Karakalpak in Afghanistan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Islam (Sunni)
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Karakalpaks emerged as a confederation of tribes at some time in the 15th or 16th centuries. They are genetically highly heterogeneous. During the 1500s, they became virtually independent, although definitely not united. Unfortunately, their independence was short lived. Over the next 200 years, they became subjects of the Dzungarians, the Bukharans, and the Kazaks. The Dzungarians forced them to flee in two directions. One group, the upper Karakalpaks, went up the Syr Darya River to the Ferghana Basin. The second, the lower Karakalpaks, moved closer to the Aral Sea.

The Karakalpak tribes are divided into clans called uru. The uru are further sub-divided into family groups called koshes. The members of a koshe are the descendants of a common male ancestor. They share land and are extremely loyal to each other.

The Karakalpak language is divided into two dialects: northeastern, which is very similar to Kazak, and southwestern, which is more similar to Uzbek. Their language had no written script until 1930.

The Karakalpaks ("Kara" meaning black, and "Kalpak" meaning hat) live primarily in northwestern Uzbekistan with smaller populations in Turkey, Iran and other central Asian countries. A small number are in Afghanistan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Agriculture dominates the Karakalpak economy. They raise livestock and grow grain whenever possible in Afghanistan s harsh environment.

The Karakalpaks are generally poor, and unemployment is high, but people do what they can to make a living, working on their vegetable plots and gardens, fishing, selling at markets, raising some livestock, doing casual or seasonal jobs, etc. There is no social security system, just a network of local makankenes committees who can provide temporary support for the really destitute.

Karakalpak societies are patrilineal, which means that the line of descent is traced through the males. Large families are the ideal, and the nuclear family is composed of as many as four generations in the same household. The Karakalpaks believe that families who share meals together will stay very close.

Karakalpaks adorn their homes and yurts (summer tents used by many of the rural people), with decorative carpets, wall hangings, macrame and wide-fringed belts. They are also recognized for their excellence in work with leather, wood and bone. Their music reflects an ancient oral tradition, and the native songs are diverse in type and theme.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Karakalpaks are Sunni Muslims of the Hanafite branch. "Sunni," is derived from the Islamic term, sunnah, which means "well-trodden path." It is believed that the correct path is that of the majority. Therefore, the tradition of the Sunni is political conformism.

The Karakalpak homeland is also one of the major centers for the Sufi sect of Islam. Some Sufi Muslims are known for practicing self-hypnosis which is induced by frenzied dancing and chanting.


What Are Their Needs?

Health issues are a concern among the Karakalpak. The incidence of certain diseases like tuberculosis, anemia, thyroid ailments, and cancers is high. With Afghanistan s limited infrastructure, the future looks bleak.

Very few Karakalpaks have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ; and among those who have heard, very few have responded.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Lord will send Christian medical teams to work among the Karakalpaks.
Pray for a clean water source for the Karakalpaks in Afghanistan
Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go to Afghanistan and share Christ with the Karakalpaks.
Pray that Karakalpaks will begin searching for the Truth.


Scripture Prayers for the Karakalpak in Afghanistan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Karakalpak
People Name in Country Karakalpak
Pronunciation kar-ah-KAHL-pahk
Alternate Names Black Hat; Kara-Kalpak; Karapapakh; Qaraqalpaqs; Qoraqalpogs; करकलपक
Population this Country 3,600
Population all Countries 935,000
Total Countries 8
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 12526
ROP3 Code 104638
Country Afghanistan
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 10  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country North of Jalalabad; south of Mazar-i Sharif   Source:  Ethnologue 2010
Country Afghanistan
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 10  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country North of Jalalabad; south of Mazar-i Sharif.   Source:  Ethnologue 2010
Primary Religion: Islam (Sunni)
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Karakalpak (3,600 speakers)
Language Code kaa   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Southwest Karakalpak
Dialect Code 11588   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Karakalpak (3,600 speakers)
Language Code kaa   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Southwest Karakalpak
Dialect Code 11588   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Karakalpak

Primary Language:  Karakalpak

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Karakalpak Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Karakalpak YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Muxaddes Kitap (Karakalpak) Institute for Bible Translation
Mobile App Android Bible app: Мухаддес Китап (Karakalpak) Institute for Bible Translation
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Karakalpak YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Muxaddes Kitap (Karakalpak Bible Latin) Institute for Bible Translation
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Мухаддес Китап (Karakalpak Bible Cyrillic) Institute for Bible Translation
Text / Printed Matter IBT, Russia - resources Institute for Bible Translation
Photo Source David and Sue Richardson 
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.