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Chaouia (Morocco)

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Chaouia (Arabic: الشاوية‎‎) is a historical and ethno-geographical region of Morocco. It is bounded by the Oum Er-Rbia River to its southwest, the river Charrate to its northeast, the plain of Tadla to the southeast and the Atlantic Ocean to the northwest. The enclave covers a land area of nearly 14 000 km².

Contents

Map of Chaouia, Morocco

Nowadays, the Chaouia is part of the Casablanca-Settat administrative region.

Etymology

"Chaouia" means "Land of Chaouis" a Berber word meaning "sheep herders".

History

The Chaouia was part of the Barghawata territory until being unified to Morocco by Almoravids.

Following the defeat of the Barghawata in the 12th century, Arab tribes of Hilal and Sulaym descent were settled in the region, mixing with and Arabicizing the local Berbers. In the 13th and 14th centuries, Marinids moved some Zenata Berbers from Eastern Morocco to the Chaouia.

In the early 20th century, the Chaouia experienced a strong rebellion. In 1907, the French entered the region before extending their control over all Morocco.

During the French protectorate, the Chaouia was part of the "Autonomous subdivision of Casablanca". It was then divided into three civilians controls : Chaouia-North (Casablanca) Chaouia-Center (Berrechid) and Chaouia-South (Settat).

Tribal composition

The Chaouia tribal confederacy is traditionally consisting of 14 Arabic-speaking tribes:

  • Achach, of Sulaym Arab origin.
  • Beni Meskine, of Arab origin, having previously been part of the Tadla confederacy, joined the Chaouia confederacy in the 19th century.
  • Mdakra, partially of Arab origin (Ahlaf and Sabbah subtribes), and partially of Houara Berber origin (Mellila subtribe), having merged with a Barghawata original group.
  • Mediouna, of Zenata Berber origin.
  • Mzab, mainly of Zenata Berber origin.
  • Mzamza, mainly of Masmouda Berber origin, with a significant Jochem Arab affluent.
  • Oulad Ali, of Maqil Arab origin.
  • Oulad Bouziri, of Sanhaja Berber origin.
  • Oulad Hriz, mainly of Arab origin, with a few subtribes of Berber origin.
  • Oulad Saïd, of Zughba Arab origin, settled in the region during the Marinid era.
  • Oulad Sidi Bendaoud, mainly of Sanhaja Berber origin.
  • Oulad Ziane, of Zughba Arab origin.
  • Zenata, of Zenata Berber origin.
  • Ziaïda, mainly of Sanhaja Berber origin ; it assimilated the Beni Oura tribe by the end of the 19th century.

    • References

    Chaouia (Morocco) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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