“Peace is incompatible with malnutrition, extreme poverty and the refusal of the rights of peoples to self-determination. Disregard for the rights of individuals and peoples, the persistence of inequitable international economic structures, interference in the internal affairs of other states, foreign occupation and apartheid are always real or potential sources of armed conflict and international crisis. The only lasting peace is a just peace based on respect for human rights.”
(UNESCO, 1983, pp. 259; 261)
A people, a land, a history.
The People and Culture of the Western Sahara
As is true of the people of the United States, the people of the Western Sahara come from multiple ethnic and religious groupings, most with histories spanning hundreds of years in northern parts of the African continent, and all identifying as people of the Western Sahara, or Sahrawis. Sahrawis constitute more than twenty major tribes, which fall into three main groups: Reguibat, Oulad Delim and Tekna.
The Reguibat is a Sahrawi tribe of Sanhaja-Berber origins. The Reguibat speak Hassaniya Arabic. They identify descent from Sidi Ahmed Rguibi, who lived in the Saguia el-Hamra region in the 16th century.
The Oulad Delim comprise a Sahrawi tribe of mainly Arab origins. The Oulad Delim speak Hassaniya Arabic. They traditionally live in the southern regions of Western Sahara (Río de Oro), especially around the city of Dakhla. They are largely Sunni Islam.
The Tekna is a semi-nomadic Sahrawi tribal confederation of Lamta Sanhaja Berber origins. Its constituents today inhabit northern Western Sahara. The Tekna tribes speak Hassaniya Arabic and a Berber Shilha dialect. The Tekna also are Muslims and part of Sunni Islam.
Beside these three larger groupings there are descendants from smaller tribes with histories in the area dating back hundreds of years, including full Arabic tribes as well as full Berber tribes, like the Sanhaja Berbers, with histories in the Western Sahara pre-dating the Arab conquests that began in the 8th century. Through the centuries, some tribal blending has occurred.
Voices on the Ground:
Voices from the Diaspora:
Algeria
Australia
Cuba
France
Mauritania
Spain
Sahrawi Youth:
There is growing concern regarding the willingness of Sahrawi youth to continue to wait peacefully for Western Sahara independence. For more, read this:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15423166.2017.1338156
Sahrawi Poetry:
“Have the poets left me anything to speak about that they haven’t already said?”
- from a classical Arabic poetry verse by Antar Ibn Shadad, Arab warrior and poet from the pre-Islamic period.
To see the art and Spanish-language work of young Sahrawi poets, spend some time on this site:
For a review of poetry generated by Sahrawi writers, read:
Sahrawi Film, and International Film Festival - In the past 15 years, many captivating and informative films and videos have been produced by or on behalf of the Sahrawi people. Read about FiSahara, an international film festival supported by prominent film stars, writers and producers:
This video workshop offered by trainers from Witness and other organizations typically has occurred in advance of the Western Sahara International Film Festival (FiSahara), which takes place in the Sahrawi refugee camps in a remote corner of Southwestern Algeria:
Children and Art: - For info on other arts projects for/ with young Sahrawis, visit:
Books About the Western Sahara:
Thomas, Katlyn (2021): The Emperor’s Clothes. Global Directives LLC