BENI ISGUENE

also spelled Beni Isguen, town, one of five in the oasis of M'zab (q.v.), central Algeria, in the Sahara. The name is derived from Berber words meaning "the sons of those who keep the faith." Beni Isguene was founded in the middle of the 11th century by the Ibadiyah, a Berber Muslim heretical sect originally from Tiaret. Beni Isguene's town walls were restored in 1860, and according to tradition it is a sacred town. Strangers are not allowed in Beni Isguene during the midday prayers that last about four hours; nor are they permitted there after sunset or to spend the night within its walls. Strangers may not even visit the place without a guide, and even guided nonresidents are forbidden in some quarters. Surveillance from Beni Isguene's watchtower, called Tour du Tafilet, facilitates enforcement of these prohibitions. At the west end of Beni Isguene stands the white, 12th-century mosque of the oasis at the edge of a palm grove. The inhabitants, in order to preserve their own purity, generally do not venture outside their oasis. Modern technology, however, has filtered inside in the form of motor-driven pumps for irrigation and natural gas for cooking. The main handicrafts are pottery, brassware, jewelry, and carpets.