The Bagvalal (also called Bagulal, Kwantl Hekwa, Bagolal, Kwanadi, Bagulaltsy, Kvanadin, and Kvanadintsy) are an Avar–Andi–Dido people of Dagestan, speaking the Bagvalal language. Since the 1930s they have been largely classed as and assimilated by the Avars. However there were still some people reported separately in the 2002 census. The tradition and culture of the Bagvalal people is very similar to that of the Avar people, due to their common history within the Avar Khanate.[citation needed]

Bagvalal
Total population
c. 5,000
Regions with significant populations
 Russia c. 5000 (2002 estimate)[1]
Languages
Bagvalal language
Religion
Islam (Sunni Islam)
Related ethnic groups
Northeast Caucasian peoples

Geography

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The Bagvalal live in mountain villages in the Tsumadinsky District of Dagestan. The names of the Bagvalal villages are: Kvanada, Gimerso, Tlisi, Tlibisho, Khushtada, and Tlondada.

Demographics

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In 1926 there were 3,054 Bagvalals.

Religion

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The Bagvalals are Sunni Muslims.[2] They adopted the religion by the 16th century due to the influence of Sufi missionaries.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "В.Тишков, Э.Кисриев. Множественные идентичности между теорией и политикой (пример Дагестан)" (PDF) (in Russian). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-07-10. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
  2. ^ Akiner, Shirin (1986). Islamic Peoples Of The Soviet Union. Routledge. p. 248. ISBN 978-1-136-14274-1.
  3. ^ Yemelianova, Galina M.; Broers, Laurence (2020). "The Muslim Caucasus: the role of 'adats and shari'ah". Routledge Handbook of the Caucasus. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-351-05560-4.

Sources

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  • Wixman, Ronald. The Peoples of the USSR: An Ethnographic Handbook. (Armonk, New York: M. E. Sharpe, Inc., 1984) p. 19.