Adyghe people

Adyghe
Адыгэ

Total population
657,000 (est.)
Regions with significant populations
Turkey	316,000
Egypt	12,000
Russia Adygea Krasnodar Krai Kabardino-Balkaria	124,835 107,048 13,834 584
Jordan	122,000
Ukraine	600
Languages
Adyghe language, Russian language
Religion
Sunni Islam
Related ethnic groups
Abkhaz, Kabarday, Ubykh

Adyghe (/ˈædᵻɡeɪ/ or /ˌɑːdᵻˈɡeɪ/; Circassian language: Адыгэ Adyge) are Western Circassian (Russian: Адыгейцы Adygeytsy), peoples of the northern Caucasus, who speak the Adyghe language. In a wider sense, "Adyghe" can also refer to all of the Circassian peoples (whose native demonym is Адыгэ Adyge; Russian: Адыги Adygi).

Map of ethnolinguistic groups in the Caucasus region including Adyghes in the narrow sense of the term

Population

Within Russia, the numbers of Adyghe proper in 2010 were 124,835 including 107,048 in Adygea, 13,834 in Krasnodar Krai, 569 in Moscow, and (in 2002) 584 in Kabardino-Balkaria.

Tribes

Main article: Circassians: Circassian tribes

History

Main article: Circassians: History

The political history of the Adyghe proper since the Russian Revolution is complex. On 27 July 1922, a Circassian (Adygea) Autonomous Oblast was established in the Kuban-Black Sea Oblast, which would later become Krasnodar Krai. After several name changes, the Adyghe Autonomous Oblast was established on 3 August 1928. On 5 October 1990, the Adygea ASSR was proclaimed and separated from Krasnodar Krai. On 24 March 1992, it became the Republic of Adygea. A significant population of the Adyghe community now lives in the Black Sea region of Northern Turkey where their culture is preserved in villages in the area.