AWazīʿa (Arabic:وزيعة) orThawzīʿath, also known asThamšeraṭeth (ثامشرطث), is the term used inAlgeria to designate one of thecultural customs in aSufi society observed by the inhabitants ofrural areas, especially theBerbers ofKabylia.[1][2]
The Wazīʿa is not only widespread in Kabylia, but also in theAurès,M'zab, and elsewhere in the country.[3][4]
They are organized on several occasions andmawsims, especially duringAshura,Ramadan,Mawlid, and the beginning of the plowing season.[5][6]
The disciples slaughter several cows, which the families and philanthropists share in buying, and they distribute the meat so that all the village's families receive some.[7][8]
Poor people who do not share in the price of the cows get their share of the meat as well. This makes this habit more of a social solidarity event than something else and is considered anAlgerian cultural heritage.[9][10]
Sufi orders, especially theRahmaniyya, contribute to preserving this custom in the rural regions.[11][12]
Since theWezeea is one of the customs and traditions that the inhabitants of theKabylia region inherited from grandfathers, the villagers collect money to buy calves or bulls, and the number of bulls sometimes reaches 17 or 20 bulls.[13][14]
If there are many families in the village, the slaughter process takes place on a predetermined day, usually on the day ofFriday prayer, then the meat is cut into equal portions according to the number of members of each family, and the meat rations are distributed after that to the families living in the village in equal measure, so that there is no discrimination in the division.[15][16]
After distributing the meat to the families, the preparation process for the harvesting ofolives and the demonstration ofTweeza begins, which usually takes place in traditional methods at the end of theautumn season, and the preparation is by cleaning the sides of theolive trees and removing weeds and branches that are useless from them and around them.[17][18]
Wezeea is therefore one of the most important manifestations of solidarity that characterizes the residents of the villages,madashir and neighborhoods of theKabylia region. It is a solidarity process in addition to being an occasion linked to land and water, where the residents used to approach theirAllah Almighty Lord by slaughtering calves and cows and distributing their meat to the poor people seeking help.[19][20]
And now this custom has become associated with the advent of religious occasions andIslamic holidays such asEid al-Fitr,Qadr Night, and theMawlid, and some of them hold it to celebrate theAmazigh New Year calledYennayer corresponding to thetwelfth of January of each year in theGregorian calendar.[21][22][23]
