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Baloch Ethnic Group

The document provides information about the Baloch ethnic group including their geographic location in Balochistan province of Pakistan and parts of Iran and Afghanistan, their culture and traditions, and characteristics of their shelters and housing. It discusses the Baloch people, their migration from Balochistan to East Africa hundreds of years ago, and key features of Baloch villages and the mud-brick houses commonly used, which are designed to withstand the extreme climate.

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65 views6 pages

Baloch Ethnic Group

The document provides information about the Baloch ethnic group including their geographic location in Balochistan province of Pakistan and parts of Iran and Afghanistan, their culture and traditions, and characteristics of their shelters and housing. It discusses the Baloch people, their migration from Balochistan to East Africa hundreds of years ago, and key features of Baloch villages and the mud-brick houses commonly used, which are designed to withstand the extreme climate.

Uploaded by

rh.rassan.connect
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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History of architecture: The Baloch ethnic group

1. geographic location

Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan by area. The name Balochistan means
the land of the Baloch in many regional languages.
Balochistan is situated in the southwestern part of the country.
It is bordered by Iran to the west, Afghanistan to the northwest, the Pakistani provinces
of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab to the northeast, Sindh to the southeast, and the
Arabian Sea to the south.
The province is known for its arid desert landscape, mountainous terrain, and strategic
location connecting Pakistan with Iran, Afghanistan, and the Arabian Sea.
Quetta is the capital and the largest city, serving as the administrative and economic
hub of Balochistan.
2. who are Baloch people?

Balochistan’s history spans thousands of years, with a rich cultural tapestry influenced
by its connections with Iran and Afghanistan. Before the partition of the Indian
subcontinent, it was an independent state under the rule of Mir Ahmed Khan.
The region is home to the Baloch ethnic group, which includes three major tribes: the
Baloch, Brahvi, and Pashtoon, each further divided into various clans.
Balochi, Pashto, and Brahvi are languages that are widely spoken by Baloch people,
and many also understand Urdu, Pakistan’s national language.
In Baloch culture, leaders of tribes are called ‘Sardars’ and leaders of smaller groups
are called” Maliks, Takaris, or Mirs”.
Storytelling and poetry are revered traditions, reflecting the Baloch’s respect for their
oral heritage.
Balochistan, named after the Baloch people, extends beyond Pakistan into Iran and
Afghanistan. The Balochi language, part of the Indo-Iranian group, is among the oldest
living languages.
The Baloch have traditionally been nomads, traveling seasonally to find pasture for
their herds of camel, cattle, sheep, and goats. Many Baloch now lead a more sedentary
lifestyle, with agriculture playing a significant role in their sustenance. They cultivate
crops like wheat, millet, rice, and various fruits, despite the challenging environment.

Baluch Migration to east Africa


They journeyed in the fabled dhows; white crescent sails blown by ocean winds, three
hundred years ago, as soldiers of fortune, to the east coast of Africa; to build an empire
for the Sultan of Oman who had conquered their homeland on south coastal fringes of
the Persian empire, and to whom they now owed allegiance. It was a long fateful
voyage undertaken by most for monetary gain, and thought to be a temporary mission,
without quite realizing the impact that undertaking down the Indian Ocean would have
on their future. And how lasting it would turn out to be.
The first Baluch to have set foot in eastern Africa were certainly those mercenaries
deployed in the Sultan’s army, initially to fight and evict the Portuguese from their
strongholds in East Africa, and later to consolidate the Sultan’s control of the region.
At a time when there was much anarchy amongst the tribes of Oman for control of the
throne, the loyal Baluch soldiers, posing no threat to the rule of the Busaidis earned
them lasting trust with the Sultan who then deployed them to guard his palaces and
interests in the region. Interests, that included massive land grab and an inhuman slave
trade.
As they moved inland, the Baluch founded cluster communities in Djugu and Bunia in
the Congo; Soroti, Arua and Kampala in Uganda; and Iringa, Tabora, Bagamoyo,
Mbeya and Rujewa in Tanzania, where today thriving communities exist. In time there
was probably a Baluch family in almost every major East African town.

3. Baloch shelters and huts

Baloch villages were/are often collections of mud or stone huts.


In hilly areas, enclosures of rough stone walls were/are covered with matting to serve
as temporary habitations.
These villages reflect the practical needs of a people who have adapted to harsh desert
landscapes and rugged mountains.
Courtyards within these villages serve as central gathering spaces for families.
Mud-brick houses are prevalent in Balochistan.
Matting or Thatched Roofs: Baloch people often use mats or thatched roofs made from
woven palm leaves or other natural materials. These provide shade and some
insulation from the sun and rain.
These houses are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, including
scorching heat and sandstorms.

Key features of Baloch houses:


o Thick mud walls: Provide insulation and stability.
o Arched doorways: Add aesthetic appeal.
o Ventilation shafts: small openings allow airflow while maintaining privacy.
o Flat roofs: Provide shade and insulation against the sun.
Figure 1Balochi hut Charaki

Figure 2Balochi Gadan


Figure 3Balochi Kudick

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