El Hamel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
El Hamel | |
|---|---|
Commune and town | |
 View of the northern side of the Ouled Naïl Range | |
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  El Hamel | |
| Coordinates: 35°8′N 4°5′E / 35.133°N 4.083°E | |
| Country |  Algeria |
| Province | M'Sila Province |
| District | Bou Saâda District |
| Population (2008) | |
• Total | 11,018 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
El Hamel is a town and commune in M'Sila Province, Algeria. According to the 1998 census it has a population of 10,195.[1]
El Hamel was built in the 11th century on two hills at the foot of Mount Omrane; Surrounded by mountains on all sides, the city resembles a medieval citadel below which flows the Great Oued. The village of the Saharan type, on a hill, while the zaouïa whose appearance resembles a fortress (ribât) rises on the second.
Many of the inhabitants descend from the so-called Hedjadjs (pilgrim) of El-Hamel who, returning from the Hajj pilgrimage settled here. The first of these inhabitants were the children of the noble Sidi Bouzid Ben Ali Ach'Charif Al-Hassani, from whom descend all Sharifs (descendants of Muhammad[2]) from the central Maghreb.
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