The Agaw are a people of Ethiopia. They are mostly bilingual, speaking both Agaw languages (a subgroup of the Cushitic languages), as well as Amharic or Tigre. The Central Cushitic, or Agaw, languages are spoken by small groups in Ethiopia and Eritrea; they include Bilin, and Kaïliña. ... The Cushitic languages are a subgroup of the Afro-Asiatic languages, named after the Biblical figure Cush by analogy with Semitic. ... Amharic (አማርኛ) is a Semitic language spoken in Northern Central Ethiopia, where it is the official language. ... Tigre may mean: Tiger in Spanish language. ...

The Agaw are first mentioned in an inscription of Kaleb, king of Axum, and referred to in the writings of Cosmas Indicopleustes. Based on this evidence, a number of experts embrace a theory first stated by Edward Ullendorff and Carlo Conti-Rossini that they are the original inhabitants of the Ethiopian highlands, and were either forced out of their original settlements or assimilated by Tigrinya and Amharic peoples.¹ They currently exist in a number of scattered enclaves, which include the Bilen near Keren in Eritrea; the Qemant and the Qwara, who live around Gondar in Bagemder province of the Amhara region, west of the Tekezé River and north of Lake Tana; a number of Agaw live south of Lake Tana, around Dangila in the Agaumdir region of Gojjam province; and another group live around Sokota in the former province of Lasta, now part of the Amhara province, along its border with the Tigray region. Axum, properly Aksum, is a city in Tigray, northern Ethiopia, located at 14°07. ... Cosmas Indicopleustes (India-voyager) of Alexandria was a Greek sailor in the early 6th century who travelled to Ethiopia, India and Sri Lanka. ... The Ethiopian Highlands are a rugged mass of mountains in Ethiopia and Eritrea in northeastern Africa. ... Tigrigna (or ትግሪኛ) is a Semitic language spoken in Eritrea, where it is the official language, and in parts of Ethiopia and Israel. ... Amhara (አማራ) is an ethnicity of people in the central highlands of Ethiopia, numbering about 19 million, making up around 26% of the countrys population (estimates differ). ... The Bilen, or Blin, are an African ethnic group of south-central Eritrea, in and around the Keren area, and south toward Asmara, the capital city. ... Keren is the third largest city in Eritrea, lying north west of Asmara, with a population of around 75,000 people. ... The Qemant are a small, ethnic group in Ethiopia, which, despite their close historical and ethnic relationship, should not be confused with the Beta Israel. ... ... Gondar (less commonly spelled Gonder) was the old imperial capital of Ethiopia and the historic Begemder province, now part of the Amhara region. ... Amhara (አማራ) may refer to: Amhara, an ethnic group of Ethiopia. ... The Tekezé River is a major river of Ethiopia, and forms a section the westernmost border of Ethiopia and Eritrea for part of its course. ... Lake Tana from space, April 1991 Lake Tana (also spelled Tana; older spellings include Tsana and Dambea) is the source of the Blue Nile and is the largest lake in Ethiopia. ... Gojjam, or Gojam, was a province in the north-western part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Debra Markos. ... Map of Ethiopia highlighting the Tigray region. ...

Also included in this ethnic grouping are the Beta Israel, who formerly lived in the northern Amhara region with the Qemant and Qwara, but in the late 1990s nearly all of this group had emigrated to Israel. The Beta Israel (or House of Israel), known by outsiders by the term Falasha (exiles or strangers), a term that they consider to be pejorative, are Jews of Ethiopian origin. ... The Qemant are a small, ethnic group in Ethiopia, which, despite their close historical and ethnic relationship, should not be confused with the Beta Israel. ... ... The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive. ...

Northern Agaw are known as Bilen, cap. Keren 100k speakers The Bilen, or Blin, are an African ethnic group of south-central Eritrea, in and around the Keren area, and south toward Asmara, the capital city. ... Keren is the third largest city in Eritrea, lying north west of Asmara, with a population of around 75,000 people. ...

Western Agaw are known as Qemant, cap. Gondar 400k speakers The Qemant are a small, ethnic group in Ethiopia, which, despite their close historical and ethnic relationship, should not be confused with the Beta Israel. ... Gondar (less commonly spelled Gonder) was the old imperial capital of Ethiopia and the historic Begemder province, now part of the Amhara region. ...

Eastern Agaw are known as Xamir, cap. Sokota 100k speakers

Southern Agaw are known as Awngi, cap.Dangila 500k speakers

These languages are also known as Abyssinian Cushitic or Abyssinian, in contrast to Ethiopian Semitic. Total Agaw (=Abyssinian) speakers (1996): 1,100,000. This article needs cleanup. ... The Cushitic languages are a subgroup of the Afro-Asiatic languages phylum, named after the Biblical figure Cush by analogy with Semitic. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Semitic is a linguistic term referring to a subdivision of largely Middle Eastern Afro-Asiatic languages, the Semitic languages, as well as their speakers corresponding cultures, and ethnicities. ... This article needs cleanup. ...

Notes

1. Taddesse Tamrat, Church and State in Ethiopia (1270 - 1527) (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972), p. 26.

See also

• Zagwe dynasty