AFAR PEOPLE the proud nomadic shepherds, reside in the Danakil Desert in Ethiopia Afar Region, as well as in Eritrea and Djibouti. They speaks the Afar Language as a mother tongue part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family.
Traditionally, the society is ruled by sultanates made up of several villages headed by a dardar. Afar are organized into clan families, and into classes -- asaimara ('reds') who are the dominant class politically, and the adoimara ('whites') who are a working class. They practice circumcision for both. A boy is judged for his bravery upon bearing the pain of circumcision, and is then allowed to marry the girl of his choice, though preferably someone from his own ethnic group.
The Afar People have a strong relationship with their environment and its wildlife, sharing land and resources with animals and doing them no harm. It is this tendency that is largely responsible for the preservation of the critically endangered African wild ass (Equus africanus)(, which has become extinct in more vulnerable environments.
Afar People Dresses,married women traditionally wear a black headscarf called a shash or musha .For men and women, the main article of clothing is the sanafil, a waistcloth. Women's are dyed brown (although today many women adopt multi-coloured sanafil) while men's are undyed.Women wear a waist cloth up to their knees and wear a necklace. Married women wear a black head scarf which covers only the hair, women remain bare breasted.Men wear a waist cloth as well and wear a shawl wrapped around the torso. Mens hair is usually fuzzy while women braid their hair and bead it. Its not uncommon for men to carry a stave, to prod livestock and for balance. Men also carry guns and a small stool.
Afar huts are similar to the Somali aqal. A domed framework of branches is covered with woven grass mats, and is made to be easily dismantled. About 20 huts around a livestock pen and a meeting place makes a village.most of whom are still pastoralists and who can pack up and carry their houses on the backs of camels and they carry salt in their camel caravans up to the Ethiopian highlands.
Afar Danakil Depression (The Afar Depression), a plate tectonic triple junction is found in the Afar Regional state. This geologic feature is one of earth's great active volcanic areas. Due to this volcanic activity the floor of the depression is composed of lava, mostly basalt. The continuous process of volcanism results in the occurrence of major minerals including potash, sulfur, salt and gypsum. In addition to these minerals, there are also promising geothermal energy sources and hot springs in different areas of the region. Most of the region's mineral potential are found in Dallol, Brhale and Afdera woredas of Zone.
Afar Region is the site where "LUCY", the Australopithecus Afarensis skeletal remains at Hadar and other many hominid species were discovered and 120 meters below sea level at the sulfuric inferno Danakil depression and with its glittering volcanic scene of Er’tale.
