The Zénètes (or Zenata ) are a group Berbères of the medieval time from which descend several current Berber tribes. The Moslem historian Ibn Khaldoun makes some with the Masmouda and the Sanhadja, one of the three great Berber groups of the Moslem era. Zénètes, in the beginning nomads which lived the plains of the the Maghreb, formed several kingdoms which in particular had as a capital Tlemcen, Sijilmassa or Fès and Kairouan.

Their language, the zénète or Zenati , is a variety of the Berbère. Several berbérophones groups dispersed through the Maghreb nowadays preserved the zénète; in north at the border algéro-Morrocan woman in the area of the Blessed Snous, and in several Saharan Oases in particular in the area of the Gourara, in the Aurès, the Zab and in Libya, etc

History

Ibn Khaldoun makes of certain Madghis, of which it goes up the ascent until Cham the son of Noah, the ancestor patriarch of Zénètes. Zénètes were then wandering and were devoted primarily to the pastoral activities. On arrival of the first Moslems at the 7th century, part of Zénètes are raised, with the image of the Dejrawa under the Kahina, opposing long and serious resistance to the new conquerors. After the failure of last resistances, Islam is spread, but as of the 8th century the majority of Zénètes adopt the doctrines Kharidjite, rigorous, but levelling, in opposition to the system of Califat of the Omeyyades. They will be expelled all the Arabs of the Maghreb under Abou Qurra of Tlemcen. The first Berber State is proclaimed in the Maghreb by him. It will quickly be broken by the internal struggles of the Berber tribes.

The dynasty Aghlabides will seize the power in Ifriquiya. Current Marco will be under the predominance of Idrissites.

The last rebellion kharidjite Zénète took place at the 20th century under the control of Abu Yazid. The Zénète tribes were then mainly allied with the Califat of Cordoue, fighting for the control of the Western Maghreb. Abou Yazid made join together all the Berber tribes of the Aurès to raise an attack against the fatimides.

Abou Yazid will be victorious, it will take again all Ifriquia (part of the Algérie and all the Tunisia) and names Kairouan like capital Kharidjite of the Maghreb.

Ommeyyades test with all the means to bring back their capacity. What will cause the bursting of the Zénètes tribes. The war bursts once more between the Zénètes tribes.

The Fatimides were in war against Ommeyyades.

Ibn Khaldoun reports that Zénètes were wandering and that each tribe had its territory before and during the Moslem era in North Africa. They learned Arabic (reading and the writing) for the period from Islam, which enabled them to carry out transformations in the life Bedouin and mountain in Such and in the Sahara. According to Ibn Khaldoun, Zénètes of the first race are divided into three large tribes. The Dejrawa, tribe of the Kahina. They will be almost exterminated by the Arab attacks. Maghraoua comes in second position, it also will undergo much human losses (almost the extinction). The Banou Ifren are in third position according to Ibn Khaldoun. They also will lose much their (almost the extinction). According to Ibn Khaldoun, the first Zénète race formed by the two tribes Maghraoua and Banou Ifren built a dynasty. And the second race, the Mérinides and the Abdelwadides, two great dynasties. Lastly, the dynasty Wattassides will be formed after the death of Ibn Khaldoun. The national spirit was stronger at the Sanhadja and the Ketama, the Houara and the Miknassa that Zénètes. Their number as was more important at these four tribes as at Zénètes according to Ibn Kaldoun.