Udi people

The Udis (the self-name Udi, Uti) – are one of the most ancient native peoples of the Caucasus. The Udi live mostly in Azerbaijan - the village of Nij of the region of Kabala, Oguz (former Vartashen) and Baku. There are also populations in Russia in the Rostov region (Shahty, Taganrog, Rostov-na-Donu, Azov, Aleksandrovka), in the Krasnodar territory (Krasnodar, areas of Dinskoy, Leningrad, Kushchevsky), in the Stavropol Territory (Minvody, Pyatigorsk), in the Volgograd region (Volgograd, Dubovy Ovrag), and also in Sverdlovsk, Ivanovo, Kaluga areas, Moscow, S.Peterburg,Astrakhan. Georgia, Zinobiani and the outskirts of Tbilisi, Poti, Rustavi. Kazahkstan( city Aktau), and also in the Ukraine (Kharkiv oblast area).

The Udi language belongs to the Nakho-Dagestanian group of the Caucasian languages. There are two primarly dialects named Nij and Vartashen. Azeri, Russian, Georgian languages are also spoken. Udis commonly speak two languages, and frequently even three languages.

The Udis are considered to be the descendants of the people of Caucasian Albania. According to the classical authors, the Udis inhabited the area of the eastern Caucasus along the coast of the Caspian Sea, and a territory extending to the Kura River in the north, as well as the ancient province of Utik, which many historians believe was named after them. The Caucasian Albanians were a Christian people whose alphabet is derived from Armenian and Georgian. Today, most Udis belong to the Orthodox Church. Centuries of life in the sphere of Perso-Islamic culture made a relevant impact on the Udi culture and mentality. This trace is noticeable in Udi folk traditions and the material culture.

Udi Celebrities

 * George Kechaari Udi writer, educator, public figure and scientist.
 * Voroshil Gukasyan was a Soviet linguist, caucasologist and specialist in Udi language and Caucasian Albanian inscriptions.

Links

 * Udis.General Information
 * UDINS.RU /СOM- Site Udi people: forun, photo gallery (photo from Nidzha, Vartashena and Zinobiani).
 * Udis and Udi language.

Udis Udilər Udi Udinen fa:اودیان Oudis Udini Udi (popolazione) Udai (tauta) Удины Udit Удіни