Ida-u-el-Haj

Ida-u-el-Haj, a widespread group of Tuareg tribes, West Sahara, most of whom are descendants of the ancient Zenaga family; they have played an important part in this region as propagators of Islam and founders of the Mohammedan kingdom of Walata in El-Hodh, at that time inhabited by Negroes from Sudan. They are divided into numerous factions, one of which, the Ahel Sidi Mahmud, were formerly masters of Adrar, where their chief settlement was the flourishing market of Wadan. These all claim to be Marabouts, and as such have great influence over the Sheratit division of the Ida-u-Aish confederacy.