Iznasen

The Beni Znassen, Beni-Snassen (Singular : Aznass), or Yat-Iznassen, is the largest confederation tribes in Eastern Morocco. It contains groups and fractions of Arab and Berber tribes originating mainly from the historical Znata tribe, in the provinces of Oujda, Berkane and Taourirt.

Beni Znassen mountains

History

The Iznassen are Berbers, Arabs and Arabized Berbers.

Berbers are :

• Beni Khaled
• Beni Menqouch
• Beni 'Atiq
• Beni Ourimech

Arabs are :

• Ouled Sghir
• Laatamna
• Houara
• Ouled Mansour

Layout

The 4 tribes of Yat Iznassen

• Yat Khaled
  • Yat el Ghazi
  • Yat Taghejirt
  • Yat Drar
• Yat Menqouch
  • Yat Ali ou Ammas
  • Ahl Sefrou
  • Bessara
  • Yat Mimoun
  • Yat Khellouf
• Ayt 'Atiq
  • Tghasrout
  • Yat 'Ali U Yassin
  • Yat Amiyer
  • Yat Hammad
  • Tazaghine
  • Yat Moussi La'tach
  • Yat Moussi Rwa
  • Yat Mimoun
  • Yat Bouya'la
• Yat Ourimech
  • Yat Bou 'Abdoussayed
  • Yat 'Ali Chbab
  • Yat Abbou
  • Yat Tagma
  • Yat Nouga
  • Yat Mahiou

Language

The east of Morocco has many different languages. Beni Iznasen mostly speak Arabic and a small minority can speak Arabic and Berber. Bilingualism sometimes occurs, mainly in the older generations. The younger generations usually only speak Arabic.

Arabic

The Arabic dialect of eastern Morocco is the so-called Hilali Arab dialect. It is similar to the dialects of Marrakech and Casablanca. It is different to the urban (pre-Hilali) dialects of Fes and the north of Morocco. This Arabic dialect also is similar to the dialect of western Algeria (Tlemcen), which borders the Beni Iznasen area.