Tajik
The Tajik are an ethnic group primarily found in Central Asia, with significant populations in Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as smaller communities in neighboring China and Canada. Descendants of ancient Indo-Iranian peoples, the Tajik have a rich cultural history that dates back to at least 300 B.C.E., originating in regions known as Sogdiana and Bactria. Their language, also called Tajik, is a variant of Persian and has been influenced by Arabic due to historical conquests. The Tajik people are predominantly Sunni Muslims, with their faith deeply integrated into daily life and important life events.
Traditionally, Tajik families are multigenerational, emphasizing hospitality and close-knit relationships. They enjoy a diverse cuisine featuring lamb, rice, and flatbreads, and have a cultural affinity for the arts, particularly poetry, music, and dance. Despite a tumultuous history marked by various conquests and political changes, including Soviet rule, the Tajik have managed to retain their cultural identity and traditions. Today, Tajikistan is recognized as their homeland, having gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, and continues to experience political developments under its leadership.
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Tajik
The Tajik are the original Persian people who reside in Central Asia. While most of the residents of this area are of Turkic origin, the Tajik descended from Indo-Iranian ancestors who lived in the area from at least 300 BCE. In the twenty-first century, most Tajik live in Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan, with some also living in neighboring China. Their language, which is also called Tajik, is a variation of Persian.
Background
In the time before the recorded history of the Tajiks, the people from whom they descended lived in central southeast Asia in a region then known as Sogdiana, and in Bactria, which was located in what became Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Sogdiana became part of the important trade route known as the Silk Road, which connected Rome and China via India and the Middle East.
This made Sogdiana a target of frequent raids and attacks by various factions seeking control of this profitable area. The attacks continued until around the eighth century when a group of Arabs conquered Sogdiana. The conquering force introduced the Islamic faith to the area. They also introduced a number of Arabic words to the native Tajik language, which had until then been an ancient variation of Iranian. This Arabic influence on the language affected both Tajik spoken and written language.
While this was the first significant takeover of the Tajik people, it was not the last. During the thirteenth century, Genghis Khan subjugated the people of the area and made them part of the Mongol Empire, and in the fourteenth century, the Tajik were under Turkic rule. Near the end of the nineteenth century, the area was conquered again and divided between rule by the Uzbekistan Emirate of Bukhara in the south and Russian czar Nicholas II in the north. By 1921, the majority of Tajik people were under Soviet rule.
The Tajik people had continued through this time using an Arabic writing style. Once the area came under Soviet rule, however, the people were forced to adopt the use of a Latin alphabet during the 1930s. During the 1940s, the Tajik population once again made a mandatory written language change, this time to the use of the Russian Cyrillic alphabet. In so doing, the Soviets enforced a connection between the Tajik and the new regime and severed bonds to older Tajik writing and culture.
Nevertheless, anti-Russian sentiment grew among the Tajik people over the next few decades until 1991, when Communist leader Qahhor Mahkamov was forced to resign. The area that is home to the majority of the world's Tajik became known as Tajikistan when it declared its independence from the Soviet Union. One change made after the Tajik people reclaimed their homeland was legislation to return to the original Arabic-style script and restore the full use of the Tajik language, which had been restricted under Soviet rule.
The transfer of power after Soviet independence did not go smoothly. By 1992, protests had turned into civil war between those who favored elected president Rahmon Nabiyev and pro-democracy groups. Nabiyev resigned and then died under uncertain circumstances. In 1994, Emomali Rahmonov was elected president in what was called a questionable election by people both within and outside Tajikistan. Fighting continued, however, until a 1996 cease-fire was brokered.
Rahmonov was reelected several more times. By May 2016, voters in Tajikistan approved changes to the country's constitution that would allow Rahmonov to serve indefinitely. He has been in power for over 30 years. The country continued to be involved with Russia through military bases on Tajikistani soil, and it supported US military efforts in the Middle East.
Overview
The Tajik make up about 84 percent of the approximately eight million people in Tajikistan. While the majority of Tajik live in Tajikistan, Tajik ethnic populations can also be found in other areas. For instance, about 27 percent of the 31 million people living in Afghanistan are Tajik, as are about 5 percent of the 30 million residents of Uzbekistan. Pockets of Tajik people can be found in other areas as well, including China and Canada.
The vast majority of Tajik are Sunni Muslims by faith, although some follow the Shiite tradition and a minority practice other religions. Islam is the official religion of the three countries where most Tajik live; in Tajikistan, the Sunni form is specified as the official faith. Religious practices are part of everyday life for most Tajik, and this includes praying multiple times each day. Muslim faith practices are part of many major life events, such as birth, death, marriage, and a child's coming of age.
Tajik families tend to be multigenerational. When a couple marries, the man and his father are considered the heads of the household. They tend to have large families and remain close to their extended relatives.
As a whole, the Tajik people honor social traditions that are common to other people of the region with a special emphasis on hospitality. They regard serving guests as an honor and even the poorest among them will do what they can to offer a meal to a guest. Foods common among the Tajik include lamb, rice, Middle Eastern vegetables, fruit, flatbreads, and yogurt. Tea is a common beverage.
Artistic endeavors are also an important part of the Tajik culture. Mosques often feature elaborately painted scenes on ceilings, and Tajik official buildings include decorative artwork. Literary art forms are also held in high regard, especially poetry, and the people maintain a strong tie to ancient folktales as a way of holding on to their historical past. Song and dance are also part of Tajik life, with musical accompaniment often provided by drums, flutes, and a stringed instrument called a rubab. They especially favor circle dances that honor eagles, which are considered heroic symbols.
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