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The '''Zay''' are a small ethnic group of about 15,000 people in [[Ethiopia]]. “Zay” comes from a Hebrew word, Zayin, one of the twenty-two names for God. Oromo refer to the Zay as '''Laqi''' meaning “stirrer” or “paddler”. When the Oromo first saw the Zay on their boats they did not know what they were doing and knew only the stirring motion they made with their paddles. Zay people live on the islands of [[Lake Zway]], south of [[Addis Ababa]], and engage mainly in [[fishing]]. The [[Zay language]] belongs to the [[Semitic languages|Semitic]] branch of the [[Afroasiatic languages|Afroasiatic]] family. It is closely related to the Silte, Harari language, Gurage languages spoken by the neighboring [[Silte and Gurage people|Gurage]]. The Zay belong to the [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church]].
The '''Zay''' are a small ethnic group of about 15,000 people in [[Ethiopia]]. “Zay” comes from a Hebrew word, Zayin, one of the twenty-two names for God. Oromo refer to the Zay as '''Laqi''' meaning “stirrer” or “paddler”. When the Oromo first saw the Zay on their boats they did not know what they were doing and knew only the stirring motion they made with their paddles. Zay people live on the islands of [[Lake Zway]], south of [[Addis Ababa]], and engage mainly in [[fishing]]. The [[Zay language]] belongs to the [[Semitic languages|Semitic]] branch of the [[Afroasiatic languages|Afroasiatic]] family. It is closely related to the Silte, Harari language, Gurage languages spoken by the neighboring [[Gurage people|Gurage]]. The Zay belong to the [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church]].
Local tradition suggests that the Zay people comprise three streams of people that populated the islands of Lake Ziway between the early 9th and the mid-17th centuries.<ref name="giday" /> It is believed that the
Local tradition suggests that the Zay people comprise three streams of people that populated the islands of Lake Ziway between the early 9th and the mid-17th centuries.<ref name="giday" /> It is believed that the
Zay people spoke the ancient [[Harla]] language.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Braukamper|first1=Ulrich|title=Islamic History and Culture in South Ethiopia|publisher=LITverlag|page=18|url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=HGnyk8Pg9NgC&pg=PA18&lpg=PA18&dq=gurageland+harala&source=bl&ots=sZCpOdhsWH&sig=9ThpLFqdKpCznUeX5CQHd1KpMMk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwil_MzWtsLNAhVo5oMKHYVMDPgQ6AEIIzAB#v=onepage&q=gurageland%20harala&f=false|accessdate=25 June 2016}}</ref> The Zay economy is mainly based on [[subsistence agriculture]] and [[artisanal fishing|traditional fishing]].<ref name="giday" /> The Zay people cultivate maize, sorghum, finger millet, teff, pepper and barley, and raise cattle, goats, sheep, donkeys and chicken.<ref name="giday" /> Island dwellers use papyrus boats for transport, while those on the shore use donkeys and horses.<ref name="giday" /> Common health issues include malaria, schistosomiasis, diarrhoea and respiratory diseases.<ref name="giday" /> The Zay people generally have limited access to modern health care and primarily rely on medicinal plants, although (as elsewhere in the country) environmental and cultural factors threaten both medicinal plants and traditional medical knowledge.<ref name="giday" />
Zay people spoke the ancient [[Harla]] language.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Braukamper|first1=Ulrich|title=Islamic History and Culture in South Ethiopia|publisher=LITverlag|page=18|url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=HGnyk8Pg9NgC&pg=PA18&lpg=PA18&dq=gurageland+harala&source=bl&ots=sZCpOdhsWH&sig=9ThpLFqdKpCznUeX5CQHd1KpMMk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwil_MzWtsLNAhVo5oMKHYVMDPgQ6AEIIzAB#v=onepage&q=gurageland%20harala&f=false|accessdate=25 June 2016}}</ref> The Zay economy is mainly based on [[subsistence agriculture]] and [[artisanal fishing|traditional fishing]].<ref name="giday" /> The Zay people cultivate maize, sorghum, finger millet, teff, pepper and barley, and raise cattle, goats, sheep, donkeys and chicken.<ref name="giday" /> Island dwellers use papyrus boats for transport, while those on the shore use donkeys and horses.<ref name="giday" /> Common health issues include malaria, schistosomiasis, diarrhoea and respiratory diseases.<ref name="giday" /> The Zay people generally have limited access to modern health care and primarily rely on medicinal plants, although (as elsewhere in the country) environmental and cultural factors threaten both medicinal plants and traditional medical knowledge.<ref name="giday" />

Revision as of 15:31, 16 September 2019

The Zay are a small ethnic group of about 15,000 people in Ethiopia. “Zay” comes from a Hebrew word, Zayin, one of the twenty-two names for God. Oromo refer to the Zay as Laqi meaning “stirrer” or “paddler”. When the Oromo first saw the Zay on their boats they did not know what they were doing and knew only the stirring motion they made with their paddles. Zay people live on the islands of Lake Zway, south of Addis Ababa, and engage mainly in fishing. The Zay language belongs to the Semitic branch of the Afroasiatic family. It is closely related to the Silte, Harari language, Gurage languages spoken by the neighboring Gurage. The Zay belong to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Local tradition suggests that the Zay people comprise three streams of people that populated the islands of Lake Ziway between the early 9th and the mid-17th centuries.[1] It is believed that the Zay people spoke the ancient Harla language.[2] The Zay economy is mainly based on subsistence agriculture and traditional fishing.[1] The Zay people cultivate maize, sorghum, finger millet, teff, pepper and barley, and raise cattle, goats, sheep, donkeys and chicken.[1] Island dwellers use papyrus boats for transport, while those on the shore use donkeys and horses.[1] Common health issues include malaria, schistosomiasis, diarrhoea and respiratory diseases.[1] The Zay people generally have limited access to modern health care and primarily rely on medicinal plants, although (as elsewhere in the country) environmental and cultural factors threaten both medicinal plants and traditional medical knowledge.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Giday, Mirutse (2001). "An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the Zay people in Ethiopia" (PDF). CBM:s skriftserie. 3: 81–99. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  2. ^ Braukamper, Ulrich. Islamic History and Culture in South Ethiopia. LITverlag. p. 18. Retrieved 25 June 2016.