Jmaʾa Tribal Council

views updated

JMAʾA TRIBAL COUNCIL

North African Berber political unit.

In precolonial North Africa, Jmaʾa represented the highest political authority in the tribe, led by an amghar (chief). During periods of war, the amghar became the chief of war (amghar n-l-baroud). Each sub-tribe had its representative in the Jmaʾa. In the contemporary period, although some villages still have a Jmaʾa, its functions have been, however, reconciled to the management of collective social events.

rahma bourqia