Ando-Tsezian Peoples

*Population estimates for 1994

The Ando-Tsezian and Ando-Digoyan people are the native population of Daghestan living mostly in the western regions. They are very close to the Avars. The Andyi group includes: the Andyis, the Botlikhs, the Tindals, the Karatins, the Godoberints, the Bagulals, the Gamalals, and the Akhvakhs. The Tsezian subgroup includes the Didois and the Khvarshin (the Bezhtins, the Gundzhebs and the Ginukhs). The Ando-Tsezian are representatives of the Balcan-Caucasian race of the great European family. The languages are divided into patois; Avar and Russian are widely spread as well.

Traditional dwellings of the Ando-Tsezian and Ando-Digoyan are made of stones. These people lived mostly in the mountainous regions of Western Daghestan where agriculture and cattle breeding were the main occupation. Those who moved into the lowlands began the cultivation of grapes. The traditional crafts of these people were the production of specific boots called burky. These were knitted footwear made from thin woolen fabric. The clothing did not differ from that of other Daghestan peoples; only the women’s head dressing was specific.

At present, the consolidation with the Avars takes place while so many differences in the mode of life and culture have disappeared. However, these people have preserved their folklore, songs, and folk tales.

Islam-Sunnite is the religious belief of the people.