Doukkala | |
|---|---|
 The "Green Mountain", the only visible hill, east of the region | |
 Location of the Doukkala natural region in Morocco | |
| Country | Morocco |
Doukkala (Arabic:دكالة,romanized: Dukkālah,Berber languages:ⵉⴷⵓⴽⴰⵍⵏ,romanized: Idukalen) is anatural region ofMorocco made of fertile plains and forests. Nowadays it is part of theCasablanca-Settat administrative region.[1]
It is aplain stretching from theAtlantic Ocean south ofSidi Rahal Chatai up to some 50 km further southward and the same distance eastward.
The main urban centers areSidi Smail,Sidi Bennour,Had Ouled Frej, andZemamra. Sidi Bennour is the fastest developing center of the four.
It is mainly an agricultural region, with few tourist attractions.
Historically, Doukkala referred to a confederation ofAmazigh tribes which occupied the territory between the rivers ofOum Er-Rbia River andTensift[2] and from the Atlantic Ocean toJbilate nearMarrakesh. They were part of the much larger tribal confederation ofBarghawata that stretched fromAnfa toTensift and were an independent state from 744 AD to 1058 AD.[citation needed]
The Doukkalas were a mix of majorityMasmuda: the Ragrâga, Hazmîra, Banû Dghûgh, Banû Mâgir, and Mushtarayya (Mouchtaraia), together with theSanHâja.[2] The SanHâja occupied the Atlantic coast between Azemmour and south of El Jadida.
When theAlmohads underAbd al-Mu'min captured the town ofMarrakesh in 1147, the Doukkals sided against them and in favor of theAlmoravid dynasty. They were subsequently defeated by al-Mu'min, and purged, with women and children being sold into slavery.[3] Al-Mu'min brought in less fractiousArabBedouin tribes as immigrants to settle the area, including the Banu Hilal, acoalition of whom he had defeated earlier inTunisia.[4] Later immigrants included the al-Ma'qil.[2]
By 1250, of the Doukkala, only the Ragrâga had survived intact after their conquest and the subsequent immigration of eastern tribes.[2]
Ever since the first installation of theBanu Hilal, there has been continuous linguistic and cultural mixing of both populations. It was possible to clearly distinguish the native Berber element from the Arab one as recently as the16th century. However, the linguistic Arabization is now complete.[5][6] When CaptainJames Riley (1770 AD) visited it, he said in describing it : " the provinces ofAbdah and Duquella, which are entirely peopled byArabs living intents, and in a primitive or wandering state, (their tents being formed of the same materials, and pitch- ed in the same manner as those of theArabs on thedesert) I observed that these people were of a much lighter com- plexion than those on the desert; but that circumstance, in all probability, was owing to the climate's being more temperate; to their being less exposed to the rays of the sun, and better clothed; yet their features were nearly the same, and those of both bear a strong resemblance to those of theBarbary Jews, who also have black eyes andArab noses".[7]
According to anthropologistDavid Montgomery Hart, the majority of the Doukkala tribal confederation are of Hilalian origin and in the 1960s they had either a sedentarized or semi-sedentarized Bedouin lifestyle preferring animal husbandry over agriculture. They also participated infantasia also known aslaʿb al-barud ("powder play").[8]
Like with many of the large Berber tribes of Morocco like theAit Atta and theAit Waryaghar, they were divided intokhams khmas ("five fifths"). This system was imposed on them byMakhzen for purposes of tax collection and the levying ofharzas (soldiers for military expeditions). Despite this division being abandoned during theFrench protectorate, it remained as a guiding structural principle for Doukkalis andkhams khmas is seen as a symbol of strength and power in Morocco.[8][9]
These tribes and thekhoms are:[8]
The Chiadma are related to theChiadma and Chtouka were from the Chtouka Ait Baha before being re-located to Doukkala North of theOum Er-Rbia River.[citation needed]
At the end of theFrench protectorate (ca 1950), there lived in Doukkala 372,269Muslims, 2,680Europeans and 3,933Jews.[10] Hart estimated the population of the Doukkala to be 360,000 in 1960.[8]
 | This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(May 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Doukkala is divided in three sub-regions, parallel to the seacoast.
The only mountain to be seen is at the border with the plain ofRahamna called "Jbel Lakhdar" (Arabic:جبل لخضر) meaning "Green Mountain".
The plain is subject toflooding. A temporarynatural lake betweenSidi Bennour andLarbaa Ouled Amrane called "Ouarar" (Arabic: ورار) only fills in rainy years. Its largest surface was noted in 1916, 1966 and 2008.
