Haratin

Haratin, also referred to as Harratins, Haratine or Hartani are oasis-dwellers in the Sahara, especially in northwestern Africa

They are particularly found in Mauritania, Morocco and Western Sahara. They are of black heritage, make up an ethnically distinct group of largely settled, non-nomadic workers, and with forty percent of Mauritania's total population, they are its largest ethnic group.

They have been called a socially distinct class of workers, or a caste that emerged from a legacy of slavery in Africa under the Berbers and Moors.

They have been socially isolated, low status, endogamous people who are former slaves or descendants of slaves.

Most originate from Sahel and sub-Saharan region of West Africa.

They adopt Islam under the Moors, and are forcibly recruited into the Moroccan army by Ismail Ibn Sharif to consolidate power.

Their primary occupation has been as agriculture serfs, herdsmen and subservient workers, and they speak Hassaniya Arabic.

In countries such as Morocco, they are sometimes classified either as Berber or Arab, depending on their language and society they are found in

In Mauritania, however, where there are nearly one and a half million Haratins, they have developed a separate sense of ethnic identity.

No related events match the current filters.