Social: Nyumba

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Nyumba enjoys an ancient heritage and rich culture. It has combined its Arabic and African roots to create a uniquely Nyumbaan culture. Nyumbaans are very proud of their culture

Due to Nyumba’s repressive regime and its inability to cope with the economic and societal difficulties that follow with natural disasters, civil wars, and other conflicts, the importance of tribal and family relationships is more profound and pronounced in Nyumba. Like other regional countries, rural families are dependent upon their ties to larger tribal structures. Where Nyumba differs is in its total societal dependence on these relationships, even in more urban areas were these familial structures tend to loosen in other regional countries. The poverty endemic in the country as a whole, requires that family's band together for survival.

These family and extended tribal relationships have also had a direct impact on the political direction of the country. The government of Nyumba is beholden to and dependent upon tribal relationships to stay in power. For example, the tribe-based Tajammu militias receive perks and patronage from the government for conducting paramilitary and extra-legal operations on behalf of the government.

Social Statistics for Amari, Kujenga, Ziwa, Nyumba

	Amari	Kujenga	Nyumba	Ziwa
Age Distribution (%)
< 15 yr.	42	45%	44%	45%
15-59 yr.	53	50%	52%	49%
> 60 yr.	5	5%	4%	6%
Median Age	19.5	27	18	20
Pop. Growth Rate (% - rank)	1.81%	2.8%	2%	3.2%
Birth Rate (per 1,000 - rank)	25.1	35	39	42.9
Death Rate (per 1,000 - rank)	6.8	7.6	13.1	10.2
Infant Mortality (per 1,000 - rank)	38.3	41.2	96.6	57.6
Life Expectancy	64	62.2	52.4	65
Fertility Rate (child/woman - rank)	3.14	4.77	5.8	5.71
Net Migration Rate (per 1,000/rank)	0.3%	0.2%	-0.5%	-6.5%
Literacy Rate (%)	78% Male 81% Female 74%	76% Male 83% Female 71%	72% Male 82% Female 68%	78% Male 85% Female 72%
Urban Population	25.6%	33%	40.5%	16.8%
Urbanization Rate (%)	4.3%	5%	4%	5.3%

Regional Languages

Amari	Kujenga	Nyumba	Ziwa
Swahili	Swahili	Nyumbaan Arabic	Swahili
English	English	Swahili	English
Arabic	Arabic	English
Hundreds of local and regional dialects and languages complicate communication, especially in rural areas.

Regional Religious Affiliation

	Amari	Kujenga	Nyumba	Ziwa
Christianity	80%	27%	3%	40%
Islam	5%	60%	90%	35%
Traditional and Indigenous	4%	10%	7%	15%
Asian traditions such as Hindu, Sikh, Parsee, and Bahaish	2%	3%	0%	%0
In rural areas, tribal and traditional religious beliefs often overlap and sometimes combine with religious traditions such as Christianity, Islam, and other imported religious practices.

Regional Ethnic Groups

Amari	Kujenga	Nyumba	Ziwa
Kiboko 22%	Wawindaji 12%	Lisimba 5%	Maji 30%
Nyati 15%	Kabila 10%	Machupa 5%	Almasi 25%
Samaki 13%	Almasi 9%	Dakari 4%	Kiboko 5%
Kondoo 12%	Samaki 9%	Adongo 7%	Mafuta 28%
Haki 10%	Milima 8%	Abedi 4%	Other African 7%
Nomadic 4%	Kirafiki 6%	Kijana 5%	Non-African 5%
Other African 21%	Kiarabu 6%	Wangari 9%
Non-African 3%	Upanga 5%	Mpasa 8%
	Kisu 4%	Killima 32%
	Mahindi 4%	Tajammu 21%
	Other African 25%
	Non-African 2%

Major Diseases in the Region

Malaria

Yellow Fever

Dengue

African Trypanosomiasis

Leishmaniasis

Onchocerciasis

Rickettsioses

Chikungunya Fever

Zika Virus

Diarrhea

Cholera

Typhoid

Hepatitis A, B, C, and E

Dracunculiasis

Echinococcosis

Meningococcal Disease

HIV Infection

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Plague

Rabies

Tuberculosis

Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Ebola Virus Rift Valley Fever Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever

Population Movement (Migration/IDPs/Refugees)

Decades of dysfunctional and centralized governance, regional conflicts, criminal violence, and natural and man made disasters have disrupted populations and created large numbers of internally displaced persons (IDP) and migration of populations into Nyumba. Protracted displacement has disrupted traditional livelihood activities and eroded community resilience to withstand shocks. Displaced people are more vulnerable due to their reduced access to natural resources such as land and water, and a chronic shortage of basic services. Conflict impacts pastoralists’ traditional migration routes and farmers’ capacity to transport their crops. Newly displaced people lose their livelihood opportunities. As a result they seek safety, food, water, shelter, healthcare, education for their children and new livelihoods in other areas, which further stresses these areas.

In many parts of Nyumba, inter-communal conflict causes insecurity and substantial civilian displacement. Localized armed violence takes place frequently between sedentary-farming and nomadic-pastoral communities, as well as between nomadic communities, clashing over access to, use of and management of resources, especially land. Nearly every community in conflict-affected areas, whether sedentary rural farmers, nomadic pastoralists, public sector workers or urban dwellers, has been impacted, further undermining their capacity to host displaced people.

Civil war and regional conflicts have increased displacement. The Nyumbaan military, paramilitary, and tribal-based militias have targeted some populations; particularly those in the frontier and border regions where law enforcement is the weakest. Kidnapping, extortion, honor killing, and other violent crimes push people into areas deemed to be safer for their families.

Population Distribution

Nyumba is predominantly an urban society. In the past thirty years, one in four Nyumbaans have moved from rural homes to urban areas in search of higher-paying jobs and a better life. At present, 68% live in cities and this percentage increases at a rate of 2.1% per year. Analysts project the current urbanization rates to continue. The concentration of urban dwellers allows the Nyumbaan government to easily send messages to the population but it also concentrates more people in one area who could riot if they become disenchanted with the government. This continued migration will allow for better quality of life if jobs remain available and resources are not overloaded. Conversely, this migration could result in increased poverty for those who do not have the necessary job skills and, as a result, are not able to provide for their families.

Demographic Mix

Approximately 40.1 million Nyumbaan citizens are of military age (16-49 years old)—20,763,890 males and 20,157,570 females, or about 62% of the total population. Of these, about 35 million meet the fitness standards for military service. Over 1.2 million Nyumbaan males and females reach  the military significant age annually. Nyumbaan's population reveals a youthful demographic, with half of its citizens at or below the age of 26.3, compared to the US with a median age of 36.7 years. This relatively young population provides significant human resources for both military and civilian jobs.

Social Volatility

Nyumba suffers from the consequences of years of poor and repressive governance, an ineffectively managed economy, and natural and man-made disasters. These circumstances have left most people with little time for anything but the essential tasks of survival. The slightest shift in the weather or other agriculture-related variables can devastate a community. Disease outbreaks can have similar overwhelming effects. This laser-focus on survival limits the energy required to protest national and regional government policies and actions in deference to creating insular and close village and community relationships and institutions. Riots and protests do happen when circumstances become unbearable and charismatic leaders appear, but these are limited and of short duration. The dominance of Islam insures that religious tensions are localized.

Education Level

Education in Nyumba is free and compulsory for children aged six to thirteen years. Primary education consists of eight years, followed by three years of secondary education. The primary language at all levels is Arabic. Schools are concentrated in urban areas. Many of the schools in conflict areas have been damaged or destroyed by years of civil war. The World Bank estimates that primary enrollment is 46 percent of eligible pupils and 21 percent of secondary students. Enrollment varies widely, falling below 20 percent in some provinces. Nyumba has 19 universities. Education at the secondary and university levels has been seriously hampered by the requirement that most males perform military service before completing their education.

The literacy rate is 70.2% of total population, male: 79.6%, female: 60.8%.

Ethnic Diversity

The Nyumbaan population consists of a large cultural diversity, made up of a combination of original inhabitants and migrants from the Arab peninsula. There are 19 major ethnic groups and over 597 ethnic subgroups speaking more than 100 languages and dialects. Arab speaking Muslims are considered the largest single ethnic group at about 70% of the total population, while other ethnicities such as Nubians, Copts and Beja and others make up the remainder.

Religious Diversity

Islam is Nyumba’s exclusive state religion and permeates all levels of society and government. The majority of the population (98%) is Muslim. Christianity predates Islam in Nyumba, but military conquest and forced religious conversion that began centuries ago drove the Christian faith almost to extinction. Today Christianity exists as a small minority with periodic abductions, killings, and imprisonments directed at its practitioners. When politically advantageous, the government targets Christians and other minorities. Generally, local communities have learned to accommodate religious differences, within a limited framework. This does not eliminate discrimination, however. When other religions are openly practiced by Nyumbaans, a variety of punishments can be employed based on the discretion of local leaders who enforce varying interpretations of Sharia. Local religious leaders, whose interpretation of Sharia carries weight, enjoy an elevated position of power and influence within their communities. Political leaders at higher levels exploit interpretations of religious leaders to support their self-interest. Nyumba’s stringent imposition of religious ideals and education on society does not allow for much diversity or any separation of religion from other aspects of society. Persecution targeted at religious minorities happens periodically, usually in response to political expediency.

Common Languages

Nyumba is a multilingual country dominated by the constitutionally-mandated Nyumbaan Arabic. Approximately 114 languages with more than 500 accents are native to Nyumba. Nyumbaan Arabic is a combination of traditional Arabic and borrowed vocabulary from the local languages. This reflects the unique influence of both African and Arab cultures.

Criminal Activity

Many years ago, the US State Department issued a warning to US persons against travel to Nyumba that remains in effect due to high criminal activity present throughout the entire country. “US citizens who travel to Nyumba despite the Travel Warning should exercise caution throughout the country, but especially in the frontier areas and along the borders where Westerners have been victims of criminal gangs often involved in the smuggling of drugs and other contraband.”

Crime exists in many forms throughout Nyumba. Drug use and prostitution are widespread among young Nyumbaans. Petty street crimes—such as robberies by men in unmarked cars and on motorcycles—also commonly occur across Nyumba. Some victims have reported robberies by police impersonators in civilian clothing. Terrorist explosions have killed a number of people in Nyumba.

While Nyumba does not publish national crime statistics, the Nyumbaan news media and organizations such as the UN report major incidents of criminal activity and public executions. The UN has reported that Nyumba executed the most criminals per capita of any nation. Activists, journalists and others deemed a threat to the government regularly disappear into the Military Intelligence/ Security Courts, where there is no right of due process or legal representation.

The Nyumbaan government considers most violent crimes—to include murder, robbery, rape, and drug distribution—as capital offenses punishable by hanging. Judges have great discretion, however, and issue disparate sentences such as stoning and other types of punishments, short of death, for serious crimes. Nyumbaan judges, particularly in rural areas, regularly order executions for adultery and for premarital sex, despite UN requests to end such practices. Judicial officials often discriminate between the sexes, handing down disproportionate sentences against women.

Human Rights

Nyumba's government possesses a spotty human rights record that appears to be deteriorating. Recently reported human rights violations include:

• Unjust executions after reportedly unfair trials
• Disappearances
• Torture and severe officially-sanctioned punishments such as death by stoning or flogging
• Excessive use of force against student demonstrators
• Poor prison conditions
• Arbitrary arrest and detention
• Lack of judicial independence
• Lack of fair public trials
• Political prisoners and detainees held without charges or held on false charges
• Restrictions of civil liberties, such as speech, press, assembly, association, movement, and privacy
• Severe restrictions on freedom of religion
• Official corruption
• Lack of government transparency
• Violence and legal and societal discrimination against women, minorities, and homosexuals
• Trafficking of persons
• Incitement to anti-Semitism
• Restriction of workers' rights, such as freedom of association, organizing, and collective bargaining
• Child labor, including forced child labor
• Persecution of minorities, including religious minorities

Nyumbaan women continue to face widespread discrimination in law and practice, despite government claims that they are the “freest in the world.” Gender inequality is widespread and sustained by Nyumbaan law. For example, unless her ex-husband is a drug addict or in prison, a divorced woman must surrender to her ex-husband custody of her sons when they reach two years of age, and of her daughters when they reach seven. Women suffer discrimination under property law as well. For example, when a father dies and leaves an inheritance, the daughter only receives half of what her brother receives. These aspects of Nyumbaan society are unlikely to change as they are based on deeply held religious and cultural beliefs.

Centers of Social Power

Tribes overlaid on map

The family (immediate and extended) is a basic foundation of Nyumba's social structure. This family focus shapes people’s identity, stature, and ambition. Nyumbaans place dedication to their family  above other social priorities, to include business endeavors and personal relationships. They condone favoritism or bias based on family relationships, and this remains a culturally accepted norm. Multiple family members often work within the same organization; Nyumbaans rationalize the nepotism, portraying it as a means to employ reliable and trustworthy individuals. They rely heavily on the family unit for emotional support. Nyumbaans demonstrate intimacy in their relationships with their extended family and tend to care for elderly relatives at home.

Factors such as an individual’s age, origin, education level, wealth, and gender contribute to a Nyumbaans social rank. Social class and family background determine status more than an individual’s character or achievement. Nyumbaan culture exhibits a hierarchy in its structure. Elaborate rituals of courtesy and respect permeate Nyumbaan culture and affect a wide variety of social norms. These customs determine where a person sits at a table, and even how individuals  greet each other.

Tribal System

Tribes overlaid on population density map

• Sheikhs can (but may not always be) influential and powerful.
• A Sheikh can have family members (and therefore influence) spread over large geographic areas, and may not have any real power or influence in his immediate area.
• Tribal organization is as follows:
  • Ÿ  Tribal Confederation
  • Ÿ  Tribe
  • Ÿ  Sub-tribe
  • Ÿ  Clan
  • Ÿ  Branch
  • Ÿ  Family

Honor and Shame

• Honor in Nyumbaan culture defines an individual’s reputation and worth.
• A family’s male head of household is responsible for protecting the family’s honor.
• When someone’s honor is compromised, Nyumbaans seek revenge for themselves, their family, or their group.

Basic Cultural Norms and Values

Decades of conflict have deepened the religious and cultural values of the Nyumbaan people, particularly in rural areas where economic deprivation is felt the most acutely. The Nyumbaan people have developed family and tribal norms that, while foreign to outsiders, are necessary for survival. Nepotism is an example of a cultural value that insures distribution of limited resources to the largest number of people. Taboos and norms surrounding honor insure a degree of societal order and limit violence through blood money and other mechanisms.

Meeting & Greeting	The lower-status person issues the first greeting—typically Salam (peace). Men shake hands. Men do not shake hands with a woman unless the woman offers her hand first. Make a slight bow or nod of the head when shaking hands. People of the same gender may kiss on the cheek.
Visiting/ Hospitality	Stand when an older or important person enters or leaves a room. Shaking a child’s hand shows respect for the parents. Due to the lack of other entertainment, family visitation is the most common form of recreation. Honored guests are placed at the head of the table/room and are served first. It is acceptable to decline the honor and pass it on to someone else.
Manners	Use Mr. or Mrs. until well acquainted with the person. If someone displays interest in your meal, offer them a portion of it. It is alright to decline the offer of the food from their plate.
Customs and Practices Cultural Dos & Don’ts	No casinos, nightclubs, dance halls, movies with nudity or sexual themes, or music genres such as rap or rock. Men and women dress conservatively, with men wearing Western-style clothing. Women must be covered from head to toe in public. Some women will wear a burqa, covering all but the eyes, while others will wear a head scarf that exposes the face.
Gifts	Be careful about praising a person’s possession as he will likely offer it to you. Bring a small gift when invited to a household. It will not be opened in front of you. People who return from trips are expected to bring gifts for family and friends.
Taboos	No chess or card games allowed. Girls can only play sports in special enclosed areas. Women cannot perform music in public. Do not eat or drink in public from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan. Do not find yourself in a closed room alone with a member of the opposite gender. Do not consume any alcohol. Do not cross your legs or point the soles of your feet at anyone. Do not eat with the left hand. Do not over-praise a child as the parents will think you are putting the “evil eye” on them. Do not stare at others. This is considered rude and is offensive if done to a female by a male.
Personal Space	Much less than that of the US. Nyumbaans will stand very close when speaking to a person.
Displays of Affection	No public displays of affection even between married people.
Marriage Rituals	Dating is uncommon. Parents choose the bride for their son through the Khastagari or investigation process. A contract is concluded at the second Khastagari, which is when the groom meets the bride for the first time. The groom’s family gives a gift to the bride at the Bale Barun ceremony months later. The two families determine the Majles (dowry), hold a Namzadi where the bride and groom exchange rings, and set the wedding date. In the Khunche, the groom’s family takes gifts to the bride’s house in flat containers carried on their heads. Ceremony takes place at a Sofeye Aghd (Wedding Spread) where the marriage is a contract. The Patakhti (similar to a US wedding shower) takes place after the wedding.
Work Week/ Work Hours	Saturday to Thursday, 44 hours per week with a Friday-only weekend.
Concept Of Time	More relaxed than the West. Nyumbaans want to establish trust before working with a foreigner or stranger.
Dispute Resolution	Often hold grudges and seek revenge.
Birth Rituals	Only close relatives visit the mother in the hospital. Others wait until the baby comes home and then bring a gift when they visit. An older member of the family will speak Arabic into the baby’s ear. Maternal grandmother usually takes care of the mother and child for 10 days. Mothers are expected to breast-feed their babies because of a fear that if they do not, the child will become “remorseless.” Some brides eat a cooked sheep’s neck to give the baby a strong neck. Baby receives a special bath at 10 days old. When the first tooth appears, the Mother feeds the baby “tooth soup.” Children from any marriage belong to the father in the event of a divorce. Children from any marriage belong to the father in the event of a divorce.
Death Rituals	Bodies must be buried within 24 hours. Washed nine times (often three now) with sedr, kafoor, and fresh water by the same gender. Body openings plugged with cotton balls. Body wrapped in a kafan (large white cotton cloth), tied on both ends, and placed in the coffin. Sometimes females will not attend male relative’s funeral. Buried individually, but high plot cost means that some Nyumbaans use the same plot. Buried with right side facing Mecca. Burials take place only in daylight hours. Professional readers or recordings recite prayers. Family will dress in black for 40 days while some extend the mourning period to one year. Relatives visit the gravesite on the Hafteh (seventh day), Cheleh (40th day), and Sal (one year) after the person’s death.

Summary

Nyumba's society has suffered greatly due to an authoritarian government that continues to mismanage the economy. The rural poor still do not enjoy the improvements in their standard of living that Nyumbaan leaders have promised in recent years. The endemic poverty associated with this mismanagement and compounded with periodic natural disasters has created deeply-held values surrounding the family and tribal relationships. In rural areas the necessity for working at an early age has limited the educational opportunities for young Nyumbaans. Unemployment is a chronic problem leading to increased illegal activities as a means of supporting families.