In the oasis area 500 km south of the city of Algiers five Mzab cities rise out of the desolate Sahara, of which Ghardaia is a major town. The climate of the Mzab area of Algeria has immense heat during the summer, making it one of the hottest areas of the world.
The Mozabites are a distinct Berber people who are part of a sect of Islam known as the Kharejites. They call themselves God’s chosen people. Because of persecution they experienced centuries ago they retreated to this difficult uncultivated and inhospitable area of the Sahara dessert, which has been develped into a number of oasis towns, known as the Mzab region.
Skillful, enterprising, well-organised, the Mozabites are known to be astute, and honest businessmen. Many of the Mozabites own businesses in towns around the Sahara Desert, some are involved in import businesses. They have prospered also in agriculture, and the Mzab oases have cultivated productive gardens.
The Mozabites are a unique group of people who speak a Berber dialect called Tumzabt. They have their own unique culture, with strict norms of behaviour for men and women which have been strictly preserved for centuries.
The Mozabites are Muslims, and devout followers of Islam. They belong to the Ibadite branch of Islam. They see themselves as chosen by God, and having a unique revelation of Islam. They adhere to some different views than other Muslim streams of thought, and consider their branch to be the best.
They have a strict code of ethics which they seek to live by. The women wear a long white cloak, which covers most of their body, with the right eye also being covered by the cloak. The men also have a distinctive traditional dress: baggy beige-coloured trousers, worn with a long shirt sometimes. They will often wear a red or white cap, or sometimes a turban-like head covering, which protects from the heat and dust of the desert climate.
The Mozabites have a very tight social system in their culture, where the family has a strong influence on its members. They enjoy socialising together. The women are kept inside the houses, and a woman might not even be allowed to show her face to anyone but her husband. The women will socialise on the rooftops and relate only to close family members. Some women do venture outdoors to take their children to school, or perhaps make small purchases, or take public transport to visit family members in another area.
The main markets are the domain of men, and not many Mozabite women are seen in these areas. Many of the men are occupied in various businesses: small shops, trading and importing goods.
This people group is very little reached with the Gospel. There are no known fellowships of Mzab believers yet. The Mzab may seem like a difficult group to get close to. There are such strict codes of conduct and it may be difficult for any kind of outsiders to be able to get into their circles.
Satellite television and radio reception is possible in this area, although the quality of reception in the Mzab area is not known.
In the 90s there was considerable unrest in Algeria, due to a struggle between Islamist groups and the government/military, seeking to prevent their influence taking pre-eminence in Algeria. Due to this it has been difficult to get into this part of Algeria.
The Mozabites have yet to have scriptures in their own heart language, Tumzabt. Having these scriptures could be very instrumental to seeing a breakthrough of the Gospel in this culture.
This people group is one of the least reached people groups in the world today.
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Identity/Location
 People Name: Mozabites
Primary Language: Tumzabt
Ethnologue Code: MZB
Other Names: Mzab, Ibadites, Kharijites, Amekites.
Regional dialects/accents: Ghardaia, Gourara.
Population
Total People: 220,0000 (estimate 2000) Urban Percent: 90%
Other countries: France 20,000 (est.)
General Description
The Mozabites are a distinct people who are part of a puritan sect of Islam. They call themselves God’s people, chosen people. Because of persecution they experienced they retreated to this difficult uncultivated and inhospitable area of the Sahara desert, which has been worked into a number of oasis towns known as the Mzab region.
Their culture has developed somewhat independently of the rest of the country. Without trying to provoke ruling powers, they have resisted outside interference in affairs of their community. They take pride in the seclusion of their community and wish to see it preserved. In their concern to maintain their identity, concessions would probably be considered to lead to disintegration and loss of identity. Their identity is tied strongly to traditions and a strict lifestyle based on the beliefs of the Ibadite sect of Islam.
Some characteristics of Mozabites: Skillfull, enterprising, well organized, eager to learn, closed to people from other cultures and very dependent on their own culture. They are known as astute businessmen.
The Mozabites appear to have their own distinctives compared to other Berbers. They are generally of a rounder shape, both facial and corporal. The Mozabites dress distinctively with their own strict dress code. Men wear baggy pants and a turban on their heads, sometimes a white or a flat round hat. Women wear outside their homes a distinctive white veil, worn in a way that covers them almost entirely and only one eye is slightly be exposed.
Language/Literacy Information
Adult literacy: 50% (country percentage)
Primary language: Tumzabt (100%)
Second language: Arabic (Algerian colloquial Arabic is a widely spoken dialect in Algeria).
Third language: French
Other: The strongest tie that binds the people together is their language. Most entrepreneurs are conversant in Arabic and some French. There is a written Mozabite language, though Arabic is taught at the schools. A dictionary of the Mozabite language has been written based on phonetics and latin script. Tumzabt speaking is not officially encouraged by the government, who wish Arabic to be the official language of Algeria.
Economics
GNP per capita: Algeria US$1851 (1992)
Occupations: Commerce, shop managers, rug makers
Income sources: Commerce, Tourism
Products/ crafts: Carpets, Pottery
Trade partners: France, Italy
Modernization/Utilities: TV/video and modern utilities are available in the area.
Other: The Mozabites, known as astute merchants, operate many stores in other parts of Algeria. Sources have indicated that they own and run the stores in other neighboring oasis towns, e.g. Touggourt, Ouargla and beyond.
Unemployment: In Algeria unemployment is estimated to be 30% in 1999.
Minimum wages: 5,000 Dinars is the legal minimum wage = US$132 (Reuters 1999)
Living Conditions/Community Development Status
Food/Basic diet: There are many gardens in the Mzab, providing fruit, vegetables etc.
Urbanisation: Most of the Mozabite people live in urban areas.
Shelter: The Mzab region has its distinct architecture. The towns have been built in a regular order. In the centre, on the highest place is a mosque, a store house, and armoury and a fortress. The houses are built in concentric circles. The houses and wall are built with ochreous stones from the plain and are shady and cool. Usually the rooms are built around an inner court. There are galleries with arcades over the courtyards.
Clothing: A strict dress code exists.
Health care: May be adequate. Intermarriage in families may result in the prevalence of certain physical disabilities.
Water supplies: Being oasis towns the amount of water available for agriculture is limited. Houses in the towns have running water available (although it is not known if this is communal supply, or to individual houses).
Energy/fuel: Adequate - Algeria is a fuel producing nation and petroleum products are inexpensive.
Society
Family structures: Strong social control is exercised. Qabail (family units) guard their separate identities. The Qabail are strong tribal-like groups. Each one elects a magistrate or kebir, and one or two sheriffs (muqaddemin). Family groupings, qabail, live in certain areas together. There are strict regulations concerning the interaction of family members. A man is not even permitted to see the face of his sister-in-law.
Neighbour relations: They are happy as long they can exist in their own identity. They will not normally open their home for non-Mzab people, not even fellow Algerians.
Rule/Authority/Selection: In the Mozabite communities, the authority of the clergy is considered supreme. Leaders of the community are chosen by the people because of their integrity - they are expected to be of good reputation and standing, practicing the traditions of the Ibadites, chosen because of their behaviour, sanctity and understanding. Day to day life in the community is regulated by what is known as the Azzaba - this is a religious body that governs the inhabitants. They have a knowledge of the Quran and Ibadi doctrine. They control the religious life of the community, supervise business life, housing, construction, distribution of water and the Quran schools. The head of the Azzaba has power to excommunicate those who infringe the moral and religious laws in the community. The Ghasilaat, is the woman’s form of Azzaba, and supervises the women and settles private disputes in the community. Also there is a ruling assembly (jamaa), consisting of the kebir (magistrates), maqaddemin (sheriffs), and other elders of the community. This assembly has a function of listening and giving assent. The sheriffs receive strangers, execute judgements and keep the city accounts.
Social habits: Men seen on the streets are often with or in conversation with one or more other men from their people group. Women hardly ever leave the community. The men travel and may even work in another place, but will leave behind their wives and children in the community. When the men are away there are women guardians who watch over the house concerned, usually the mother-in-law. There are also women clergy. Women have been taught not to raise their voices in laughter, conversation or calling someone. They are forbidden to speak rooftop to rooftop. In shops they do not show the palms of their hands.
Social status: Wealthy men may work as doctors, big landowners, petrol-station owners, traders, high administrative officials, clerks. Low/Average social status is held by unskilled laborers, teachers, small traders who own one shop in the Mzab and minor administrative clerks.
Cultural Change: (X) Static to Slow (for the Mozabites) ( ) Medium (X) Rapid (for Algeria)
Self Image: ( ) Threatened ( ) Depressed (X) Prestigious/Proud
Judicial system/Trial punishment: Officially they are under the government of Algeria. This is tolerated if not liked. Guardaia is a regional government Centre. They have been able to cooperate well with national law courts. In their own community they believe in a theocratic form of government.
Crisis/Conflicts - History/Status: In the 11th century the Mozabites fled from Tiaret as they were persecuted by the Arabs because of their differences. They retreated first to Sedrata but finally retreated in the the present Mzab area. It was an undesirable area to their persecutors, who were jealous of the Mozabite ingenuity and ability to prosper wherever it went.
Political situation: Algeria has had many years of civil unrest since the war for independence from France, finishing in 1962. After the war there was a military regime, which was also influenced by communist/socialist ideas. In the 1990s there has been much violence concerning the move towards more democracy. Militant Islamic groups, wanting to bring in a stricter Islamic rule were appearing to win elections held at the end of 1991, and these groups have been in fighting with government militia. Over 100,000 people have died in the onslaught, with massacres taking place in country areas, and bombings in the cities.
Celebrations/Recreation: Muslim feasts, carpet festival in the spring.
Art Forms: Carpets, pottery.
Media (Radio/TV/Newspapers/Films/Videos/Recordings): None in Tumzabt
Media: Many people have a TV, radio, tape player etc.
Press: The Algerian media is controlled by the government.
Children/Youth
Population under 15 years: 43%, 1993 for all Algeria.
Education/Type of Schooling: Children are reared in a strict way. Approximatley 1/3 in schools are girls and 1/3 of those are Mozabite. There are free schools and government schools in the area. Boys go to both types of schools. Girls only go to free schools. The Quran is taught in the schools.
Labour/Tasks: Normally a young boy would be sent or taken by his father to his own or a friends’ business in the north to learn to trade. He is brought home to the Mzab between the age of fourteen and sixteen to marry, then returns to the north and pays periodical visits to home. Girls put on the veil between 12 and 14, quit school usually at 15 and marry at 16.
Problems: Not much is known about this area. Unemployment may be an emerging problem.
Religion
Primary: Islam (100%)
Secondary: None
Religious practices/ceremonies: They observe the Hanafi school of Islam, are neither Sunnis nor Shi’ites, but a separate community of Islam with its own rules of faith and religious laws. They are from the Ibadi sect of Islam.
Redemptive Analogies/Bridges: As for those in Islam.
Spiritual Climate/Openness: Being a very tight and closed community reluctance and resistance to change and to the acceptance of the Gospel may be expected.
History of Christian Presence Amongst This People Group
A Christian presence began in the early centuries of the church. The church was weakened by schisms and heresy, as well as by the Vandal and Byzantine invasions. Missions started again towards the end of the nineteenth century. The Roman Catholic church are present in the Ghardaia area, but their work has been amongst the existing catholics in the community and they do not aim to evangelise the Mozabites in the area.
Current Church Development
Scriptures available: Bible in Arabic or French, not widely available. None in Tumzabt.
Other Literary Resources: Arabic books and materials numerous.
Christian Radio: Possible reception of radio, but there are no programmes in Tumzabt yet.
Recordings Available: Yes
Videos: Jesus film available in Algerian Arabic.
Satellite Media: Sat 7 (Satellite program, designed for Christian audiences in the Middle East) and other satellite channels are reaching this area.
Response to Christians: Few people have been exposed to the Gospel message. Response has been little because of fear of persecution. Also they believe they have a revelation that supercedes Jesus Christ, and therefore see themselves as having the true revelation in Islam.
Attitude to Christian faith: Many have a wrong picture of Christians. The common perception is that everyone from the West, and Western immorality, is Christian.
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Prayer Points
The Mozabites are devout Muslims, pray that God would reveal Himself in sovereign and unrefutable ways, and that many will be drawn to Jesus.
For opportunities for Christians from Algeria or other countries to find ways to be among the people in this culture; Pray that the Mzab people will meet Christians who can share and demonstrate the Good News.
For the Bible to be translated into their language, Tumzabt.
The Mozabite people see themselves as the Chosen People with their special sect in Islam. Pray that they will know their true inheritance in Christ (1 Peter: 2:8,9).
That the Holy Spirit will work through satellite television and radio broadcasts.
Anyone coming to Christ might experience opposition from family members, and even be ostracised from their family. Pray for God’s protection and His anointing on the witness of those who have given their lives to Him.
That families will be open, and especially for salvation to visit households. May households be raised up to be oases for Christian believers to get fellowship and encouragement.
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