Haha (tribe)
The Haha or Iḥaḥan is a Moroccan confederation of Masmouda Berber tribes in the Western High Atlas in Morocco. They identify themselves as a tribal confederacy of the Chleuh people, and speak the Shilha language. Their region stretches along from the city of Essaouira south to the Souss Valley, mainly on the Atlantic coast.
History
Despite being Islamized, the Haha lack Arab blood. They were possibly Islamized by Uqba ibn Nafi. The confederation first appeared in history as a supporter of the Almoravids in the 11th century and later the Almohads. Ibn Khaldun described the Haha as proud and courageous and other authors like Leo Africanus and Marmol also spoke about the Haha and their territory.Writing about the province of Haha, Leo Africanus says:In the 1939 census, they had a population of 84,000 people and had 20 Jews among them.
Tribal composition
The Haha are made up of the following tribes:- Ida Ou Gourd
- Ida Ou Issaren
- Ida Ou Guelloul
- Aït Amer
- Ineknafen
- Imgrad
- Ida Ou Kazzou
- Ida Ou Tghemma
- Aït Zelten
- Ida Ou Zemzem
- Ida Ou Bouzia
- Aït ʿIssi