Rahamna (Arabic: الرحامنة, romanized: Raḥāmna), also spelled Rehamna or Rhamna, is an Arab tribe that descends from the Yemeni Banu Ma'qil tribe. They today are situated in the region north of Marrakesh but first settled north of the Sahara between the 13th and 15th centuries.[1] Their people descend from one famous common ancestor, namely Rahmoun bin Rizq bin Oudi bin Hassan (Arabic: رحمون بن رزق بن أودي بن حسان).[2] The Rehamna, according to Professor Abdul Rahim al-Otri, is one of the Arab tribes that came to Morocco from the Arabian Peninsula through Egypt and Libya, then to Mauritania and Morocco, before settling in the Marrakesh-Al Haouz Region. This cross-country migration gave the tribe a mixture of tribal origins and affiliations and created several clans composed of Arab, Berber (Amazigh) and African components.[3]
History
editIn 1525, they mobilized with Mohammed al-Shaykh to fight the Portuguese in Agadir, Mogador, Safi and Mazagan. In the second half of the 16th century, they inhabited a vast plain north of Marrakesh previously inhabited by the Berber Haskoura tribal confederation. They are related to the Yagout tribe (part of the Tekna tribal confederation), who live in the Western Sahara.
In 1912, the Rahamna region was the scene of the Battle of Sidi Bou Othman, a battle during the French conquest of Morocco. The defeat of Ahmed al-Hiba in this battle led to the capture of Marrakesh the next day.[1][4]
Culture
editLike Bedouins, the Rahamna perform Tbourida, an equestrian performance which simulates a succession of military parades. They believe that horses represent nobility and chivalry and are a blessing to the household even when drought and high prices halt the celebrations for several years. Both men and women partake in the performance.[3]
The Rehamna tribe is famous for their Bedouin musical style called "Aita", which both men and women perform. Their women often weave carpets, which is one of the identifying marks of the tribe.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Suwaed, Muhammad (2015). Historical Dictionary of the Bedouins. United Kingdom: Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 196–197. ISBN 9781442254510.
- ^ https://www.rhamna.net/archives/205 [bare URL]
- ^ a b c Sharqawi, Youssef. "Rehamna in Morocco: The Vessel of Bedouin Life". The MENA Chronicle | Fanack. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
- ^ "Rhamna maroc". rhamna.free.fr. Retrieved 2015-10-08.
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