Doui-Menia
Encyclopedia
The Doui-Menia or Dawi-Mani` (Arabic ذوي منيع, Maghrebi Arabic /dwi-mniʕ/) 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
. Like several other tribes of the region, they are divided into "five fifths" (khams khmas), tracing their descent to a common ancestor, `Addi el-Meni`i; according to Dunn (1977), these are:
To these a "sixth" was added by alliance in the 19th century: the neighbouring Ouled Djerir
near Bechar
. Traditionally mainly nomadic, agriculture became an essential part of their economy in the nineteenth century: each "fifth" cultivated a portion of the seasonally flooded lands along the Guir valley near Abadla, and stored the produce in fortified silos (matmuras). They also bought, or confiscated, palm groves at nearby oases. By the end of the nineteenth century their expansion had largely ceased, perhaps since the need of collective manpower for harvesting limited their mobility. They were, however, substantially involved in resistance against the French conquest of the region.
Banu Hilal
The Banu Hilal were a confederation of Arabian Bedouin tribes that migrated from Upper Egypt into North Africa in the 11th century, having been sent by the Fatimids to punish the Zirids for abandoning Shiism. Other authors suggest that the tribes left the grasslands on the upper Nile because of...
Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
tribe of the Moroccan-Algerian border between Taghit
Taghit
Taghit is a town in western Algeria....
and the Tafilalt
Tafilalt
Tafilalt or Tafilet is a region and the most important oasis of the Moroccan Sahara; it is also considered one of the largest oases in the world, the oasis is entirely located along the Ziz River. The oasis is ten days' journey south of Fez, across the Atlas Mountains...
region, centered on Abadla
Abadla
Abadla 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...
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
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...
. Like several other tribes of the region, they are divided into "five fifths" (khams khmas), tracing their descent to a common ancestor, `Addi el-Meni`i; according to Dunn (1977), these are:
- Ouled Djelloul.
- Ouled Youssef.
- Idersa.
- Ouled Bou Anane.
- Ouled bel Giz.
To these a "sixth" was added by alliance in the 19th century: the neighbouring 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....
near Bechar
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....
. Traditionally mainly nomadic, agriculture became an essential part of their economy in the nineteenth century: each "fifth" cultivated a portion of the seasonally flooded lands along the Guir valley near Abadla, and stored the produce in fortified silos (matmuras). They also bought, or confiscated, palm groves at nearby oases. By the end of the nineteenth century their expansion had largely ceased, perhaps since the need of collective manpower for harvesting limited their mobility. They were, however, substantially involved in resistance against the French conquest of the region.