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The Ait Atta ( Berber language: Ayt Ɛeṭṭa, ⴰⵢⵜ ⵄⵟⵟⴰ) are a large

Berber Berber or Berbers may refer to: Ethnic group * Berbers, an ethnic group native to Northern Africa * Berber languages, a family of Afro-Asiatic languages Places * Berber, Sudan, a town on the Nile People with the surname * Ady Berber (1913–196 ...

tribal confederation of South eastern Morocco, estimated to number about 330,000 as of 1960. 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). The Ait Atta originated as a political entity in the

Jbel Saghro The Jbel Saghro or Djebel Sahrho ( ber, Adrar Saɣru, ar, جبل صغرو) is a mountain range in south- east Morocco. It is located south of the High Atlas and east of the Anti-Atlas in the northwest of Africa, northeast of Taliouine and southwes ...

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 The Ait Yafelman ( Berber: Ayt Yafelman) are a large Berber tribal confederation of the eastern High Atlas of Morocco, with their capital at Imilchil. They consist of four tribes: Ayt Morghad, Ayt Haddidou, Ayt Izdeg and Ayt Yehia. These tribes cr ...

, then southwards, taking control of oases in Tafilalt and the

Draa River :''Dra is also the abbreviation for the constellation Draco.'' The Draa ( ber, Asif en Dra, ⴰⵙⵉⴼ ⴻⵏ ⴷⵔⴰ, ary, واد درعة, wad dərʿa; also spelled Dra or Drâa, in older sources mostly Darha or Dara) is Morocco's longest ...

. 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''. 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.

Subdivision

Ait Unbi *

Ait Ihya An ait (, like ''eight'') or eyot () is a small island. It is especially used to refer to river islands found on the River Thames and its tributaries in England. Aits are typically formed by the deposit of sediment in the water, which accum ...

Ait Amr An ait (, like ''eight'') or eyot () is a small island. It is especially used to refer to river islands found on the River Thames and its tributaries in England. Aits are typically formed by the deposit of sediment in the water, which accumu ...

Ait Irjadln An ait (, like ''eight'') or eyot () is a small island. It is especially used to refer to river islands found on the River Thames and its tributaries in England. Aits are typically formed by the deposit of sediment in the water, which ac ...

Ait Aksil An ait (, like ''eight'') or eyot () is a small island. It is especially used to refer to river islands found on the River Thames and its tributaries in England. Aits are typically formed by the deposit of sediment in the water, which accum ...

Ait Yaza * Ait Krad Ikhsan * Ait Gumas * Ait Asa * Ait Butrurt *

Ait Hamu An ait (, like ''eight'') or eyot () is a small island. It is especially used to refer to river islands found on the River Thames and its tributaries in England. Aits are typically formed by the deposit of sediment in the water, which accumu ...

* Ait Uma Ait Ulal * Ait Uzine * Ait Arbse *

Ait Ulal An ait (, like ''eight'') or eyot () is a small island. It is especially used to refer to river islands found on the River Thames and its tributaries in England. Aits are typically formed by the deposit of sediment in the water, which accumu ...

* Ait Buskir *

Ait Mskur An ait (, like ''eight'') or eyot () is a small island. It is especially used to refer to river islands found on the River Thames and its tributaries in England. Aits are typically formed by the deposit of sediment in the water, which accumu ...

* Ait slilal * Ait Umerjdin * Ait Arba Ait Wahlim *

Ait Butklifa An ait (, like ''eight'') or eyot () is a small island. It is especially used to refer to river islands found on the River Thames and its tributaries in England. Aits are typically formed by the deposit of sediment in the water, which accumu ...

* Ait Huran * Ait Masin * Imadren * Ait Su n Afela Ait Isful * Ait Anzar * Ait Buaghrum *

Ait Hitlar An ait (, like ''eight'') or eyot () is a small island. It is especially used to refer to river islands found on the River Thames and its tributaries in England. Aits are typically formed by the deposit of sediment in the water, which accumu ...

Ait Ichu An ait (, like ''eight'') or eyot () is a small island. It is especially used to refer to river islands found on the River Thames and its tributaries in England. Aits are typically formed by the deposit of sediment in the water, which accumu ...

* Ait Bafghf *

Ait Hani Ait Hani ( ar, آيت هاني) is a town and rural commune in Tinghir Province of the Drâa-Tafilalet region of Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa ...

Territory of Ait Atta

Significant cities and towns * Merzouga *

Rissani Rissani is a town in Errachidia Province in eastern Morocco, located near Erfoud. It is the closest town of significant size to the Erg Chebbi, the largest sand desert in Morocco. Its population in 2004 was 20,469. The mausoleum of Moulay Ali ...

* Fezzou *

Alnif Alnif is a town in Tinghir Province, Drâa-Tafilalet, Morocco, known for its significant paleontological discoveries. It is located in the southeastern region of Morocco, approximately 180 kilometers east of Ouarzazate, and 1,020 kilometers south o ...

* Tinghir *

M'semrir M'Semrir () is a commune in Tinghir Province of the Drâa-Tafilalet administrative region of Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Me ...

* Boumalne-Dades *

Tazzarine Tazzarine ( ar, تازارين, , also spelled as Tazarine) is a small city and rural commune in Zagora Province, Morocco. It is located at around in the area of the Jbel Saghro. The commune includes the small villages of Tamsahelte, Timarighin ...

* Tamegroute * Oumjrane

Folklore

Tarrirt 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

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ait Atta Berber peoples and tribes Moroccan tribes Berbers in Morocco