Zanata
زناتة
Zanata, among the greatest Berber tribes; of the Baranis stock in the genealogists' count, their homeland the Middle and Far Maghreb, Sijilmasa and its marches, tent-dwellers and settlers both — their tiers: the first Maghrawa, Banu Yafran and Miknasa; the second Awlad Mandil, Musamida and their kin; the third Banu Badin including Banu Tujin and the royal houses of the Marinids of Fez and Abd al-Wadids of Tlemcen — from them rose Abu Yazid 'Man of the Donkey' against the Fatimids, and they obeyed by turns the Marwanid and Fatimid da'wa until the Almoravid state arose.
At a glance
- Era
- The Umayyad Period · The Early Abbasid Caliphate · Abbasid Fragmentation · The Buyid, Fatimid and Seljuk Era · The Crusades, Ayyubids and Mamluks
- Region
- Maghreb
- Review
- Draft Completeness 1/5 · Help complete it
Overview
Zanata are one of the greatest Berber tribes. The genealogists count them among the branches of the Barnas. Ibn Khaldun says that their homelands were the central and far Maghrib, Sijilmasa and its surroundings, and that they were both nomads and settled people. 1
Their classes
Ibn Khaldun gives them three classes. The first is Maghrawa, Banu Yafran and Miknasa. The second is Awlad Mandil, the Masmuda and those related to them. 1
The third is Banu Badin, among whom are Banu Tujin, Banu Marin, kings of Fez, and Banu Abd al-Wad, kings of Tlemcen. 1
In history
He says that Abu Yazid, the man of the donkey, rose from among them against the Fatimid state. At times they followed the Umayyad call and at times the Shi'i call, until the Almoravid state arose. 1
A second source is needed: the dates, and a second source other than Ibn Khaldun.
Sources
- Kitab al-Ibar of Ibn Khaldun
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Zanata”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/group/zanata/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-17.