Béchar Province
Encyclopedia
Béchar is a province (wilaya) in Algeria
, named after its capital Béchar
.
The greater part of the province is uninhabitable sand dune fields (erg
s), in particular the Great Western Erg and the Erg Er Raoui, or dry plains (hamada
s) suitable for grazing but with insufficient surface water to support agriculture. Most settlement is therefore concentrated in oases along the Saoura
valley and its tributaries. An aquifer under the Erg Er Raoui supports the main outlier, Tabelbala
. Natural resources include coal
deposits in the north around Bechar and Kenadsa and copper
in the south in Djebel Ben Tagine.
The oases' traditional economic basis was agriculture, notably growing date palm
s and grain
. The inhabitants of several oases, notably Igli
, Ouakda, Lahmar and Boukais
, speak Berber
languages, while the rest speak Arabic; in one oasis, Tabelbala
, a Songhay language
, Korandje
, continues to be spoken. Many of the oases had significant populations of haratin
or shurfa
. There are notable zaouia
s, traditional religious schools, at Kenadsa
and Kerzaz
. The region also supported a substantial mainly Arab pastoralist
nomadic population, notably the Doui-Menia
, Ouled Djerir
, Ghenanma
, Chaamba
, and Reguibat; some of these still remain nomadic, but most have settled in the oases.
Trans-Saharan trade
routes passing through this region played an important role in its economy in pre-modern times, but have at present been superseded. A small tourism industry exists, focused particularly on Taghit
. Bechar, whose growth from a minor village began only in the early 20th century, has become the principal urban and administrative centre.
The region has a distinctive musical scene influenced by sub-Saharan African rhythms, whose best known representative is the Gnawi
singer Hasna El Becharia. Another locally well-known group is El Sed, from Kenadsa
.
Disagreements between Morocco and Algeria over their mutual border in this province and Tindouf
led to conflict after Algeria's independence, the so-called Sand War
.
and 21 municipalities.
The districts are:
The municipalities are:
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, named after its capital Béchar
Béchar
Béchar , formerly known as Colomb-Béchar, is a capital city of Béchar Province, Algeria. The area is controlled by Algeria, though claims have also been made on it by Morocco. In 1998 the city had a population of 134,954....
.
The greater part of the province is uninhabitable sand dune fields (erg
Erg
An erg is the unit of energy and mechanical work in the centimetre-gram-second system of units, symbol "erg". Its name is derived from the Greek ergon, meaning "work"....
s), in particular the Great Western Erg and the Erg Er Raoui, or dry plains (hamada
Hamada
A hamada is a type of desert landscape consisting of largely barren, hard, rocky plateaus, with very little sand. A hamada may sometimes also be called a reg , though this more properly refers to a stony plain rather than a highland.Hamadas exist in contrast to ergs, which are large areas of...
s) suitable for grazing but with insufficient surface water to support agriculture. Most settlement is therefore concentrated in oases along the Saoura
Saoura
The Saoura is a valley in southwestern Algeria. From 1962 to 1974 it was the name of a wilaya ....
valley and its tributaries. An aquifer under the Erg Er Raoui supports the main outlier, Tabelbala
Tabelbala
Tabelbala is an oasis between Béchar and Tindouf in southwestern Algeria, notable for being the only town in Algeria to speak a language neither Arabic nor Berber, Korandje.Tabelbala is divided into four settlements...
. Natural resources include coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
deposits in the north around Bechar and Kenadsa and copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
in the south in Djebel Ben Tagine.
The oases' traditional economic basis was agriculture, notably growing date palm
Date Palm
The date palm is a palm in the genus Phoenix, cultivated for its edible sweet fruit. Although its place of origin is unknown because of long cultivation, it probably originated from lands around the Persian Gulf. It is a medium-sized plant, 15–25 m tall, growing singly or forming a clump with...
s and grain
GRAIN
GRAIN is a small international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems. Our support takes the form of independent research and analysis, networking at local, regional and...
. The inhabitants of several oases, notably Igli
Igli
Igli is a town in western Algeria 152 km south of Bechar. Its population was 6680 as of May 2008. Its inhabitants, along with those of the small neighbouring town of Mazzer, speak a Zenati Berber language termed tabəldit, closely related to that of other southwestern Algerian ksars and of Figuig....
, Ouakda, Lahmar and Boukais
Boukaïs
Boukais is a town in western Algeria, in Béchar Province....
, speak Berber
South Oran Berber
South Oran and Figuig Berber is a Zenati Berber dialect group spoken in a number of oases of southwestern Algeria, as well as nearby ones in Morocco...
languages, while the rest speak Arabic; in one oasis, Tabelbala
Tabelbala
Tabelbala is an oasis between Béchar and Tindouf in southwestern Algeria, notable for being the only town in Algeria to speak a language neither Arabic nor Berber, Korandje.Tabelbala is divided into four settlements...
, a Songhay language
Songhay languages
The Songhay, Songhai, or Songai languages are a group of closely related languages/dialects centered on the middle stretches of the Niger River in the west African states of Mali, Niger, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria. They have been widely used as a lingua franca in that region ever since the...
, Korandje
Korandje language
Korandje is by far the most northerly of the Songhay languages. It is spoken around the oasis of Tabelbala by about 3000 people; its name literally means "village's language"...
, continues to be spoken. Many of the oases had significant populations of haratin
Haratin
Haratin are oasis-dwellers in the Sahara, especially in southern Morocco and Mauritania, who make up a socially and ethnically distinct group of largely sedentary dark colored workers speaking either Berber or Arabic...
or shurfa
Sharif
Sharīf or Chérif is a traditional Arab tribal title given to those who serve as the protector of the tribe and all tribal assets, such as property, wells, and land. In origin, the word is an adjective meaning "noble", "highborn". The feminine singular is sharifa...
. There are notable zaouia
Zaouia
A zaouia or zawiya is an Islamic religious school or monastery. The term is Maghrebi and West African, roughly corresponding to the Eastern term madrassa...
s, traditional religious schools, at Kenadsa
Kenadsa
Kenadsa is a town in the Sahara Desert of western Algeria 10 kilometres south-west of Béchar in Béchar Province. It is the capital of Kénadsa District. Near Kenadsa, there is a large longwave broadcasting station....
and Kerzaz
Kerzaz
Kerzaz is a town in western Algeria....
. The region also supported a substantial mainly Arab pastoralist
Pastoralism
Pastoralism or pastoral farming is the branch of agriculture concerned with the raising of livestock. It is animal husbandry: the care, tending and use of animals such as camels, goats, cattle, yaks, llamas, and sheep. It may have a mobile aspect, moving the herds in search of fresh pasture and...
nomadic population, notably the Doui-Menia
Doui-Menia
The Doui-Menia or Dawi-Mani` are a Banu Hilal Arab tribe of the Moroccan-Algerian border between Taghit and the Tafilalt region, centered on Abadla in the Guir valley. They became prominent in the area with their expansion eastwards around the 17th century, notably at the expense of the Ghenanma...
, Ouled Djerir
Ouled Djerir
The Ouled Djerir are a small Arab tribe of the Bechar area in southwestern Algeria. Their close alliance with the neighbouring Doui-Menia has led them to be counted as the "sixth fifth" of that tribe. Their economy was traditionally based on camel-herding along with a little agriculture....
, Ghenanma
Ghenanma
The Ghenanma are an Arab tribe of the Saoura region in southwestern Algeria. Their principal settlements stretch between Béni Abbès and Talmine, including El Ouata. A local chronicle mentions them as raiding a caravan in this region in 1599, and by about 1660 their power had grown to the point...
, Chaamba
Chaamba
The Chaamba are a large Sulaymi Arab tribe of the northern Sahara in Algeria. They live around Métlili, El Golea, Ouargla, El Oued, and the Great Western Erg, including Timimoun and Béni Abbès While traditionally they were nomads specialised in raising camels, most have settled in the oases over...
, and Reguibat; some of these still remain nomadic, but most have settled in the oases.
Trans-Saharan trade
Trans-Saharan trade
Trans-Saharan trade requires travel across the Sahara to reach sub-Saharan Africa. While existing from prehistoric times, the peak of trade extended from the 8th century until the late 16th century.- Increasing desertification and economic incentive :...
routes passing through this region played an important role in its economy in pre-modern times, but have at present been superseded. A small tourism industry exists, focused particularly on Taghit
Taghit
Taghit is a town in western Algeria....
. Bechar, whose growth from a minor village began only in the early 20th century, has become the principal urban and administrative centre.
The region has a distinctive musical scene influenced by sub-Saharan African rhythms, whose best known representative is the Gnawi
Gnawa music
Gnawa music is a mixture of sub-Saharan African, Berber, and Sufi religious songs and rhythms. It combines music and acrobatic dancing. The music is both a prayer and a celebration of life...
singer Hasna El Becharia. Another locally well-known group is El Sed, from Kenadsa
Kenadsa
Kenadsa is a town in the Sahara Desert of western Algeria 10 kilometres south-west of Béchar in Béchar Province. It is the capital of Kénadsa District. Near Kenadsa, there is a large longwave broadcasting station....
.
Disagreements between Morocco and Algeria over their mutual border in this province and Tindouf
Tindouf
Tindouf is the main town in Tindouf Province, Algeria, close to the Mauritanian and Moroccan borders. The region is considered of strategic significance, and it houses Algerian military bases. Since 1975, it also contains several Sahrawi refugee camps operated by the Polisario Front a guerrilla...
led to conflict after Algeria's independence, the so-called Sand War
Sand War
The Sand War or Sands War occurred along the Algerian-Moroccan border in October 1963, and was a Moroccan attempt to claim the Tindouf and the Béchar areas that France had annexed to French Algeria a few decades earlier.- Background :...
.
Administrative divisions
The province is made up of 12 districtsDistricts of Algeria
The provinces of Algeria are divided into 553 districts . The capital of a district is called a district seat...
and 21 municipalities.
The districts are:
- AbadlaAbadla DistrictAbadla is a district in Béchar Province, Algeria. It was named after its capital, Abadla.-Municipalities:The district is further divided into 3 municipalities:*Abadla*Méchraâ Houari Boumédienne*Erg Ferradj...
- Béchar
- Béni AbbèsBéni Abbès DistrictBéni Abbès is a district in Béchar Province, Algeria. It was named after its capital, Béni Abbès.-Municipalities:The district is further divided into 2 municipalities:*Béni Abbès*Tamtert...
- Béni Ounif
- El Ouata
- Igli
- KénadsaKénadsa DistrictKénadsa is a district in Béchar Province, Algeria. It was named after its capital, Kénadsa.-Municipalities:The district is further divided into 2 municipalities:*Kénadsa*Méridja...
- KerzazKerzaz DistrictKerzaz is a district in Béchar Province, Algeria. It was named after its capital, Kerzaz.-Municipalities:The district is further divided into 3 municipalities:*Kerzaz*Timoudi*Béni Ikhlef...
- LahmarLahmar DistrictLahmar is a district in Béchar Province, Algeria. It was named after its capital, Lahmar.-Municipalities:The district is further divided into 3 municipalities, all of them being among the 20 least populous municipalities in Algeria:*Lahmar*Mogheul...
- Ouled KhodeïrOuled Khodeïr DistrictOuled Khodeïr is a district in Béchar Province, Algeria. It was named after its capital, Ouled Khodeïr.-Municipalities:The district is further divided into 2 municipalities:*Ouled Khodeïr*Ksabi...
- Tabelbala
- Taghit
The municipalities are:
- AbadlaAbadlaAbadla is a larger town in the Sahara Desert of western Algeria near the border with Morocco. It is located in Béchar Province, where it is the capital of Abadla District. It is a major centre of the Arab Doui-Menia tribe...
- BécharBécharBéchar , formerly known as Colomb-Béchar, is a capital city of Béchar Province, Algeria. The area is controlled by Algeria, though claims have also been made on it by Morocco. In 1998 the city had a population of 134,954....
- Beni AbbesBéni AbbèsBéni Abbès also known as the Pearl of the Saoura also as the White Oasis, is a city located in southwest Algeria in Béchar Province, 250 km far from the capital of the Province and 1 200 km from Algiers....
- Beni IkhlefBéni IkhlefBeni Ikhlef is a town in northern Algeria....
- Beni Ounif
- BoukaisBoukaïsBoukais is a town in western Algeria, in Béchar Province....
- El OuataEl OuataEl Ouata is a town in western Algeria....
- Erg FerradjErg FerradjErg Ferradj is a town in western Algeria....
- IgliIgliIgli is a town in western Algeria 152 km south of Bechar. Its population was 6680 as of May 2008. Its inhabitants, along with those of the small neighbouring town of Mazzer, speak a Zenati Berber language termed tabəldit, closely related to that of other southwestern Algerian ksars and of Figuig....
- KenadsaKenadsaKenadsa is a town in the Sahara Desert of western Algeria 10 kilometres south-west of Béchar in Béchar Province. It is the capital of Kénadsa District. Near Kenadsa, there is a large longwave broadcasting station....
- KerzazKerzazKerzaz is a town in western Algeria....
- Ksabi
- Lahmar
- Mechraa Houari Boumedienne
- MeridjaMéridja-Sports:The town is home to Association football club JS Saoura which currently plays in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 2.-References:...
- MogheulMogheulMogheul is a town in western Algeria....
- Ouled Khoudir
- TabelbalaTabelbalaTabelbala is an oasis between Béchar and Tindouf in southwestern Algeria, notable for being the only town in Algeria to speak a language neither Arabic nor Berber, Korandje.Tabelbala is divided into four settlements...
- TaghitTaghitTaghit is a town in western Algeria....
- TamtertTamtertTamtert is a town in western Algeria....
- TimoudiTimoudiTimoudi is a town in western Algeria....