|
Main Page
Afghanistan
Afghan Politics
Society
Culture
Favorite Links
Contact Us
|
|
S
O C I E T Y
The People Population:
Afghanistan has many ethnic groups. The Pashtun comprise 20 per cent of the
population and are divided into several major sub-groups. Most Pashtuns live in
the east and south. Most Tajiks (30 per cent) live in the north, Uzbeks and
Turkmen (19 per cent) in the north-central region, and the Hazara (16 per cent)
in the central region. Smaller numbers of Baluchi, Brahui, Nuristani, Aimaq,
Qizilbash, and Kyrgyz together comprise around 15 per cent of the population.
Many refugees who left the country during the 1980s have now returned.
Kabul is the capital and traditionally the largest city, with about 1.5 million
residents before 1992; however, according to some estimates, in 1995 the
fighting may have reduced the population to less than 500,000. Other major
cities are Kandahar, Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif,
and Jalalabad.
Language:
Some 32 languages and dialects are spoken in Afghanistan. Dari, a form of
Persian and the language of government and business, is spoken most widely and
has several dialects. Pashto, spoken by Pashtuns, has two major variants and
many dialects. The Uzbeks and Turkmen speak their own Turkic languages, and the
Tajiks speak a dialect of Dari, while smaller ethnic groups speak their own
local languages or a dialect of one of the major languages.
Religion:
Islam is the religion of virtually all Afghans, but it has not been a unifying
force sufficient to overcome ethnic differences. About 84 per cent of people are
Sunni Muslim, while 15 per cent (primarily the Hazara and some Persian speakers)
are Shiite Muslim. There are small numbers of Sikhs and Hindus in the cities.
Religion permeates Afghan society, and the important role of Islam in the
Mujahideen war against the Soviet occupation (1979–1989) has increased its
political influence in the country. Culturally, Islam dominates most Afghan
Muslims’ lives from birth to death, but local codes of conduct, such as
Pashtunwali, the code of the Pashtuns, also influence everyday behaviour.
Lifestyle
Marriage and Family:
Life in Afghanistan is centred on the extended family. Families in rural areas
are often large, with several generations living together in the same compound
or nearby. The most common dwelling is a mud-brick structure of several rooms,
surrounded by high mud walls that provide security from enemies, seclusion for
women, and protection for animals. Within the compound, the family is led by the
senior male (father or grandfather). Tasks are allocated according to gender,
age, and experience. Women do all the cooking, washing, and cleaning. They may
engage in light farming, but their lives are mainly focused on the household.
The wife of the senior male is dominant among the women of the household. Men
work in the fields or family business and handle all contact with the outside
world, such as shopping in the market or dealing with local officials. In many
cases, men even shop for personal items (such as clothing) for their wives so
that they do not have to go out in public. Only adult males participate in the
jirga (village council) and political events, but women are well informed about
local happenings and are influential in shaping opinion.
Afghans identify primarily with their family, kin group, clan, or tribe. Their
various codes are often strict and inflexible, stressing honour, loyalty to the
family or clan, and personal responsibility to fulfil expected roles. Afghans in
rural areas tend to define wealth as land ownership or a large family. Urban
residents are more likely to view wealth in terms of money or possessions, and
education is highly valued. Nomadic people define wealth by the size of their
herds.
Teenage girls adopt pardah—a system in certain Muslim societies involving the
seclusion or screening of women from men who are not close family members—and
have no contact with men outside the immediate family. Marriages are normally
arranged, the senior women of the families often playing a prominent role in the
decision. Among urban or more westernized families, it may be permissible for a
prospective bride and groom to meet with or view each other and approve of or
reject the union. Marriages between cousins are common and often preferred, as
they strengthen family ties. Matchmakers engage in lengthy negotiations over the
bride-price and dowry.
Marriage and engagement rituals are numerous, varied, and complex.
Traditionally, the ceremony itself occurs over a three-day period, with some of
the festivities at the bride’s family home and some at the groom’s. For most
activities the sexes are segregated, but all gather for the signing of the
marriage contract and recitation of the Koran. Divorce is simple—the man need
only announce it in public three times—but rare. A man may have up to four
wives, but he must provide for all equally; this generally limits most men to
one wife. Premarital and extramarital sex are strictly forbidden and can be
grounds for severe punishment (including death) in some areas.
Diet and Eating
Afghan cuisine is influenced by the foods of South and Central Asia, China, and
Iran. Among common foods are the many types of palau (rice mixed with meat
and/or vegetables), qorma (vegetable sauce), kebab (skewered meat), ashak
(leek-filled pasta) or mantu (meat-filled pasta), and nan (leavened bread).
Tomatoes, spinach, potatoes, peas, carrots, cucumbers, and aubergine are also
popular. Yoghurt and other dairy products are dietary staples. Sugarcane, a
variety of fruits (fresh and dried), and nuts are eaten as desserts and snacks.
Chai (tea), either green or black, is the most popular drink. Afghans enjoy
beef, mutton, chicken, and many types of game, although most cannot afford to
buy meat regularly. An urban diet is usually more varied than a rural one, but
food shortages have been severe at times. Islamic law forbids the consumption of
alcohol and pork, and most people comply.
Afghans in rural areas commonly eat only breakfast and dinner, but some may have
a light lunch. Most have snacks between meals. At meals, Afghans usually sit on
the floor around a mat on which food is served in a communal dish. To eat, one
uses the fingers of the right hand or a piece of nan. The left hand is never
used for handling food, as it is traditionally reserved for cleaning the body.
One eats until satisfied, and leftover food is saved for later or for the next
day’s breakfast. Families normally eat together, but if a male guest is present,
females eat separately. Eating out is not common, but some restaurants have a
separate dining area or booths for families.
Socializing
A handshake is a common greeting among men, who tend to be expressive when
greeting friends and may pat one another on the back during an embrace. Formal
verbal greetings are often accompanied by placing the right hand over the heart.
Women friends embrace each other and kiss three times on alternate cheeks. Women
might also shake hands. A man does not shake hands with or otherwise touch a
woman in public, although he may greet her verbally in an indirect way.
Greetings vary by region and ethnic group, but Arabic greetings are used and
universally accepted. Assalaam alaikum (“Peace be upon you”) is replied to with
Waalaikum assalaam (“And peace also upon you”). A common Dari greeting is
Khٌbasti? (“Are you well?”), and the Pashto equivalent is Singa ye?. “Goodbye”
is Khoda hafiz.
In formal situations, an academic or professional title is always used. Hajji
(“Pilgrim”) is reserved for those who have made a pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah)
in Saudi Arabia. Socio-economic status can also determine which title should be
used (such as Khan, meaning “Sir”). Some people are respectfully referred to by
a title only (for example, Hajji Khan, or “Pilgrim Sir”). Usually, however,
titles are combined with names. Parents are often called by a child’s name, such
as Madar-e (“Mother of”) Muhammad or Baba-e (“Father of”) Alam. Friends use
given names and nicknames among themselves.
Visiting between family, friends, and neighbours is the main social activity in
Afghanistan. It is mostly segregated by gender. Homes often have a special room
(hujra) where male guests are received by the male host. Females socialize
elsewhere in the compound. Guests are served tea and, depending on the time of
day, perhaps something to eat. Guests are expected to have at least three cups
of tea. Any business discussions occur after refreshments. The ability of an
Afghan to generously entertain guests is a sign of social status.
|
|
