NationMaster - Encyclopedia: M'Zab

The M'zab or Mzab, (Tumzabt Aghlan), مزاب, is a region of the northern Sahara, in the Ghardaïa wilaya "province" of Algeria, around 500km south of Algiers. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1981x900, 666 KB) Panoramic view of GhardaÃ¯a (Tagherdayt) with the dry bed of Wadi Mzab on the right side. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1981x900, 666 KB) Panoramic view of GhardaÃ¯a (Tagherdayt) with the dry bed of Wadi Mzab on the right side. ... is a Berber language spoken by the Mozabites, an Ibadi group inhabiting the seven cities of the Mzab in the northern Sahara. ... GhardaÃ¯a (Arabic: ÙˆÙ„Ø§ÙŠØ© ØºØ±Ø¯Ø§ÙŠØ© ) is a town and wilaya in eastern Algeria, the city being the capital of the wilaya. ... A wilaya is an administrative subdivision of several countries, including Algeria, Morocco, Sudan, and Oman. ... Nickname: al-Bahjah Location of Algiers within Algeria Algiers 944 A.D. Area - City 273 kmÂ² Population - City (2003) around 2. ...

Geology

The Mzab is a limestone plateau, centred around the Wad Mzab (Oued Mzab). Limey shale overlaid by limestone. ... Monte Roraima In geology and earth science, a plateau, also called a high plateau or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat open country. ... A wadi is a dry riverbed that contains water only during times of heavy rain. ...

History

The Mozabites ( Imzaben , or : At Mzab ) are a brunch of the big amazigh tribe : Iznaten ( Zenata in arabic ) , this tribe was living large areas of middle south algeria , the first grandfather of Mozabites who named ( Msab ) , lived in Mzab valley in the stone age , and we can see a lot of amazigh letters and symbols which returns to that age sculptured in diffirent places of Mzab valley . After the islamic opening ( conquest ) , the mozabites became muslims in Moatazilit doctrine , and after the fall of the Rostomid state , rostomid royal family with some of their citizens chose Mzab valley as their refuge , and because the ibadit doctrine of rostomids and the moatazilit doctrine of mozabites , the rostomids sent a preacher named : Abu Bakr An Nafusi , to call the mozabites for the ibadit doctrine , and after years of preaching , most of mozabites became ibadites , so the remnants of rostomids started immigrating to Mzab , and because of their few , they melted into the mozabit community .

France annexed the Mzab in 1882 as part of their North African colonies. Upon Algerian independence in 1962, the territory became part of Algeria. 1882 (MDCCCLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar. ... This article refers to a colony in politics and history. ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ...

Architecture

There are five qsur "walled villages" (ksour) located on rocky outcrops along the Wəd Mzab collectively known as the Pentapolis. They are Ghardaïa Tagherdayt, the principal settlement today; Beni Isguen At Isjen; Melika At Mlishet; Bounoura At Bunur; and El-Ateuf Tajnint. Adding the more recent settlements of Berrian and Guerrara, the Mzab Heptapolis is completed. Ruins of the ksar at Timimoun, Algeria. ... GhardaÃ¯a (Arabic: ÙˆÙ„Ø§ÙŠØ© ØºØ±Ø¯Ø§ÙŠØ© ) is a town and wilaya in eastern Algeria, the city being the capital of the wilaya. ...

The combination of the functional purism of the Ibāḍī faith with the oasian way of life led to a strict organisation of land and space. Each citadel has a fortress-like mosque, whose minaret served as a watchtower. Houses of standard size and type were constructed in concentric circles around the mosque. The architecture of the M'zab settlements was designed for egalitarian communal living, with respect for family privacy. The Masjid al-Haram in Mecca as it exists today A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ... Minarets (Arabic manara Ù…Ù†Ø§Ø±Ø©, but more usually Ù…Ø¦Ø°Ù†Ø©) are distinctive architectural features of Islamic mosques. ...

In the summer, the Mzabites migrated to 'summer citadels' centred around palm grove oases. This is one of the major oasis groups of the Sahara Desert, and is bounded by arid country known as chebka, crossed by dry river beds.

The Mzab Valley was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, as an intact example of traditional human habitat perfectly adapted to the environment. UNESCO logo UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Society

The insular nature of the Ibāḍiyya has preserved the area, and Ibāḍī ˤAzzaba 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 and social matters. This religious federal council represents an “Islamic government” unique today. Ouargla is a city and wilaya in southern Algeria. ...

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)} A dowry (also known as trousseau) is a gift of money or valuables given by the brides family to the grooms at the time of their marriage. ... EXILE is a 6-member Japanese pop music band. ... Quarantine, a medical term (from Italian: quaranta giorni, forty days) is the act of keeping people or animals separated for a period of time before, for instance, allowing them to enter another country. ...

The local language of the Mzab is Tumzabt, a branch of the Zenati group of Berber languages. is a Berber language spoken by the Mozabites, an Ibadi group inhabiting the seven cities of the Mzab in the northern Sahara. ... The Zenati languages include 12 (SIL estimate) languages and dialects spoken in Africa and western Asia; this language group is a part of the Northern Berber language family. ... The Berber languages (or Tamazight) are a group of closely related languages mainly spoken in Morocco and Algeria. ...

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Geology

History

Architecture

Society

References

See also

Contents

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History

Architecture

Society

References

See also

Geology