Association of Egyptians in the Republic of Macedonia

Last modified: 2002-10-19 by ivan sache
Keywords: association of egyptians in the republic of macedonia | sun: 8 rays (yellow) | anvil (black) | pyramides: 3 (yellow) |
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by Stoyan Antonov

• The Egyptians in the Balkans
• Description of the flag

See also:

• Macedonia
• Macedonia: Index of all related pages

The Egyptians in the Balkans

The Egyptians (Egyipkyani, Egyupci, Gyupci, Eyupci) are a small community living in Macedonia, Albania and Yugoslavia (Kosovo).
According to the 1994 Census of Republic of Macedonia, 3,169 have declared themselves Egyptians. They inhabit mainly the municipalities of Ohrid, Struga, Kichevo, Resen and Debar. The mother language of the Egyptians from Ohrid, Struga, Resen and Debar is Albanian, from Bitola,Turkish, and from Kichevo, Macedonian. The common religion is Islam. Traditionally the Egyptians are blacksmiths and farriers. Although to the others they are Gypsies (Roms), they do not accept any comparison with Gypsies. Usually they determine themselves as Albanians and small number only have self-consciousness of Egyptians.

The Association of Egyptians in the Republic of Macedonia is successor of the Association of Egyptians in Yugoslavia (formed 21.03.1990), and is based in Ohrid.

Stoyan Antonov, 7 September 2001

Description of the flag

Statute of the Association, adopted 11.03.1995

Article 4, Section 4, The flag is horizontally divided dark red (cherry), white and black, with an eight-pointed golden sun in the center, anvil in the upper right, and three pyramids in the lower right corner.

Source: Association of Egyptians in Macedonia: Collection of Works for Ethnogenesis of Egyptians in Macedonia. Skopje: Logos-T, 1996. [With image of the flag on the back cover of the book.]

Stoyan Antonov, 7 September 2001