Aghuls

The Aghuls are a Lezgic ethnic group indigenous to Dagestan, a republic within the Russian Federation. They primarily inhabit the southern mountainous regions of Dagestan, particularly the Agulsky and parts of the Akushinsky, Kurakhsky, and Dakhadayevsky districts. Their traditional territory is characterized by steep gorges and high mountain peaks.

The Aghul language, also known as Aghul or Aghul-Agulsky, belongs to the Lezgic branch of the Nakh-Dagestanian language family. It is closely related to other Lezgic languages such as Lezgian, Tabasaran, and Tsakhur. Due to historical reasons and the influence of surrounding larger ethnic groups, the Aghul language has several dialects, and the literary language is often based on the Agulkoy dialect. Many Aghuls are also fluent in Russian and Azerbaijani, which are widely spoken in Dagestan.

Historically, the Aghuls were agriculturalists and herders, cultivating crops in terraced fields and raising sheep and goats. Their traditional social structure was based on rural communities, often organized into clan-based villages. Islam, specifically Sunni Islam, is the predominant religion among the Aghuls.

In recent decades, like many other ethnic groups in the Caucasus, the Aghuls have experienced social and economic changes, including migration to urban centers and shifts in traditional occupations. Despite these changes, efforts are underway to preserve their language, culture, and unique traditions.