Mallemin

Themallemin(alsomaalemine,mualleminetc.; derived from a plural of theArabicwordmu`allim,meaning approximately "sir" or "teacher" ) were a professionalcasteofblacksmithsandmetalworkerswithinHassaniyaArabsociety,Mauritania,southernMoroccoandWestern Saharaand. They held a low place on the social ladder, but their services were used by alltribes.

See also

Tribal castes and terms:

• Hassane(warrior tribes)
• Zaouiya(religious tribes)
• Znaga(subservient tribes)
• Haratine(former slaves, freedmen)
• Abid(slaves)
• Igaouen(griotbards)

Other:

• Mauritania
• Western Sahara
• Hassaniya Arabic
• Arab
• Berber people

Further reading

• John Mercer (1976),Spanish Sahara,George Allen & Unwid Ltd (ISBN0-04-966013-6)
• Anthony G. Pazzanita (2006),Historical Dictionary of Western Sahara,Scarecrow Press
• Virginia Thompson and Richard Adloff (1980),The Western Saharans. Background to Conflict,Barnes & Noble Books (ISBN0-389-20148-0)