Moor in Mauritania

Introduction / History

The people known as Moors today are an offshoot of the Berber people, specifically a Hijazi Arab/Tuareg mixed tribe. When Arabs conquered North Africa in the 7th and 8th centuries, one of the first Berber people to convert were the Tuareg, who at that time dwelt on the African Red Sea coast. They helped the Arabs in their spread of Islam until they reached the Atlantic. From there the Moors and other Berber tribes conquered the Iberian Peninsula, southern France and Italy and the island of Sicily. This kingdom was known as Al Andalusia or the Moroccan Empire. The Moors constructed cobblestone streets and multi-storied buildings. They built over 15 universities in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. The Moors, Arabs and Jews were expelled from Iberia in 1492 after King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella defeated the last of the Moorish strongholds.

After being expelled from Iberia and Italy, the Moors who resided in Europe rejoined the rest of their Berber tribesmen in Africa. A new problem arose when an oppressive Arab ruler in Algeria persecuted the Berbers who practiced a different form of Islam. The Moors were forced to flee into the desert where they now inhabit the Sahara from Western Mali, South-Western Algeria, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Southern Morocco and Northern Senegal.

Since ancient times the Moors have been nomads who are astute traders and merchants.

Their pre-Islamic culture is a fusion of Berber and Beja traditions. While in Europe they lived in a much more hospitable climate and adapted to farming and urban life. When forced back into Africa they were banished from the more moderate North African coast and into the harsh Sahara desert. They then took back up the camel and became traders once more, controlling the salt and gold trade. During the Islamic Golden Age, the slave trade boomed, specifically in Moorish Spain. Spanish, Portuguese, Sicilian and Slavic peoples made up the European slave population and Chadic, Mande and Noba people made up the Sudanic slave trade.

After the French colonized Northwest Africa they literally reversed Moorish society by putting the light skinned Moors as the "Adma" (Nobility) and "Lahma" (Commoners) and the dark skinned Moors are as "Abd le tilad" (Servant who is part of the family) and "Abd le taribya" (purchased slave).

What Are Their Lives Like?

The intermixing with slaves caused the diversity of what Moor/Berber look like today. Some Moorish tribes are white skinned and red haired and others are coal black with Sudanic features. Therefore, there are basically two Moorish people in Mauritania and beyond. The lighter skinned Moors have far more power than those with more sub-Saharan African features. To add to the complication, each Moorish tribe believes that they are the descendants of a common male ancestor. At times this has led to open hostility between tribes. However, tribes often have peaceful competitions as a means of securing their ancestral, tribal positions. The traditional ranking order of the tribes greatly affects the personal relationships Moors have with one another, whether in the desert, in town or in the city.

Parents pre-arrange marriages, with the groom's father requesting the hand of the bride. A Moorish woman does not marry against her family's wishes. She is given a dowry (money or property) upon marriage. When Moors from different nomadic tribes meet, they follow certain rigid customs. These customs (a consequence of the long history of raids in the desert) are used by the groups to regulate the meeting. For example, when conversing, they use several mannerisms to indicate their involvement in the conversation. If a Moor blows on his hand during a conversation, it means he does not believe anything that is being said. If he puts his finger in his ear, it means that he is not interested in what is being said.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Moors are virtually all Sunni Muslim and part of the Malikite sect. They have adopted Arab culture and speak Hassaniyya Arabic. Pre-Islamic North Africans were a matriarchal people who had female rulers and traced their lineage through women. Moors, Tuareg and Saharawi tribes on the other hand were patriarchal before the Arab conquest due to the fact they are Semites instead of Hamites.

What Are Their Needs?

First and foremost, the Moorish people need to end slavery and establish equal rights for Moors of all shades and features. The Moors need to then be given a fair chance at listening to the Gospels from the perspective of Jesus not only being a prophet, but God in the flesh.

Prayer Points

Pray that God will grant wisdom and favor to missions agencies focusing on the Moors.
Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Moors towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the gospel.
Pray that God will open the hearts of Mauritania's governmental leaders to the gospel.
Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.
Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Moors.
Pray for translation of the Bible to begin in this people group's primary language.

Text Source:   Joshua Project