Afar language - 202
Interpreting & Translation LC Agency
Afar, also known as ‘Qafaraf,’ is an Afroasiatic language spoken primarily by the Afar people. This language is primarily found in the Horn of Africa, specifically in Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia. It holds official status in Djibouti, where it is one of the country’s two official languages, alongside French. Afar belongs to the Cushitic branch of the Afroasiatic language family and is characterized by its rich consonant system, complex verb conjugation, and extensive use of agglutination. Afar has a unique script known as ‘Qafar Feera,’ but it is not as widely used as the Latin script for writing the language. Afar plays a crucial role in the cultural identity of the Afar people, who are traditionally nomadic pastoralists and have a rich oral tradition of storytelling and poetry in their language.
In addition to its significance in the Horn of Africa, Afar-speaking communities can also be found in various urban centers around the world, particularly in Europe and North America, due to diaspora migration. While the number of Afar speakers is relatively small compared to some other African languages, efforts are being made to promote and preserve Afar language and culture, both in its homeland and among Afar communities abroad.
