Which is a Bedouin?

The Bedouin or Bedu are a grouping of nomadic Arab people who have historically inhabited the desert regions in North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq and the Levant. The name can also describe a nomadic Arab person but generally pertains to groupings.

The English word Bedouin comes from the Arabic 'badawī', which means "desert dweller", and is traditionally contrasted with 'ḥāḍir', the term for sedentary people.

Bedouin territory stretches from the vast deserts of North Africa to the rocky sands of the Middle East. They are traditionally divided into tribes, or clans, and historically share a common culture of herding camels and goat.

While many Bedouins have abandoned their nomadic and tribal traditions for a modern urban lifestyle, many retain traditional Bedouin culture such as retaining the traditional clan structure, traditional music, poetry, dances, and many other cultural practices and concepts.

Urbanised Bedouins often organise cultural festivals in which they gather with other Bedouins to partake in and learn about various Bedouin traditions from poetry recitation and traditional sword dances to playing traditional instruments and even classes teaching traditional tent knitting.

Traditions like camel riding and camping in the deserts are still popular leisure activities for urbanised Bedouins who live in close proximity to deserts or other wilderness areas.