Kunama

Farming and livestock are important to the Kunama’s livelihoods. Cattle also represent wealth and prestige. A description of their villages published in 2007 recorded people working together to build houses, collect firewood and farm the land. Residents respected their elders and relied on them to guide life in their small communities.

Many Kunama follow the traditional religion, which is linked to the worship of Anna, the creator, and respect for heroes of past generations. In this tradition, elders pass on the community’s beliefs, and some places are considered sacred because of their connection with Anna. There are also Catholics, Protestants and Muslims among the Kunama. In 2007, a report on refugees in Shimelba noted that many gave vague answers when asked about religion, and that traditional religion coexisted with a loosely practiced Christianity. This people’s identity encompasses families with different religious paths.

The war that began in 1998 forced Kunama families to leave their homes. In 2007, refugees in the Shimelba camp in Ethiopia faced few job opportunities and lived in houses without running water. In Eritrea, the settlement of other groups on Kunama land had increased competition for resources.