Tribal origins of the weavers

(Posted on 08/09/17)

The word tribe is derived from the Latin for three and was first applied by the Romans to a group of autonomous primitive clans as a method of defining their three major political divisions. It is now used to describe any independent or semi-independent social group especially those who live a nomadic, semi-nomadic or primitive hunter-gatherer existence - who occupy (or lay claim to) a specific territory and share a common ancestry, social structure, culture or set of customs. A tribe can also be defined as a group in which the people govern their own affairs as independent (usually localized) communities without reliance on central government organizations, and whose primary allegiance is to the tribe, rather than the state. The people share in the production of food and other basic necessities, are governed by their own laws and customs and learn the traditional skills needed to perpetuate the tribal way of life through direct participation in tribal activities, rather than formal schooling.

 In the context of tribal weaving, the term is loosely applied to any socially cohesive nomadic, semi-nomadic or village group who are either of the same ethnic origins or belong to a long-standing political confederation, and who conform to a common cultural weaving and design heritage that underpins the character and appearance of their rugs.