Mozabite

Mozabite refers to the Mozabite people, an Amazigh (Berber) community concentrated in the M’zab valley of central Algeria, with Ghardaïa as its historical urban center. The Mozabites are distinguished by their Ibadi Muslim faith, a minority branch of Islam, and by a traditional social and architectural organization based in fortified towns known as ksars.

The Mozabite language is a Berber language spoken by Mozabites. It is a variety of Tamazight and belongs to the Northern Berber language group, with dialects tied to local communities within the M’zab valley. In daily life many Mozabites are bilingual, using Arabic and French in addition to Mozabite, especially outside traditional settings.

Culturally, the Mozabites are noted for distinctive urban planning and architecture adapted to the desert environment, including high-walled compounds and narrow streets designed for privacy and defense. The M’zab valley’s built environment and Ibadi way of life contributed to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, highlighting the enduring social and architectural heritage of the community.

Today Mozabite communities exist primarily in Algeria, with smaller diaspora communities in France and other countries due to migration. The Mozabite language faces challenges from language shift toward Arabic, though cultural and educational initiatives aim to preserve Mozabite language and traditions within the community.