312:– a professor of Sociology specializing in Ethiopian and Horn of Africa studies, similar caste groups in different languages and ethnic groups have been integral part of societies of this region. These strata have featured all the defining characteristics of caste, states Levine, characteristics such as "endogamy, hierarchy, status, concepts of pollution, restraints on commensality, a traditional occupation and membership by birth".
94:
80:
66:
108:
37:
218:
284:
castes have traditionally been considered as ritually impure using
Islamic rationalization, and other caste members of the Somali society would never marry a member of the Tomal, Mijan and Yibir castes. Incidental reports of prejudicial comments against the Tomal by other Somali people, in
225:
According to the folklore tradition of the Somali people, Tomal and other low castes arose from unholy origins. They were historically smiths who worked various metals, and some also were leather workers (producing and processing animal skin). They may be, states Peter
Bridges, pre-Somali
678:, Quote: "In addition to the Bantus, there are Somali clans considered to be of low caste and treated as outcasts. They are the Yibir, the Midgan and the Tumal. They face restrictions, prejudice, discrimination, harassment and attacks in East Africa as well as in the Diaspora."
319:, caste structure with cognates to Tomal have been recorded in 16th century texts, states Cornelius Jaenen. The table below illustrate some alternate terms for castes mirroring the Tomal in other ethnic groups that share this region with the Somali people.
249:
which in Arabic means "ironworkers". They were considered vile because they had intermarried with the servile group within the Somali society, and their work with metal and fire was presumed to make them following the path of
265:, and have been the talented descendants of nomads in the Horn of Africa. The Tomal caste has been notable for their everyday dress, where they traditionally carry a hand crafted long spear called
1232:
261:
Later scholarship, such as by
Heather Marie Akou – a professor of History specializing in Near East Cultures, states that per mythical narrative Tomals had intermarried with
1077:
1225:
1070:
209:
and others. They have historically faced discrimination, restrictions, harassment and prejudice from other social strata of the Somali people.
1745:
1006:
979:
936:
909:
869:
842:
812:
782:
755:
725:
671:
640:
586:
559:
297:
The Tomal caste is not an exception limited to the Somali ethnic group, and equivalent cognate caste is found in numerous ethnic groups in
1730:
1715:
1218:
613:
1725:
1063:
241:, the colonial era Somali ethnographer describing his observations in the northern Somali country, the Tomal were also known as
1735:
522:
1720:
276:
According to
Teshale Tibebu – a professor of History specializing on Ethiopia and Horn of Africa, the Tomal along with
1669:
198:. Their traditional hereditary occupation has been as smiths and leather production, and they have been endogamous.
1679:
1241:
955:, Southwestern Journal of Anthropology, University of Chicago Press, Vol. 12, No. 2 (Summer, 1956), pages 171-190
1166:
1086:
1560:
798:
238:
17:
514:
A Pastoral
Democracy: A Study of Pastoralism and Politics Among the Northern Somali of the Horn of Africa
1694:
1674:
1356:
1249:
1689:
1406:
494:
Shiekh mohamed
Guuleed Kaarshe, Islamic scholar and former minister of religion in Somalia in 1980s
485:
1546:
704:, Journal of Somali Studies, Iowa State University Press, Volume 1, Issue 2, pages 91, 96, 108-112
1684:
1258:
1049:
648:
1366:
1002:
996:
975:
932:
905:
865:
859:
838:
808:
778:
751:
721:
667:
636:
609:
582:
576:
555:
518:
832:
802:
772:
745:
661:
630:
603:
512:
1628:
1453:
1423:
1286:
1125:
309:
1740:
1573:
1531:
1316:
1174:
1130:
126:
1055:
1588:
1536:
1471:
1379:
1194:
1189:
387:
298:
647:; Е. de Larajasse (1972), Somali-English and Somali-English Dictionary, Trubner, page
1709:
1603:
1428:
1418:
1401:
1374:
1351:
1341:
1331:
1306:
1276:
1161:
1135:
1052:, I. M. Lewis and R. S. O'Fahey (1994) – mention of Midgans in early Arabic documents
888:, Journal of Somali Studies, Iowa State University Press, Volume 1, Issue 2, page 105
452:
426:
413:
400:
361:
254:
and close to witchcraft. These people, states Burton, were also found and reviled in
231:
195:
1653:
1648:
1643:
1633:
1618:
1613:
1608:
1598:
1593:
1583:
1578:
1568:
1526:
1521:
1516:
1511:
1496:
1486:
1481:
1476:
1466:
1438:
1411:
1389:
1326:
1321:
1301:
1296:
1291:
1184:
1179:
491:
Maxamed cali Waji He is a famous journalist, writer and media person in
Somaliland.
465:
439:
374:
316:
226:
Bushmen-like natives who lived in these lands. They are one of a castes within the
969:
926:
899:
715:
549:
1623:
1506:
1501:
1491:
1461:
1394:
1384:
1336:
1311:
1271:
1266:
302:
1541:
1443:
1281:
1105:
150:
1638:
1433:
1210:
1156:
1120:
221:
20 year old Tumal man Egal
Mohamud photographed in 1890 by Rolande Bonaparte
166:
36:
774:
Conflict in the Horn of Africa: The Kenya-Somalia Border
Problem 1941–2014
217:
1199:
206:
99:
85:
1045:
1346:
578:
Renewers of the Age: Holy Men and Social
Discourse in Colonial Benaadir
202:
201:
The Tomal have been one of the low status castes or outcasts among the
170:
71:
1115:
277:
262:
154:
1151:
1110:
1100:
281:
255:
251:
216:
191:
162:
158:
138:
113:
1214:
1059:
666:. Oxford University Press. pp. 55, 73–74 with footnote 5.
663:
Oxford Applied Linguistics: Literacy and Second Language Oracy
804:
First Footsteps in East Africa; Or, an Exploration of Harar
1001:. State University of New York Press. pp. 229–237.
971:
Greater Ethiopia: The Evolution of a Multiethnic Society
928:
Greater Ethiopia: The Evolution of a Multiethnic Society
901:
Greater Ethiopia: The Evolution of a Multiethnic Society
717:
Greater Ethiopia: The Evolution of a Multiethnic Society
551:
Greater Ethiopia: The Evolution of a Multiethnic Society
632:
The Somali, in "A Guide to Kenya and Northern Tanzania"
904:. University of Chicago Press. pp. 57, 169–171.
998:
Social Theory and Regional Studies in the Global Age
691:, Journal of Refugee Studies, Volume 19, pages 69-93
689:
Humiliation experienced by Somali refugees in Norway
1662:
1559:
1452:
1365:
1257:
1248:
1144:
1093:
144:
132:
120:
56:
46:
660:Elaine Tarone; Martha Bigelow; Kit Hansen (2013).
974:. University of Chicago Press. pp. 195–196.
963:
961:
739:
737:
554:. University of Chicago Press. pp. 62, 195.
488:was a Somali politician and lieutenant general.'
931:. University of Chicago Press. pp. 57–58.
543:
541:
285:contemporary society include they being called
230:lineage among the Somali, but they are not the
826:
824:
1226:
1071:
323:Castes equivalent to Tomal in Horn of Africa
269:as walking stick, and a hidden dagger called
8:
720:. University of Chicago Press. p. 195.
608:. Indiana University Press. pp. 20–23.
234:-related slave strata of the Somali people.
29:
777:. University Press of America. p. 32.
750:. Kent State University Press. p. 95.
517:. James Currey Publishers. pp. 13–14.
315:In East African ethnic groups, such as the
1254:
1233:
1219:
1211:
1078:
1064:
1056:
35:
28:
884:Mohamed A. Eno and Abdi M. Kusow (2014),
700:Mohamed A. Eno and Abdi M. Kusow (2014),
861:The Making of Modern Ethiopia: 1896-1974
837:. Indiana University Press. p. 22.
321:
834:The Politics of Dress in Somali Culture
807:. Courier. p. 24 with footnote 1.
605:The Politics of Dress in Somali Culture
503:
41:Handullah Abdi a 20 year old Tumal man
1087:Ethnic and national groups in Somalia
968:Donald N. Levine (10 December 2014).
925:Donald N. Levine (10 December 2014).
898:Donald N. Levine (10 December 2014).
886:Racial and Caste Prejudice in Somalia
702:Racial and Caste Prejudice in Somalia
7:
581:. BRILL Academic. pp. 139–140.
293:Cognate castes in the Horn of Africa
57:Regions with significant populations
23:Artisanal caste among Somali people
864:. The Red Sea Press. p. 198.
473:smiths, potters, weavers, tanners
14:
1046:New Arabic Documents from Somalia
1035:, (James Currey Publishers: 1999)
953:The Galla or Oromo of East Africa
771:Vincent Bakpetu Thompson (2015).
106:
92:
78:
64:
1:
1028:, (Verlag Hans Schiler: 2005)
951:Cornelius J. Jaenen (1956),
1746:Muslim communities in Africa
635:. Springer. pp. 29–30.
995:Saïd Amir Arjomand (2014).
831:Heather Marie Akou (2011).
602:Heather Marie Akou (2011).
575:Scott Steven Reese (2008).
1762:
747:Safirka: An American Envoy
629:David F. Horrobin (2012).
15:
1731:Ethnic groups in Ethiopia
1716:Cushitic-speaking peoples
1242:Ethnic groups in Ethiopia
714:Donald N. Levine (2014).
548:Donald N. Levine (2014).
408:smiths, potters, weavers
245:probably a corruption of
149:
137:
125:
61:
51:
34:
1726:Ethnic groups in Somalia
289:, or "ignoble outcast".
1026:Who cares about Somalia
858:Teshale Tibebu (1995).
1736:Ethnic groups in Kenya
744:Peter Bridges (2000).
239:Richard Francis Burton
222:
18:Tomal (disambiguation)
511:Lewis, I. M. (1999).
220:
145:Related ethnic groups
1721:Ethnic Somali people
1033:A pastoral democracy
16:For other uses, see
1407:Soddo Gurage people
486:Mohamed Ali Samatar
324:
273:in a leather belt.
31:
1050:B. W. Andrzejewski
687:kK Fangen (2006),
322:
223:
190:, is an artisanal
1703:
1702:
1555:
1554:
1208:
1207:
1171:
1024:Hassan Ali Jama,
1008:978-1-4384-5161-9
981:978-0-226-22967-6
938:978-0-226-22967-6
911:978-0-226-22967-6
871:978-1-56902-001-2
844:978-0-253-22313-5
814:978-0-486-78954-5
799:Richard F. Burton
784:978-0-7618-6526-1
757:978-0-87338-658-6
727:978-0-226-22967-6
673:978-0-19-442313-7
642:978-94-011-7129-8
588:978-90-04-16729-2
561:978-0-226-22967-6
477:
476:
176:
175:
1753:
1670:African American
1255:
1235:
1228:
1221:
1212:
1169:
1080:
1073:
1066:
1057:
1013:
1012:
992:
986:
985:
965:
956:
949:
943:
942:
922:
916:
915:
895:
889:
882:
876:
875:
855:
849:
848:
828:
819:
818:
795:
789:
788:
768:
762:
761:
741:
732:
731:
711:
705:
698:
692:
685:
679:
677:
657:
651:
646:
626:
620:
619:
599:
593:
592:
572:
566:
565:
545:
536:
535:
533:
531:
508:
369:smiths, potters
325:
301:and the rest of
182:, also known as
116:
112:
110:
109:
102:
98:
96:
95:
88:
84:
82:
81:
74:
70:
68:
67:
47:Total population
39:
32:
1761:
1760:
1756:
1755:
1754:
1752:
1751:
1750:
1706:
1705:
1704:
1699:
1658:
1551:
1448:
1361:
1244:
1239:
1209:
1204:
1140:
1089:
1084:
1042:
1021:
1016:
1009:
994:
993:
989:
982:
967:
966:
959:
950:
946:
939:
924:
923:
919:
912:
897:
896:
892:
883:
879:
872:
857:
856:
852:
845:
830:
829:
822:
815:
797:
796:
792:
785:
770:
769:
765:
758:
743:
742:
735:
728:
713:
712:
708:
699:
695:
686:
682:
674:
659:
658:
654:
643:
628:
627:
623:
616:
601:
600:
596:
589:
574:
573:
569:
562:
547:
546:
539:
529:
527:
525:
510:
509:
505:
501:
482:
295:
215:
107:
105:
104:
93:
91:
90:
79:
77:
76:
65:
63:
62:
42:
27:
24:
21:
12:
11:
5:
1759:
1757:
1749:
1748:
1743:
1738:
1733:
1728:
1723:
1718:
1708:
1707:
1701:
1700:
1698:
1697:
1692:
1687:
1682:
1677:
1672:
1666:
1664:
1663:Non-Indigenous
1660:
1659:
1657:
1656:
1651:
1646:
1641:
1636:
1631:
1626:
1621:
1616:
1611:
1606:
1601:
1596:
1591:
1586:
1581:
1576:
1571:
1565:
1563:
1557:
1556:
1553:
1552:
1550:
1549:
1544:
1539:
1534:
1529:
1524:
1519:
1514:
1509:
1504:
1499:
1494:
1489:
1484:
1479:
1474:
1469:
1464:
1458:
1456:
1450:
1449:
1447:
1446:
1441:
1436:
1431:
1426:
1421:
1416:
1415:
1414:
1409:
1399:
1398:
1397:
1392:
1382:
1377:
1371:
1369:
1363:
1362:
1360:
1359:
1354:
1349:
1344:
1339:
1334:
1329:
1324:
1319:
1314:
1309:
1304:
1299:
1294:
1289:
1284:
1279:
1274:
1269:
1263:
1261:
1252:
1246:
1245:
1240:
1238:
1237:
1230:
1223:
1215:
1206:
1205:
1203:
1202:
1197:
1192:
1187:
1182:
1177:
1172:
1164:
1159:
1154:
1148:
1146:
1142:
1141:
1139:
1138:
1133:
1128:
1123:
1118:
1113:
1108:
1103:
1097:
1095:
1091:
1090:
1085:
1083:
1082:
1075:
1068:
1060:
1054:
1053:
1041:
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1285:
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1280:
1278:
1275:
1273:
1270:
1268:
1265:
1264:
1262:
1260:
1256:
1253:
1251:
1247:
1243:
1236:
1231:
1229:
1224:
1222:
1217:
1216:
1213:
1201:
1198:
1196:
1193:
1191:
1188:
1186:
1183:
1181:
1178:
1176:
1173:
1168:
1165:
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1160:
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734:
729:
723:
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697:
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684:
681:
675:
669:
665:
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644:
638:
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633:
625:
622:
617:
611:
607:
606:
598:
595:
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584:
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579:
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563:
557:
553:
552:
544:
542:
538:
526:
520:
516:
515:
507:
504:
498:
493:
490:
487:
484:
483:
480:Notable Tumal
479:
472:
469:
467:
464:
463:
459:
456:
454:
451:
450:
446:
443:
441:
438:
437:
433:
430:
428:
427:Sidama people
425:
424:
420:
417:
415:
414:Gurage people
412:
411:
407:
404:
402:
401:Borana people
399:
398:
394:
391:
389:
386:
385:
381:
378:
376:
373:
372:
368:
365:
363:
362:Amhara people
360:
359:
355:
352:
349:
348:
344:
341:
338:
337:
333:
330:
328:Ethnic group
327:
326:
320:
318:
313:
311:
310:Donald Levine
308:According to
306:
304:
300:
292:
290:
288:
283:
279:
274:
272:
268:
264:
259:
257:
253:
248:
244:
240:
237:According to
235:
233:
229:
219:
212:
210:
208:
205:, along with
204:
199:
197:
196:Somali people
193:
189:
185:
181:
172:
171:Somali people
168:
164:
160:
156:
152:
148:
143:
140:
136:
131:
128:
124:
119:
115:
101:
87:
73:
60:
55:
50:
45:
38:
33:
30:Tomal / Tumal
19:
1561:Nilo-Saharan
1412:Chebo people
1390:Beta Abraham
1250:Afro-Asiatic
1185:South Asians
1032:
1031:I.M. Lewis,
1025:
1019:Bibliography
997:
990:
970:
952:
947:
927:
920:
900:
893:
885:
880:
860:
853:
833:
803:
793:
773:
766:
746:
716:
709:
701:
696:
688:
683:
662:
655:
631:
624:
604:
597:
577:
570:
550:
528:. Retrieved
513:
506:
466:Konso people
440:Burji people
375:Tigre people
366:Teyb, Gafat
342:Tomal, Tumal
317:Oromo people
314:
307:
296:
286:
275:
270:
266:
260:
246:
242:
236:
227:
224:
200:
187:
183:
179:
177:
26:Ethnic group
1395:Falash Mura
1385:Beta Israel
1094:Traditional
530:14 November
453:Kefa people
334:Occupation
331:Caste name
303:East Africa
1710:Categories
1167:Ethiopians
524:0852552807
499:References
213:Discussion
169:and other
1695:Jamaicans
1639:Shanqella
1629:Nyangatom
1537:Wolaitans
1287:Daasanach
1170:(various)
1157:Al-Akhdam
1145:Immigrant
1131:Benadiris
1126:Bravanese
1121:Rahanweyn
167:Rahanweyn
121:Languages
52:1,895,563
1690:Italians
1675:Armenian
1532:Shinasha
1434:Tigrayan
1317:Kambaata
1259:Cushitic
1200:Ugandans
1175:Italians
801:(2014).
431:Tunicho
392:Qetqech
256:Al-Yaman
207:Madhiban
133:Religion
100:Djibouti
86:Ethiopia
1680:Chinese
1589:Kichepo
1472:Basketo
1380:Argobba
1367:Semitic
1347:Somalis
1190:Swahili
1136:Bajunis
460:smiths
447:smiths
434:smiths
421:smiths
418:Nefwra
395:smiths
382:smiths
356:smiths
345:smiths
339:Somali
263:Midgans
203:Somalis
72:Somalia
1741:Castes
1685:Greeks
1604:Majang
1454:Omotic
1429:Wolane
1424:Silt'e
1419:Harari
1402:Gurage
1375:Amhara
1352:Tsamai
1342:Sidama
1332:Qemant
1307:Hadiya
1277:Arbore
1180:Mehris
1162:Bantus
1116:Hawiye
1005:
978:
935:
908:
868:
841:
811:
781:
754:
724:
670:
639:
612:
585:
558:
521:
470:Hauda
457:Qemmo
444:Tumtu
405:Tumtu
379:Tebib
353:Tebib
271:bilawi
247:Haddad
243:Handad
194:among
188:Tumaal
155:Hawiye
127:Somali
111:
97:
83:
69:
1654:Tirma
1649:Surma
1644:Shita
1634:Shabo
1619:Mursi
1614:Murle
1609:Mekan
1599:Kwegu
1594:Kwama
1584:Gumuz
1579:Berta
1569:Anuak
1547:Zayse
1542:Yemsa
1527:Maale
1522:Koore
1517:Konta
1512:Hamar
1497:Dorze
1487:Dawro
1482:Chara
1477:Bench
1467:Banna
1439:Werji
1357:Weyto
1327:Oromo
1322:Konso
1302:Gedeo
1297:Gabra
1292:Danta
1195:Turks
1152:Arabs
1111:Darod
1101:Isaaq
282:Yibir
278:Mijan
267:waran
252:David
232:Bantu
192:caste
184:Tumal
180:Tomal
163:Isaaq
159:Darod
139:Islam
114:Kenya
1624:Nuer
1574:Bare
1507:Gofa
1502:Gamo
1492:Dizi
1462:Aari
1337:Saho
1312:Irob
1272:Agaw
1267:Afar
1003:ISBN
976:ISBN
933:ISBN
906:ISBN
866:ISBN
839:ISBN
809:ISBN
779:ISBN
752:ISBN
722:ISBN
668:ISBN
637:ISBN
610:ISBN
583:ISBN
556:ISBN
532:2016
519:ISBN
280:and
178:The
1444:Zay
1282:Awi
1106:Dir
649:108
305:.
258:.
228:Sab
186:or
151:Dir
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787:.
760:.
730:.
676:.
645:.
618:.
591:.
564:.
534:.
20:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
