Afar is the name these people of the Northeast use themselves. In the Amhara language they are called Adal; Arabs call them Danakil (sing. Dankali); Oromo refer to them as Adali and neighboring Somali tribes use the term Odali. In Tigrayan they are the Teltal. Afar are a more or less homogenous ethnic group. They are muslims and have always 'enjoyed' a wild reputation, through stories by Arab and European travellers and traders. There are many Afar clans, but all consider themselves Afars. All clans speak the Afar language known as Afar-Af, except for the Irob clan of the North, who speak Saho. Other clans are the Ankala, the Adhali and the Able (near Rarahita), the Uluhto, Ayrolasso, and Asabbakari, the Modhito (near Awsa), the Dammohoyta, and the Seka noblemen.
Afar live in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti. Djibouti was formerly named Afar and Issaland. Their land is the triangle north of Awash (Awash being the southern angle). They are shephards, who also trade skins, butter and livestock with surrounding nations. Their cattle consist of camels, cows, sheep and goats. The values are fixed: 1 camel = 2 cows, 1 cow = 20 goats. 1 goat = 1 sheep. Alternative lifestyles have developed: there are Afar fishermen and farmers, and quite a lot of Afar in the saltmines
There is one remarkable division in the Afar nation: each Afar person
is considered to be a red Afar or a white Afar. The reds are called the
Asahyammara, the whites are the Adohyammara. The colors are not racial
markings but probably related to a nobility vs vulgus division. Another
theoty mentions Afar living on white sand (coast) and on red sand (desert),
or traditions to wear white or red clothing.