Camel and cattle nomads of the northern Darfur plateau and the borderland towards the Ennedi, speaking a Saharan language related to that of Kanem.
Arabic writers from the ninth century use Zaghawa for the peoples of the central Sudan, including Kanem's rulers; al-Idrisi (1154) places Zaghawa nomads between Kanem and the Nubians, beside the Tajuwa. The later Zaghawa (Beri) homeland lies here; how far it reached in 1200 is not known.
Who holds it
- Title
- Elders and chiefs
- Since
- Not pinned
- Confidence
- low
How things stand that morning
Self-governing clans; no overlord known.
Customs
Clan chiefs; camel herding, salt and natron from the desert edge.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Medieval Arabic use of the name is broad; the placing follows the later homeland.
On the map: The Chad side west of about 22 E is left to the West Africa sheet.
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.