Beni Guil ( ar, بني غل) is an
Arab
The Arabs (singular: Arab; singular ar, عَرَبِيٌّ, DIN 31635: , , plural ar, عَرَب, DIN 31635, DIN 31635: , Arabic pronunciation: ), also known as the Arab people, are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in Wester ...
tribe in
Morocco
Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria ...
, and are mostly nomadic
Bedouins
The Bedouin, Beduin, or Bedu (; , singular ) are nomadic Arab tribes who have historically inhabited the desert regions in the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, the Levant, and Mesopotamia. The Bedouin originated in the Syrian Desert and Ar ...
. In the 10th century, after migrating from the
Arabian Peninsula, the tribe was given the right of grazing on the land of east
Morocco
Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria ...
and west
Algeria
)
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, religi ...
by
Al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah
Abu Tamim Ma'ad al-Muizz li-Din Allah ( ar, ابو تميم معد المعزّ لدين الله, Abū Tamīm Maʿad al-Muʿizz li-Dīn Allāh, Glorifier of the Religion of God; 26 September 932 – 19 December 975) was the fourth Fatimid calip ...
, the Arab
Fatimid
The Fatimid Caliphate was an Ismaili Shi'a
Shīʿa Islam or Shīʿīsm is the second-largest Islamic schools and branches, branch of Islam. It holds that the Prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad in Islam, Muh ...
caliph of North Africa.
[Beni Guil tribe of Morocco. http://tribusdumaroc.free.fr/beniguil.php. 05-07-2016]
The tribe had a population of 54,000 people in 1994, and they inhabit a vast desert territory in
eastern Morocco of 25,000 square kilometres.
They remain as Morocco's largest livestock farmers and they raise as many as 600,000 sheep, 200,000 goats, and 11,000 cattle in an average yield-year.
Beni Guil sheep
The tribe Beni Guil has given its name to a famous breed of sheep in Morocco. The Beni Guil race, called locally as "Daghma" or "Hamra" in reference to its brown color. The flocks are considered a prized possession amongst the tribe.
The Arabian tribes which settled for over 1000 years in North-Africa, have brought with them their flocks, which explains the origin of this breed.
The Beni Guil male sheep breed has a dark brown head, but the head is slightly clear in the female sheep. This coloration extends to the rear of the horns and the lower jaw. It has a white fleece and brown legs. The legs and head are free of wool. The tail is short and fine; it does not exceed the point of hock. The Beni Guil breed of sheep have such a good conformation that makes them one of the best mutton breeds in Morocco.
See also
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Arab Maghreb
The Maghreb (; ar, الْمَغْرِب, al-Maghrib, lit=the west), also known as the Arab Maghreb ( ar, المغرب العربي) and Northwest Africa, is the western part of North Africa and the Arab world. The region includes Algeria, ...
*
Fatimid dynasty
The Fatimid dynasty () was an Isma'ili Shi'a dynasty of Arab descent that ruled an extensive empire, the Fatimid Caliphate, between 909 and 1171 CE. Claiming descent from Fatima and Ali, they also held the Isma'ili imamate, claiming to be the rig ...
*
Idrisid dynasty
The Idrisid dynasty or Idrisids ( ar, الأدارسة ') were an Arab Muslim dynasty from 788 to 974, ruling most of present-day Morocco and parts of present-day western Algeria. Named after the founder, Idris I, the Idrisids were an Alid ...
*
Morocco
Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria ...
Other tribes
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Banu Hilal
The Banu Hilal ( ar, بنو هلال, translit=Banū Hilāl) was a confederation of Arabian tribes from the Hejaz and Najd regions of the Arabian Peninsula that emigrated to North Africa in the 11th century. Masters of the vast plateaux of th ...
*
Banu Malik Bani Malik ( ar, بني مالك) or Banu Malik ( ar, بنو مالك) ( en, The Sons of Malik) is one of the major Arab tribes of the Arabian Peninsula. They are descendants of Malik al-Ashtar al-Nakh'ei who fought with Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousi ...
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Ahl Rachida
The Ahl Rachida ( ar, أهل رشيدة) is an Arabian tribe, also called Ouled Sidi Yaakoub. The tribe is also of Shorfa origin, which means they are descendant of the Islamic prophet. This tribe enjoyed great influence in the region when it co ...
*
Beni Hassan
is a Japanese R&B singer, who debuted in 2004 under the Avex Trax label. In 2008, Arashiro left Avex Trax and transferred to Universal Music Japan where she started to perform as simply Beni (stylized as BENI).
She was initially best known f ...
References
Arab tribes in Morocco
{{Morocco-stub
Tribes of Arabia