The Ait Atta (Berber language: Ayt Ɛeṭṭa, ⴰⵢⵜ ⵄⵟⵟⴰ) are a large Berber tribal confederation of South eastern Morocco, estimated to number about 330,000 as of 1960.[1] They are divided into "five fifths" (khams khmas), all said to descend from the forty sons of their common ancestor Dadda Atta: these "fifths" are the Ayt Wallal, Ayt Wahlim, Ayt Isful, Ayt Yazza and Ayt Unbgi. They speak Tachelhit and Central Atlas Tamazight. ("Aït" has the meaning of "people of" in the Tamazight language).[2]
A man and a woman from the Ait Atta tribe.
The Ait Atta originated as a political entity in the Jbel Saghro region in the 16th century with the founding of their traditional capital Iɣerm Amazdar. They subsequently expanded first northwards, becoming rivals of the Ait Yafelman, then southwards, taking control of oases in Tafilalt and the Draa River. By the 19th century their raids went as far as Touat (in modern-day Algeria). They fiercely resisted the French entry into Morocco until 1933 and were the last of Morocco to fall.
At each tribal level, the head was traditionally elected according to the principles of rotation and complementarity: each lineage took turns to occupy the position, but when it was a particular lineage's turn to hold the office, only members of other lineages could choose the candidate. In ordinary circumstances, power traditionally rested mainly with local councils of family heads, the ajmuɛ, who decided cases according to customary law, izerf.[3] In the oases they conquered, the Ait Atta originally dominated a stratified society, where the haratin who worked the land were often forbidden from owning it, and needed a protection agreement with an Ait Atta patron; this stratification has considerably receded since Moroccan independence with the establishment of legal equality.
According to Ait Atta stories, Tarrirt, which could be identified with Teryel is a witch which roams the mountains. She's considered to be very real and the locals are very convinced about her existence. She's supposed seen appearing on mountain peaks staring at people, or seducting and attacking men while helping and blessing women and men that treat women well.
Black magic
Black magic in Morocco is popular, but more so with the people of Ait Atta. Reportedly many Moroccans visit Ait Atta cities for rituals.
References
^David Hart, The Ait Atta of Southern Morocco, p. 14
^Ilahiane, Hsain (2006) Historical Dictionary of the Berbers (Imazighen). Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. page 12. ISBN9780810854529
^see Boum, Aomar (2013) Memories of Absence: How Muslims Remember Jews in Morocco. Palo Alto: Stanford University Press. page 39. ISBN9780804788519
^Muhamed Ikiss (August 2020). "156167417-The-Ait-Atta-of-Southern-Morocco-Daily-Life-and-Recent-History-David-Hart (1)" – via ResearchGate.
January 29, 2023
aït, atta, atta, berber, language, Ɛeṭṭa, ⴰⵢⵜ, ⵄⵟⵟⴰ, large, berber, tribal, confederation, south, eastern, morocco, estimated, number, about, 1960, they, divided, into, five, fifths, khams, khmas, said, descend, from, forty, sons, their, common, ancestor, dadd. The Ait Atta Berber language Ayt Ɛeṭṭa ⴰⵢⵜ ⵄⵟⵟⴰ are a large Berber tribal confederation of South eastern Morocco estimated to number about 330 000 as of 1960 1 They are divided into five fifths khams khmas all said to descend from the forty sons of their common ancestor Dadda Atta these fifths are the Ayt Wallal Ayt Wahlim Ayt Isful Ayt Yazza and Ayt Unbgi They speak Tachelhit and Central Atlas Tamazight Ait has the meaning of people of in the Tamazight language 2 A man and a woman from the Ait Atta tribe The Ait Atta originated as a political entity in the Jbel Saghro region in the 16th century with the founding of their traditional capital Iɣerm Amazdar They subsequently expanded first northwards becoming rivals of the Ait Yafelman then southwards taking control of oases in Tafilalt and the Draa River By the 19th century their raids went as far as Touat in modern day Algeria They fiercely resisted the French entry into Morocco until 1933 and were the last of Morocco to fall At each tribal level the head was traditionally elected according to the principles of rotation and complementarity each lineage took turns to occupy the position but when it was a particular lineage s turn to hold the office only members of other lineages could choose the candidate In ordinary circumstances power traditionally rested mainly with local councils of family heads the ajmuɛ who decided cases according to customary law izerf 3 In the oases they conquered the Ait Atta originally dominated a stratified society where the haratin who worked the land were often forbidden from owning it and needed a protection agreement with an Ait Atta patron this stratification has considerably receded since Moroccan independence with the establishment of legal equality Contents 1 Subdivision 4 2 Territory of Ait Atta 3 Folklore 4 ReferencesSubdivision 4 EditAit Unbi Ait Ihya Ait Amr Ait Irjadln Ait AksilAit Yaza Ait Krad Ikhsan Ait Gumas Ait Asa Ait Butrurt Ait Hamu Ait UmaAit Ulal Ait Uzine Ait Arbse Ait Ulal Ait Buskir Ait Mskur Ait slilal Ait Umerjdin Ait ArbaAit Wahlim Ait Butklifa Ait Huran Ait Masin Imadren Ait Su n AfelaAit Isful Ait Anzar Ait Buaghrum Ait Hitlar Ait Ichu Ait Bafghf Ait HaniTerritory of Ait Atta Edit Significant cities and towns Merzouga Rissani Fezzou Alnif Tinghir M semrir Boumalne Dades Tazzarine Tamegroute OumjraneFolklore EditTarrirtAccording to Ait Atta stories Tarrirt which could be identified with Teryel is a witch which roams the mountains She s considered to be very real and the locals are very convinced about her existence She s supposed seen appearing on mountain peaks staring at people or seducting and attacking men while helping and blessing women and men that treat women well Black magicBlack magic in Morocco is popular but more so with the people of Ait Atta Reportedly many Moroccans visit Ait Atta cities for rituals References Edit David Hart The Ait Atta of Southern Morocco p 14 Ilahiane Hsain 2006 Historical Dictionary of the Berbers Imazighen Lanham Md Scarecrow Press page 12 ISBN 9780810854529 see Boum Aomar 2013 Memories of Absence How Muslims Remember Jews in Morocco Palo Alto Stanford University Press page 39 ISBN 9780804788519 Muhamed Ikiss August 2020 156167417 The Ait Atta of Southern Morocco Daily Life and Recent History David Hart 1 via ResearchGate Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ait Atta amp oldid 1113876503, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
