Iznasen

The Beni Znassen, Beni-Snassen (Singular : Aznass), or Yat-Iznassen, is the largest confederation tribes in Eastern Morocco. It contains groups and fractions of Arab and Berber tribes originating mainly from the historical Znata tribe, in the provinces of Oujda, Berkane and Taourirt.

Beni Znassen mountains

History[change | change source]

The Iznassen are Berbers, Arabs and Arabized Berbers.

Berbers are :

Beni Khaled
Beni Menqouch
Beni 'Atiq
Beni Ourimech

Arabs are :

Ouled Sghir
Laatamna
Houara
Ouled Mansour

Layout[change | change source]

The 4 tribes of Yat Iznassen

- Beni Khaled or Yat Khaled
  - Oulad el Ghazi
    - Yat Tizi Aghbal
    - Zianba
    - Oulad el Bali
    - Yat Bouamalla
    - Lamqaqra
    - Ouchanen
    - Oulad el Mengar
  - Yat Taghejirt
    - Ibanharen
    - Bou 'Allal
    - Rhamna
    - Oulad Ghayou
    - Bcharir
    - Ahl Tagharrabt
    - Njajra
    - Bni Tallest
    - Braqiq
    - Tagharabt
  - Yat Drar
    - Ahl Tanout
    - Isqaïnen
    - Hnadza
    - Bni Sbu
    - Segmimmane
    - Gzenaya
    - Ouled Lahmam
    - Zerarga
    - Iazizain
    - Oulad Zaim
    - Aidane
    - Oulad Issa
    - Oulad Tahar
    - Oulad Hammou
    - Chraga
    - Oulad Tajer
    - Jefafna
    - Oulad Meriem
- Beni Menqouch or Yat Menqouch
  - Labsara
    - Oulad Bali
    - Oulad Boutchich
    - Oulad Boufarra
    - Oulad Issa
    - Oulad el Haj
  - Beni Khellouf
    - Zerazra
    - Chamala
    - Ahl Dar el Hamra
    - Oulad Abdelhaq
    - Oulad Jaber
    - Ouled Moussa U Mhammed
    - Kawcha
    - Ahl Tinissen
    - Bezghouden
    - Oulad Ben Tahar
    - Chehalfa
  - Beni Mimoun
    - Kerarcha
    - Oulad Moussa
    - I'amranen
    - Mouzouren
- Beni 'Atiq or Yat 'Atiq
  - Tghasrout
    - Oulad Lahbil
    - Tanouti
    - Oulad Zbayer
    - Ghrarfa
    - Tizaoua
    - Zarouala
  - Oulad 'Ali Ben Yassin
    - Oulad Boujida
    - Beni Amer
    - Oulad Ben Tkhalet
  - Beni Amiyer
    - Oulad M'amar
    - Oulad Moussa U Mhammed
    - Oulad Ben 'Azza
    - Oulad 'Azza
  - Beni Hammad
    - Ihamdane
    - Takarchalt
  - Tazaghine
    - Kebdana
    - I'ayden
    - Takarboust
    - Arrasma
  - Beni Moussi La'tach
    - Oulad el Mir
    - Oulad 'Alla
    - Oulad Boushaba
    - Bezzaza
  - Beni Moussi Rwa
    - Beni Bakhti
    - Beni Moussi Lawsata
    - Oulad 'Ali
    - Kaddouri
  - Beni Mimoun
    - Oulad Boutayeb Lajwad
    - Oulad Abdelkrim
    - Oulad Bourjoine Kirat
    - Oulad El Mahdi
    - Oulad Boutchich
  - Beni Bouya'la
    - Oulad Oliyou
    - K'amcha
    - Ja'alate
    - Labtatna
    - Oulad Htout
- Beni Ourimech or Yat Ourimech
  - Beni Bou 'Abdoussayed
    - Hararda
    - Oulad Rahou
    - Oulad El 'Attaf
    - Oulad Boujellab
    - Oulad Ben 'Amr U 'Alim
    - Ahl Kerdad
    - Oulad Boubker
  - Beni 'Ali Chbab
    - Oulad Ya'coub
    - Oulad Yahia U Yousef
    - Oulad Mahdi
  - Beni Abbou
    - Ahl Risslane
    - Oulad Yahia
    - Z'ara
    - Oulad Boukhriss
    - Oulad el Hamel
    - Harakati
    - Oulad 'Amr
    - Beni Gamgam
    - Bou Zammour
    - Hiachra
    - Oulad Boumia
    - Gzeannaya/Ikharkhachen
    - Ahl Tittest
  - Ahl Tagma
    - Oulad Ya'coub
    - Ouled Abdessadouk
    - Oulad Belkhir
    - Ouled Ben Mech'al
  - Beni Nouga
    - Oulad Tmim
    - Oulad el Baroudi
    - Ahl Zaouiya
    - Oulad Midi
    - Oulad Ouzarrou
    - Oulad Mohammed
    - Lagrab
  - Beni Mahiou
    - Oulad Sidi Ali U Said
    - Oulad Sidi Said L'ar'ar
    - Oulad Sidi Moussa (Maâboura)
    - Oulad Fassir
    - Oulad Âtiya
    - Ahl Ourine
    - Bni Oual
    - Ahl Tmim
    - Chraga
    - Oulad Khellouf

Language[change | change source]

The east of Morocco has many different languages. Beni Iznasen mostly speak Arabic and a small minority can speak Arabic and Berber. Bilingualism sometimes occurs, mainly in the older generations. The younger generations usually only speak Arabic.

Arabic[change | change source]

The Arabic dialect of eastern Morocco is the so-called Hilali Arab dialect. It is similar to the dialects of Marrakech and Casablanca. It is different to the urban (pre-Hilali) dialects of Fes and the north of Morocco. This Arabic dialect also is similar to the dialect of western Algeria (Tlemcen), which borders the Beni Iznasen area.