M'zabite
 |
|
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Algeria | 150,000 Mozabite speakers (2007) |
| Languages | |
| Mozabite (Tumẓabt), Maghrebi Arabic | |
| Religion | |
| Islam (Ibadi) | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Berbers | |
The Mozabite people are a Berber ethnic group inhabiting the M'zab natural region in the northern Sahara in Algeria. They speak Mozabite (Tumẓabt), one of the Zenati languages in the Berber branch of the Afroasiatic family. Many also speak Maghrebi Arabic as a second language. Mozabites are primarily Ibadi Muslims, but have small populations of Jews as well.
Mozabites live in five oases; namely, Ghardaïa, Beni Isguen, El Atteuf, Melika and Bounoura, as well as two other isolated oases farther north: Berriane and Guerrara.
According to tradition the Ibadis, after their overthrow at Tiaret by the Fatimids, they took refuge during the 10th century in the country to the south-west of Ouargla. They founded an independent state there.
In 1012, owing to further persecutions, they fled to their present location, where they long remained invulnerable.
After the capture of Laghouat by France, the Mozabites concluded a convention with them in 1853, whereby they accepted to pay an annual contribution of 1,800 francs in return for their independence. In November 1882, the M'zab country was definitely annexed to French Algeria.
Ghardaïa (population of 93,423) is the capital of the confederacy, followed in importance by Beni Isguen (4,916), the chief commercial centre.
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Wikipedia