http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2615159/Meet-gypsies-desert-Photographer-gains-rare-insight-lives-nomadic-Rashaida-girls-betrothed-six-modern-technology-shunned.html
Meet the 'gypsies of the desert': Photographer gains rare insight into
lives of the nomadic Rashaida where girls are betrothed at six and most
modern technology is shunned
- Photographer Eric Lafforgue pictured the nomadic tribe
- Rashaida originally came from Saudi Arabia
- Marriages with huge dowries are arranged for girls as young as six
- A woman is considered too old to marry at age of 16
- Tribe live simplistic lives with no electricity or water
- But they make thousands through sale of camels
- Some are feared due to involvement in gun smuggling and kidnapping
By Lucy Waterlow
Published: 04:23 EST, 30 April 2014 | Updated: 05:59 EST, 30 April
2014
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Photographer Eric Lafforgue has pictured unique tribes in remote locations
around the world but when he first tried to seek out the Rashaida in Eritrea,
Africa, he couldn't find a driver willing to take him.
Then when he tried to meet them at a camel market in the United Arab
Emirates he was warned by Pakistani workers: 'Do not try to meet them, do
not talk to them, they are crazy!'
Eric told MailOnline: 'When I first planned to visit the Rashaida, I
couldn't find a driver who was willing to take me to their villages in the
nearby desert. They regard them as dangerous "gypsies". "They will rob you
and then try to steal my taxi," they all told me.
[image: Simple life: The Rashaida people live in tents in the desert
despite having vast sums of money acquired through selling camels]
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Simple life: The Rashaida people live in tents in the desert despite having
vast sums of money acquired through selling camels
[image: Travellers: The nomadic tribe came to Eritrea from Saudi Arabia
about 200 years ago]
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Travellers: The nomadic tribe came to Eritrea from Saudi Arabia about 200
years ago
[image: Fearsome reputation: Some members of the tribe have been known to
be involved in human trafficking and torture]
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Fearsome reputation: Some members of the tribe have been known to be
involved in human trafficking and torture
[image: The women wear a veil which covers their nose (a very sexual facial
feature in their culture) and their mouth, but not all of their hair]
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[image: The women embrace colourful but traditional clothing]
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Striking look: The women wear a veil which covers their nose (a very sexual
facial feature in their culture) and their mouth, but not all of their hair
[image: Young bride: A woman must be married by the age of 16 or she is
considered too old to be a wife]
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Young bride: A woman must be married by the age of 16 or she is considered
too old to be a wife
[image: Daughters are desired over sons because their mother will be paid
thousands when she marries]
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[image: Marriages can be arranged when girls are as young as six]
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Battle of the sexes: Daughters are desired over sons because their mother
will be paid thousands when she marries. Marriages can be arranged when
girls are as young as six
'After tough negotiations, one driver finally agreed to drive me to the
Rashaida, but he dropped me off 200 meters from the camp.'
So why have the Rashaida, who have led a nomadic lifestyle in the barren
and hostile desert for centuries, built up such a fearsome reputation?
The Rashaida originally came from Saudi Arabia but can now be found in
areas including Egypt, Libya and the Sudan. They move from place to place
in search of grass for their camels - which helps them make a fortune as
they can sell their prized animals to wealthy sheikhs for as much as
£16,000 each.
Despite their wealth, they live in tents with no electricity and no running
water - although some do embrace modern technology in the form of cars and
mobile phones.
When Eric eventually meets the Rashaida, he is told by Salam Swalim
Muhammed, the chief of the Massawa Rashaida village in Eritrea, of their
business selling camels: 'Yes it is a lot of money, but you know we have
big families to take care of! We work a lot, trading with Yemen, Libya,
Sudan, Saudi Arabia...'
[image: Mobile business: The Rashaida travel from place to place seeking
grass for their prized camels]
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Mobile business: The Rashaida travel from place to place seeking grass for
their prized camels
[image: Lucrative creatures: Their camels can be sold for £16,000 each]
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Lucrative creatures: Their camels can be sold for £16,000 each
[image: Wary: The Rashaida can frequently be found at camel markets-
although not everyone is brave enough to approach them]
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Wary: The Rashaida can frequently be found at camel markets- although not
everyone is brave enough to approach them
[image: Traditional: The tribe earn a fortune from their camels but still
live primitive lifestyles]
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Traditional: The tribe earn a fortune from their camels but still live
primitive lifestyles
The chief revealed that they shun much of modern technology, including TV
because 'the television shows sickness and disasters. Instead of buying
sickness with your money, it is better to live happily, peacefully, and
freely.'
However, as the people's fearsome reputation suggests, not all members of
the Rashaida live as peacefully as Muhammed suggests.
A United Nations report explains that they are the master smugglers of
everything from guns to people, getting involved in hostage taking and
human trafficking.
Eric explains: 'Rashaida also make their money from a less legitimate
business. In the refugee camps around Kassala in Sudan, Eritrean people
attempting to move on are kidnapped by the Rashaida. Once they kidnap an
Eritrean, the victim will have to ask their relatives to wire ransom money
to one of the kidnapper's accounts around the world. If there is any delay
in transferring the money, the victim will be physically abused.
Testimonies say the more the money transfer is delayed, the more the victim
is tortured.'
One reason the Rashaida need money is to marry. The groom must pay up to
£40,000 to the bride-to-be's mother for her hand in marriage. Such
marriages can be arranged when a girl is as young as six. If a woman is not
married by the time she is 16, it's considered too late for her to become a
wife.
[image: Beliefs: The people abide to Saudi Sharia law]
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Beliefs: The people abide to Saudi Sharia law
[image: Segrated: Rashaida live in isolated communities, preferring not to
live with people of other tribes]
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Segrated: Rashaida live in isolated communities, preferring not to live
with people of other tribes
[image: The men 'look Arab and wear loose white clothing']
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[image: Their simple appearance belies their wealth]
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The men 'look Arab and wear loose white clothing'. Their simple appearance
belies their wealth
[image: Many of the tribe shun modern technology as they prefer to 'live
happily, peacefully, and freely']
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Many of the tribe shun modern technology as they prefer to 'live happily,
peacefully, and freely'
[image: Different sides: While those pictured are peaceful, others are
master smugglers of everything from guns to people]
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Different sides: While those pictured are peaceful, others are master
smugglers of everything from guns to people
Muhammed explained to Eric that daughters are desired over sons because of
the riches they can bring via marriage. If added: 'If a man wants to get
married but isn't rich enough to afford the wife, then the Rashaida from
Libya, Sudan, and Saudi Arabia contribute so the groom can afford his
bride.'
Eric saw no evidence of the Rashaida's wealth or violent pastimes when he
was invited to join Muhammed to drink tea under his tent, when he
eventually tracked down one of the tribes in Eritrea.
He learnt that the Rashaida stay in isolated communities, preferring not to
live with people of other tribes. But says Muhammed: 'When we travel, we
will be welcomed everywhere by other Rashaida.'
Some Rashaida have moved out of the desert to live in towns such as Kassala
in Sudan so their children can go to school. But one ten-year-old boy told
Eric that he prefers living in the desert despite the harsh conditions.
Describing the enigmatic Rashaida people he met during his stay, Eric said:
'Rashaida men have no special appearance: they look Arab and wear loose
white clothing. On the other hand, the women are very striking. They all
wear colourful traditional dresses and a veil which covers their nose (a
very sexual facial feature in their culture) and their mouth, but not their
hair.
'This is rather unusual in the Muslim culture. With long hair, some of them
have an amazing style with long black locks jutting out in all directions.
'However, since the Rashaida follow Saudi Sharia law, and more and more
have enough money to make the Hadj to Mecca, they come back with new
precepts from Saudi Arabia, asking their women to cover the hair.'
Read more:
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Received on Wed Apr 30 2014 - 09:23:06 EDT