Beni Ouragh

The Beni Ouragh or Aït Ouragh (in Arabic : بني وراع, in Tamaziɣt : ⴰⵢⵜ ⵄⵔⴰⵖ, Ayt Uragh) are a Zenata Berber tribe of the Ouarsenis in Algeria, located precisely in the region of Ammi Moussa which rose on their territory to the place once called Khamis. The tribe consists of 23 âarch.

History

The Beni-Ouragh tribe is a very old berbers tribe, it is made up of 23 âarch and is located to the east and south of Ammi Moussa. According to Ibn Khaldun, the tribe comes from the first ancient Berber ramifications, cousin of the Tuaregs, whose real name is that of Houara, eponymous ancestor of the latter and probably brother of Ouraghe "Yellow man" in the Berber. At the beginning of French colonization, the 23 âarch of the Beni-Ouragh made an energetic resistance to the French armies and took an active part in the revolt of 1864 put down by General Émile Mellinet.

Ernest Carette, engineer battalion commander, estimated their number in 1842 at 19,200 individuals. They are distributed today under different names in the daira of Ammi Moussa and other fractions administratively depend on several municipalities of territorial jurisdiction of three wilayas (Relizane - Tissemsilt - Tiaret).

List of 23 âarch of the tribe of Beni-Ouragh

1. Ammi-Moussa.
2. Douar Touares
3. Douar Ouled-Sabeur
4. Douar Ouled-Izmeur
5. Douar Ouled-Bou-Ikni
6. Douar Ouled-Moudjeur
7. Douar Ouled-Yaich
8. Douar Ouled-Bouriah
9. Douar Marioua
10. Douar Ouled-El-Abbes
11. Douar Menkoura (Ouled-Ali)
12. Douar Ouled-Deflten
13. Douar Adjama
14. Douar Meknassa
15. Douar Chekala
16. Aarch Ouled-Bakhta
17. Aarch Matmata
18. Aarch Halouia -Cherraga
19. Aarch Halouia-Gheraba
20. Âarch Keraich-Cherrag
21. Âarch Keraich-Gheraba
22. Aarch Ouled-Berkane
23. Aarch Maacem