The Nara belong to the Prenilotes, the Sudanic peoples that migrated eastward into southwestern Ethiopia , introducing agriculture to that part of Africa. In the past, the Nara were one of the Sudanic tribes that were raided for slaves by other peoples. The Nara language, also called Nara, belongs to the East Sudanic branch of the Nilo-Saharan language family. There is considerable dialect variation within their four main tribal sections and even from village to village. Tigre is used for intercommunication.
Ancient records exist referring to the Nara.
Both an inscription in the fourth century and an Arab traveler's log in the ninth century document the location of the Nara on the borders of the Alwa Kingdom of the Nile Valley. The Nara economy is based on agriculture, although many people weave, trade, hunt, or breed animals to supplement their incomes. Gathering of forest products provides vines for ropes and baskets, as well as wood for stools. Surplus crops and woven crafts are traded for other items, such as spices, iron and iron works, jewelry, and clothing. The Nara men practice polygyny , which means that they generally have multiple wives.