The M'zab, also called Mzab (in Arabic, مزاب), is a region in the northern Sahara Desert in Ghardaïa Province, Algeria. It is about 600 kilometers (370 miles) south of Algiers and had approximately 360,000 people living there in 2005.

History

The Mozabites ("Ath Mzab") are a group within a larger Berber tribe called the Iznaten, who lived in large parts of southern Algeria. Many ancient symbols from the Tifinagh writing system are carved around the Mzab Valley.

After the Muslim takeover of the Maghreb region, the Mozabites became followers of a specific Muslim religious group known as the Mu'tazili school. Christians who lived in the area remained there until the 11th century. Following the collapse of the Rustamid kingdom, the royal family and some of their people moved to the Mzab Valley for safety. The Rustamids were Ibadi Muslims and sent a preacher named Abu Bakr an-Nafusi, who helped convert the local Mozabites to their beliefs.

France took control of Algeria in 1830. The M'zab region was officially added to French territory in 1882 and returned to Algerian leadership in 1962 after Algeria gained independence. Ghardaia (Taghardait) is the main city and capital of the M'zab, and El Atteuf is the oldest settlement in the area. Beni Isguen is a highly respected Berber Islamic town that restricts entry to non-M'zabites in certain parts and does not allow outsiders to stay overnight. Melika has large cemeteries and a historic mosque in the center of the ksar. Bounoura is a historic ksar that includes the Azwil palm grove. El Guerrara and Berriane became part of the M'zab region in the 17th century.

Architecture

There are five walled villages, called ksour, located on rocky hills in the Wəd Mzab region. These villages are part of a group known as the Pentapolis and were built between the years 1012 and 1350. The villages are named Ghardaïa, the largest and most important today; Beni Isguen, Melika, Bounoura, and El Atteuf, which is the oldest of the five. When including two more recently built villages, Bérianne and El Guerrara, the area is called the Mzab Heptapolis.

The beliefs of the Ibāḍī faith and the need to live near an oasis created a strict system for using land and space. Each village has a large mosque that looks like a fortress, with a tall tower used for watching over the area. Homes of the same size and style were built in circles around the mosque. The buildings in the M'zab settlements were designed to support equal living for all people while keeping family privacy. The style of these buildings is similar to those found in Libya and Phoenicia, specifically the Berber style, and has been copied in other parts of the Sahara. During the hot summer months, the people of M'zab moved to temporary homes near palm groves, which are part of a large group of oases in the Sahara Desert. These oases are surrounded by dry, arid land called chebka, where dry riverbeds are found.

In 1982, the M'zab Valley was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List because it is a complete example of a traditional human settlement that works well with its environment.

Society

The separate nature of the Ibāḍiyya has helped keep the area unchanged, and Ibāḍī Sezzaba continue to lead social life in the region. A federal council called Majlis Ammi Said brings together representatives from seven settlements and Ouargla, an old town located 200 km southeast of the Mzab valley. This council creates a group that handles religious, social, and cultural matters. The religious federal council represents a type of Islamic government that is unique today.

Many aspects of Ibāḍiyya social life are guided by this Islamic government, such as the maximum weight of gold given as a dowry to a woman (60 grams) and the length of wedding celebrations (three days). The council decides rules about dowries, celebrations, and clothing. It once enforced punishments like exile and a form of tabriyya, which is a type of quarantine where the person could not interact with others. However, as the region becomes more connected economically, socially, and politically with Algeria, these punishments are less effective and often affect women more.

The local language of the Mozabites is Mozabite (Tumẓabt), which is part of the Zenati group, a type of Berber language.

Ghardaya is also one of the four large areas in southern Algeria that are divided for military and government purposes.