The Kunama speak a Nilo-Saharan language unrelated to the dominant languages in Eritrea and Ethiopia, because of this they are believed to have been the pre-historic inhabitants of this region. Although some Kunama still practice traditional beliefs, most are converts to either Christianity ( Roman Catholic and Protestant ) or Islam . The fertile plains of the Gash-Setit, also known as the Gash-Barka , region where the Kunama live are sometimes referred to as the “breadbasket of Eritrea.” Formerly nomadic, today they are farmers and pastoralists. Historically, the Kunama have been dominated by other ethnic groups and they are often forced from their traditional lands. The official policy of the government of Eritrea is that all land is state property and the government encourages large commercial farms, most of which are owned by members of the dominant Tigrinya group.
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