Tekna

For other uses, see Tekna (disambiguation).

Tekna

Total population
(approx. 669,000)
Regions with significant populations
Morocco - Guelmim region, Tarfaya zone Western Sahara - Saguia el-Hamra
Languages
Hassaniyya, Shilha
Religion
Predominantly Muslim
Related ethnic groups
Berbers

The Tekna is a Sahrawi tribal confederation of Lamta Sanhaja Berber origins in today southern Morocco and northern Western Sahara, but traditionally with wider migration routes. Nowadays, its population is estimated to be around 669,000.

Demographics

The Tekna tribes speak Hassaniya Arabic and the Berber Shilha dialect in varying degrees.

All Tekna are Muslims, belonging to the Maliki school of Sunni Islam. Their traditional lifestyle was partly nomadic, based on camel and goat herding, and partly sedentary, controlling important routes of the Saharan caravan trade.

They are divided into several berber-speaking and Arabic-speaking tribes, organized into the two rivalling tribal confederations, or leff:

• Aït Djemel confederacy (Western Tekna), consisting of the tribes of Aït Lahcen, Izerguiyen, Yaggout, and Aït Moussa Ou Ali ;
• Aït Atman (or Aït Bella) confederacy (Eastern Tekna), consisting of the tribes of Azouafit, Aït Oussa, Aït Brahim, and Aït Hmad.

History

During the 17th century, Morocco under Sultan Ismail Ibn Sharif seized control over the territory from the Moulouya River south to Senegal and Timbuktu. Contingents of Tekna troops were then sent to the Senegal valley on behalf of the Sultan.

After 1765 the Tekna revolted, acquiring greater autonomy. On May 30, 1767, Mohammed ben Abdallah, Sultan of Morocco, signed a peace and commerce treaty with King Charles III of Spain, recognizing that Morocco did not control the Tekna tribes.

However, at the time of the Spanish colonization and at the beginning of the 20th century, the Tekna tribes recognized the Sultan of Morocco as their overlord.

See also

• Maqil
• Sanhaja
• Bani Hassan
• Morocco
• Western Sahara
• Sahrawi
• Reguibat

Bibliography

(French) Attilo Gaudio, "Les populations du Sahara occidental: histoire, vie et culture", ed. Karthala 1993, (Chap. VIII, pp. 97–116) (ISBN 2-86537-411-4) [1]