Forros

people

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population of Sao Tome and Principe

  • Sao Tome and Principe
    In Sao Tome and Principe: Ethnic groups

    The population consists mainly of Forros (from forro, Portuguese for “free man”), descendants of immigrant Europeans and enslaved Africans. Another group, the Angolares, descended from formerly enslaved Angolans who were shipwrecked on São Tomé about 1540. The Angolares remained apart in the isolated southern zone of São Tomé island until…

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Also called:
Tavgi or Tavgi Samoyed

Nganasan, an indigenous Arctic people who traditionally resided in the lower half of the Taymyr Peninsula of Russia. They numbered about 800 in the early 21st century.

The Dolgan also inhabit this region, and neighbouring groups include the Sakha and the Enets. The Nganasan speak a Uralic language related to Nenets and Enets. The language has two main dialects, eastern and western. Well into the 20th century the Nganasan way of life was nomadic, based on fishing and the hunting of reindeer. In the 1930s Russian influence began to be felt with the introduction of alcohol, the encouragement of settled existence, and the emphasis on literacy (in Russian). This era also saw the commercialization and collectivization of reindeer husbandry. By the 21st century Nganasan culture had been heavily affected by these and other changes, and few children were being taught the Nganasan language.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Elizabeth Prine Pauls.