sheikh to break bread, swap stories, and debate news of the day. Photograph from National Geographic.
Traditionally, the Bedouin's home, the tent, is divided into three sections by curtains: the men's section, the family section and the kitchen. In the men's area, guests are received around the hearth where the host prepares coffee on the fire. Tea is served as a welcome drink; coffee is usually prepared after the meal and is the last drink before the guest leaves. The men pass the evening trading news and discussing their animals. Separated from them by a curtain, the women gather in the family area and kitchen along with their small children to bake bread and prepare the main meal. A dinner of rice and chunks of mutton or lamb are then served to the gathered guests.
Simple bread called the feteer, prepared by the Bedouin women.
Photograph from National Geographic.
Photograph from National Geographic.
Women occupy a very important position in Bedouin society by raising the children, herding the sheep, milking the animals, cook, spin yarn and make the clothes, but they also weave the cloth for the tent. The Bedouin men gather around the fire, sharing stories while sipping coffee. By tradition, one of the men recites poetry or sings. To mark the end of the evening, the host burns incense in a mabkhara (incense burner) passing it to each of his guests to inhale and fan their clothes. Poetry has been a central cultural form of expression for the Bedouins throughout their history. In early centuries of Islamic history, Bedouin poetry represented the ideal standard for other literary achievements, as well as for the Arabic language. The traditional foods of the Bedouin are dairy products and meat. Bedouins sell and barter products in order to obtain agricultural food.
Role of Genders
In Saudi Arabia, the roles of genders are still quite attached to traditional belief that the male gender is more superior to the female gender.
The line drawn between the two genders is quite distinct, even at public places like restaurants. Most restaurants in Saudi Arabia have "family" and "male-only" sections. The family section is the place where women must sit accompanied by their husbands or fathers. All family-restaurants in Saudi Arabia bar entrance to women who come without their husbands or close male relatives. Those without a family section will not serve women. On the other hand, some places in Riyadh are open only to women as a compensation for those places where women are prohibited.
