Berta

[edit] Berta

They belong to the Nilotic cluster

Berta is a people group who lives on both sides of the Ethiopian and Sudanese borders, south of the Blue Nile in an area known as the Benishangul. The Benishangul-Gumaz region in Ethiopia is one of the least developed regions in Ethiopia. Some 160,000 Berta live there. On the Sudanese side of the border live about 60,000 Berta. Most of them live in rural areas and not in the cities and towns. The largest town in the area has only about 20,000 people and only one third of the population is Berta.

The Berta language is generally classified as a branch of Nilo-Saharan and is not related to the official Amharic language of Ethiopia nor the Arabic of Sudan. Children who do actually manage to make it into a school are therefore taught in a totally foreign language. Many children give up trying after just a few years in school and just 9.7% of the people are considered literate. It was only recently that the written form of the Berta language was introduced. Thanks to government efforts and various organisations, Berta children can now take lessons in their mother-tongue.

Islam came to this region in the beginning of the 18th century especially from Northern Sudan. It established its roots in five kingdoms. Up until 30 years ago visitors to the region wrote that Islam was very superficial, basically just in name only. However, today most Berta Muslims take their religion quite seriously although it is mixed with indigenous beliefs and practices.

A handful of Christians live scattered throughout the area and in other countries. The Christian believers in the neighbouring peoples are not very open or motivated to witness to the Berta since evangelisation of other peoples can be very difficult. Bible translation began with some Old Testament passages. There is a need for translation, only there are Christian cassettes in the Berta language.