Society & Culture

Society(1)

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The insular nature of the Ibāḍiyya has preserved the area, and Ibāḍī Σezzaba continue to dominate the social life of the area. A federal council, Majlis Ammi Said, unites representatives of the seven settlements as well as Ouargla, an ancient town located 200 km South-East of the Mzab valley. This council forms a federative body for religious, social and, increasingly, cultural matters. This religious federal council represents an “Islamic type of government” unique today.

Numerous details of Ibāḍiyya social life are ruled by this Islamic government, such as the weight of gold given as a dowry to a woman (maximum 60 grams) to the length of wedding celebrations (three days). The council makes decisions on details such as dowries, celebrations, dress. It used to impose punishments including exile, and a form of tabriyya "quarantine", where the offender may not interact with his fellow citizens. However, with economic, social and political integration to Algeria, these sanctions are less effective, and tend to have more impact on women.[dubious – discuss]

The local language of the Mzab is Mozabite (Tumẓabt), a branch of the Zenati group of Berber languages.

Ghardaya is also one of the four large military and administrative territories into which southern Algeria is divided and the only one of the five cities that has admitted Europeans, Jews, Arabs and other foreign elements.

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(1) wikipedia

Ghardaïa remains unchanged as major centre of Mozabite life(1)

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In Ghardaïa, no beggars or thieves exist. Mozabite society is very tightly knit with such activities from business to studies and marriage all done through the community. Mozabites cling to the unique clothing, language, architecture, and lifestyle.

Wherever they are, Mozabites always have one foot in Ghardaïa. Whatever their social situation, they never sever their roots and actively contribute to the life of the community.

Ghardaïa was founded by the Mozabites over 1,000 years ago to provide shelter for their community after the fall of the Rustamid state. The village, 500 kilometres south of Algiers, was founded in the middle of a rocky desert. Other Mozabite towns from the era existing to this day include El Atteuf, Melika, Bounoura, and Beni Izguène.

The Mozabites are an Amazigh group with their own traditions, beliefs, rites and lifestyle. They belong to the Ibadi sect of Islam, which has a different way, praying, worshipping God and designing mosques from the majority of Algerians, who are Malikis. Mozabites are recognised by their traditional costume of saroual loubia (baggy trousers) and chéchia (head gear).

Ghardaïa is built in the same style and architecture as the other four main Mozabite villages in the Mzab valley. The layout is necessitated by the rocky hills of the region. The unique layout has a mosque at the top of the hill, businesses at the foot of the hill, a large market place where auctions are held, and labyrinthine alleyways.

The houses are built in such a way as to allow sunlight into each home without disadvantaging neighbours. For them, "Inhabitants of the house where sun comes in will never see a doctor". Chimneys are arranged so that smoke will never be released towards the neighbours.

Life in Mozabite towns is governed by rules that are strictly observed by all. All inhabitants, including those with business outside of the town, contribute to the maintenance and care of the community.

Conservative Mozabites keep their women jealously hidden away. House terraces openings are designed to allow women to see the outside world without being seen.

The only agricultural land, situated on the Oued, is exploited for the production of staple crops. The palm groves are also used for summer residences, as many families head seek to flee the unbearable summer desert heat.

Mozabite life is governed by the whims of the Oued. The Mzab valley suffers from drought and the scarce rainwater is used with great care. Mozabites invented a unique hydraulic system. A system of underground tunnels is used to capture rainwater and transfer it to the oases. The distribution system allows all gardens to receive the same amount of water. In addition, the system allows the town to escape flooding of the Oued.

The one thousand-year-old system is perpetuated from one generation to the next and fiercely guarded by the ouamanas, trustees appointed by the community to manage the city's affairs.

The Azzabas assembly, the wise decision-makers, looks over the city’s affairs and settles any litigation.

Mozabite life is governed by rules passed down from father to son and scrupulously respected by all. From his birth, a Mozabite is looked after by the community for education, work, marriage, and the building of a home. Touiza (groups of volunteers) are organised for building houses.

Mozabites are not restricted to the five towns and surrounding valley. Most Algerian towns have hardware shops run by Mozabites. They have created an industrial area on the edge of Ghardaïa where the majority of hardware items are produced.

Uncompromising in negotiations, Mozabites are also present in force in the financial sector, particularly banking and wholesaling.

Ghardaïa, one of the most popular tourist sites in Algeria, attracts people for its sand dunes, oasis, unique architecture, and especially crafts. Mozabite rugs are well-known, along with other textile products such as burnous, traditional children's clothes, and souvenirs.

Other artisan products such as leather, copper and sand paintings have earned the Mzab valley a reputation as one of the most important craft areas in Algeria. A Ghardaïa market trader told Magharebia, "Our products are copied and sold as local products by our Tunisian neighbours to tourists, who snap them up."

Mozabites are peaceful people who do not like to reveal too much about themselves, especially to the press or tourists…

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magharebia

Enduring Culture of the Mozabites

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Situated about 500 kilometers south of the city of Algiers, in the northern Sahara, the M’zab Valley of Central Algeria is home to the Berber ethnic group known as the Mozabites. Living in five oasis towns in an area that is considered to be one of the hottest in the world, the Mozabites are a thriving community with strong family ties. Of the five oases that are home to the Mozabites, Ghardaia is the largest and serves as the capital city of Ghardaia Province. The other oases are Beni-Isguen, Melika, El-Ateuf and Bounoura.

Although most of the Mozabites read and write Arabic, they speak the Zenata dialect of the Berber language, for which there is no written form. The majority of the Mozabites are Ibadi Muslims. The Ibadi form of Islam evolved from the 7th century Islamic sect known as the Kharijites of Khawarij. Yet, having rejected some of the Kharijites beliefs, the Ibadis see their form of Islam to be quite different from the Kharijites. Ibadis also have a number of doctrinal differences with orthodox Sunni Islam, as well as Shia Islam.

Despite political changes in Algeria over the years, Mozabites continue to peacefully resist interference in the affairs of their community and strive to preserve their unique religious and cultural identity.

The Mozabites have a reputation of being honest and astute businessmen. They also continue to be productive farmers in the M’zab Valley, supplying the fresh produce needs for their own communities and for marketing elsewhere.

The beautiful M’zab Valley of Algeria was given UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1982, as a superb example of a traditional human habitat that has been adapted to the environment. This is confirmation that although values in the rest 

of the world are constantly changing, the Mozabites have retained their identity intact throughout the centuries.

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