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The Rwala are nomadic pastoralists who live mainly in southeastern Jordan and northern Saudi Arabia.  They speak Arabic and refer to themselves as &#x22;baduw,&#x22; that is, people of the &#x22;desert.&#x22;  All Rwala are believed to be descended from a common but unknown Arab ancestor and “share blood,” whether or not they all raise livestock in desert pastures.  Their access to grazing land has been altered by the creation of nation-states in the 20th century and the establishment national boundaries across their customary migration routes. Since 1970 the Rwala have made more money from commerce and wage labor than from pastoralism.

The Rwala Bedouin today

The manners and customs of the Rwala Bedouins

Black tents of Arabia

Culture summary

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Author	Title	Publication Date
Lancaster, William	The Rwala Bedouin today	1981
Musil, Alois	The manners and customs of the Rwala Bedouins	1928
Raswan, Carl Reinhard	Black tents of Arabia	1947
Young, William	Culture summary	2009

Rwala Bedouin

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