Entries in this encyclopedia are arranged alphabetically within ethno-linguistic classifications. Each entry has four main sections: an introduction identifying the language group, where they are found, and their numbers; a brief discussion of their origins and early history; a section on cultural life that includes religion, literature, social organization, and art; and a final section on political organization and recent history. The contents are appropriate for high school and undergraduate students as well as for experts who need a refresher on groups in Africa and the Middle East. While certain ethnic groups have been combined into a single entry, some - such as the Tuareg, who are a Berber people - are described within their own entries because of their importance in history or cultural domination. -- From the publisher.

"This book is also available on the World Wide Web as an eBook."

Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction: Ethnicity in Africa and the Middle East -- Note on spelling -- Acholi -- Afar -- Afrikaner -- Akans -- Aka Pygmies -- Amhara -- Annang -- Arabs -- Armenians -- Assyrians -- Bafur -- Bakhtiyari -- Baluch -- Bamileke -- Bassa -- BaTwa -- Baule -- Beja -- Bemba -- Berbers -- Beti/Beti-Pahuin -- Bilen -- Bini/Edo -- Chagga -- Chewa -- Chokwe -- Copts -- Creole -- Dan -- Diola -- Dogamba -- Dogon -- Ewe -- Fon -- Fulbe -- Fur -- Ga -- Ganda -- Gilaki and Mazandarani -- Gwari -- Hadza -- Haratin -- Hausa -- Herero -- Hutu -- Igbo -- Ijaw -- Isoko -- Jews -- Kalenjin -- Kamba -- Kanuri -- Khoisan -- Kikuyu -- Kongo -- Kuba -- Kurds -- Lebou -- Lele -- Lemba -- Lingala -- Lozi -- Luba -- Lulya -- Lunda -- Luo -- Lur -- Makonde -- Malagasy -- Mande -- Mangbetu -- Mbulu -- Mbundu -- Mbuti Pygmies -- Mende -- Mossi -- Nguni -- Nilotic -- Non-Africans: Asians -- Non-Africans: Europeans -- Nuba -- Nubians -- Nyamwezi -- Oromo -- Ovambo -- Ovimbundu -- Persians -- Rendille -- Senufo -- Sereer/Serer -- Shona -- Somalis/Issas -- Songhay -- Sotho/Tswana -- South Arabian -- Surma -- Swahili -- Talysh -- Teda/Tubu -- Temne -- Tigray/Tigrinya -- Tigre -- Tiv -- Tonga -- Tsonga -- Tuareg/Tuwariq -- Turks -- Tutsi -- Ubykh -- Venda -- Vili -- Wolof -- Yao -- Yoruba -- Zaghawa -- Zande -- Zaza/Dimli -- List of contributors -- Geographical index -- Index.