| Balkan Egyptians |
|---|
| Total population |
|
unknown |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Kosovo: 87,000 (1996) Republic of Macedonia: |
| Language(s) |
| Albanian language |
| Religion(s) |
| Predominantly Islam |
| Related ethnic groups |
| Roma and other Indo-Aryan peoples |
Balkan Egyptians or simply Egyptians (Albanian: Egjiptian; Serbian: Египћани, Egipćani or Ђупци, Đupci; Macedonian: Египќанци, Egipkjanci or Ѓупци, Gjupci; Bulgarian: Агупти, Agupti — in the Rhodopes[1]) are an Albanian-speaking ethnic minority of Serbia (mainly Kosovo), Republic of Macedonia, and Albania. They should not to be confused with the Egyptians of Egypt, to whom they may or may not be related.
Contents |
Identity and origin
Balkan Egyptians were previously regarded as part of the Roma nationality, but now they are recognized as a separate ethnic group. Their origin is not clear. According to one theory, they are descendants of Roma who claim to have come to the Balkans from Egypt. Another theory claims that they are descendants of the Egyptian soldiers who came to Balkans in the 4th century.
Location
Most of the Egyptians live in Serbia (mostly in Kosovo, but also in Central Serbia and Vojvodina) and the Republic of Macedonia, but some also live in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Albania. According to 1996 data, there were 87,000 Egyptians in Kosovo, while according to 2002 census in Macedonia, 3,713 Egyptians lived in this country. After the Kosovo War in 1999, many of them fled from Kosovo and settled in Central Serbia, Vojvodina, and Montenegro.
Name
Despite the fact that ethnic Roma are also in some languages referred to by terms derived from the word "Egyptian" (compare the English name "Gypsy" for Roma), the Serbs who live in Kosovo do not use the name "Egyptians" to designate ethnic Roma, but only to the Albanian speakers who refer to themselves as "Egyptians", while the Serbian name for ethnic Roma is "Cigani" which is considered offensive in some areas. Albanians that live in Kosovo, however, use name "Magjup," also sometimes offensive, that is presumably derived from the word "Egyptian" to refer to the Balkan Egyptians. A 14th-century reference to a placename (Агѹповы клѣти, Agupovy klěti) in the Rila Charter of Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria is thought to be related to the Balkan Egyptians according to some authors, such as Konstantin Josef Jireček.[2][3]
References
- Dragan Novaković, Potomci faraona u Srbiji, DT Magazin, 4. April 1998.
- Marushiakova, E. and All. Identity Formation among Minorities in the Balkans: The cases of Roms, and Ashkali in Kosovo. Sofia: Minority Studies Society "Studii Romani", 2001.
- ^ Христов, Христо; Георги Янков (1989). "Глава VI. Културата на ислямизираните българи — неразделна част от общобългарската култура", Очерк за ислямизираните българи и националновъзродителния процес (in Bulgarian). София: Наука и изкуство, p. 108.
- ^ Даскалова, Ангелина; Мария Райкова (2005). Грамоти на българските царе (in Bulgarian). София: Академично издателство "Марин Дринов", p. 57.
- ^ Trubeta, Sevasti (March 2005). "Balkan Egyptians and Gypsy/Roma Discourse". Nationalities Papers 33 (1): pp. 71-95.
