Haratin woman, Ouargla, southern Algeria, 1965Haratin, also referred to as Harratins, Haratine or Ha

Haratin woman, Ouargla, southern Algeria, 1965Haratin, also referred to as Harratins, Haratine or Hartani, are oasis-dwellers in the Sahara, especially in the Maghreb. They are particularly found in Mauritania (where they form a plurality), Morocco and Western Sahara. They have Sub-Saharan African heritage and make up a distinct group of largely-settled workers, and with 40% 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 group of former slaves or descendants of slaves. Most originated from Sahel and sub-Saharan region of West Africa. They adopted Islam under the Moors and were 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. -- source link

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