Turkmen (Turhk-men) Turkmen are
the fifth largest ethnic group in Afghanistan. They live in the northwest parts
of Afghanistan. They speak Turkmen, Russian, and Persian and tend to have light
skin, dark hair, and dark eyes. They are Islam Muslims. The most common
traditional Turkmen clothing is a sheepskin hat called a telpek that
men wear. They may also wear deep-red robes, with wide sleeves. Turkmen women
wear a kurte, which is a red robe. As a job, Turkmen work as
tradesmen or farmers. No characters in The Kite Runner are
said to be Turkmens.
Kyrgyz (Ker-gihz) The Kyrgyz can move up to 4 times a year. They are Sunni Muslims and have a population of 1500-2000 people. They speak Russian, English, and Kyrgyz. Traditional clothes were made out of fur, wool, and felt. Kyrgyz men also wear a white hat called an ak-kalpak. They have dark hair, dark eyes, and Asian-like facial features. They are mostly settled in the Wakhan region. No characters in The Kite Runner are said to be Kyrgyz’s.
Uzbek (ooz-bek) The population of the Uzbek people in
Afghanistan is about 2 million. They are the third largest ethnic group in
Afghanistan. They speak Uzbek and
are Islam. Most work is agricultural. Afghan culture has been
greatly affected by the Uzbeks. They can be found in northern Afghanistan.
Uzbek men wear a headpiece called a doppilar; other Uzbek men
wear a chopan, which is a long quilted robe. Uzbek women
wear western clothes along with tie-dyed dresses. Their physical appearance is
dark skin, dark hair, and dark eyes. No characters in The Kite
Runner are said to be Uzbeks.