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Political organisation·5 of 19

Electing a chief: the amghar n-ufilla

A top chief elected each year by those who could not be elected, removable, unpaid, and whose office lapsed around 1926-1927.

“Irhrem Amazdar, dans le Sarhro” (J. Robichez, 1946) — J. Robichez, Maroc central (Arthaud, 1946) ; fichier fourni par le titulaire du projet, Publication autorisée par le titulaire du projet (déclaration du 8 novembre 2026)

Confirmed by a verified source

The amghar n-ufilla (“chief from above”) was elected, in theory every year, at Admam near Igharm Amazdar. When it was a fifth's turn to provide the chief, the four others elected him from among its members: this is the “rotation and complementarity” described by Gellner and Hart.

Hart reports that the ceremony ended when the outgoing chief and a descendant of Mulay 'Abdallah bin l-Hsain placed a blade of grass in the successor's turban, to ensure a fertile year. Encyclopedic syntheses also describe a rite of milk and dates.

Chiefs at all levels were unpaid and could be removed at any time if their “luck” (adûkû, literally “slipper”) failed: bad harvests, defeat. The top chief was above all a war-chief, representing the Aït Atta to the neighbouring tribes. According to Hart, following Spillmann, the office was no longer filled after 1926 or 1927.

Assisted translation, not validated

⚠ French Wikipedia's wording, according to which the designated fifth itself elects its candidate, inverts the principle described by Hart (1966, p. 95). See also the compared dossier on Assou Oubasslam's title.

Terms

c. 1926 End of the regular election of a top chief (amghar n-ufilla)1932 Assou Oubasslam placed at the head of the resistance

Sources — 3 sources cited · 3 independent documentary line(s)

  1. Hart, 1966 — p. 94-96Excerpts consulted · Academic research
  2. Gellner, 1963Known through indirect citations · Academic research
  3. Wikipedia (English) — « Ait Atta »Full text consulted · Encyclopedic synthesis
Historical photograph“Irhrem Amazdar, dans le Sarhro” (J. Robichez, 1946)Prise de vue non datée (le catalogue situe les photographies du livre en 1937-1939) ; publication 1946J. Robichez, Maroc central (Arthaud, 1946) ; fichier fourni par le titulaire du projetProbable attribution— Identification based on a published or institutional source, without independent confirmation.