Kuzey Afrika’da Arapçanın Yayılmasında Benî Hilâl Kabilelerinin Etkisi
The Influence of the Banū Hilāl Tribes on the Spread of Arabic in North Africa

Summary/Abstract: The present study investigates the role of the Banū Hilāl tribes in the Arabization of North Africa, with particular emphasis on the linguistic dimension of this historical process. The hypothesis underpinning this study is that the integration of Berber populations into an Arab identity was not a consequence of coercion or forced assimilation. Rather, it was the result of a confluence of factors, including migration patterns, political shifts, cultural affinity, social interaction, and shared living environments. In this context, the migration of the Banū Hilāl marked the onset of a substantial transformation in the linguistic and cultural structure of the region. The migration of the Banū Hilāl to North Africa during the 5th/11th century, encouraged by the Fatimid regime, played a decisive role in accelerating the spread of Arabic. Their presence contributed to the adoption of Arabic not only as the language of religion but also as a common medium of daily communication. In contrast to earlier Arab settlements which were predominantly urban in nature, the Banū Hilāl established themselves primarily in rural and inland regions, thereby facilitating more sustained and intimate interaction with Berber-speaking communities. This movement was not merely demographic in nature; it represented a broader transformation that reshaped the region’s linguistic and cultural structures. Drawing on classical Arabic and Islamic historical sources, this study employs a historical-analytical approach to compare levels of Arabization before and after the arrival of the Banū Hilāl. The research findings indicate that the tribes played a pivotal role in the dissemination of Arabic in regions that had previously experienced minimal Arab influence. The process was facilitated by shared shared nomadic practices between the Banū Hilāl and the Berbers. Furthermore the processes of intermarriage, trade, and religious unity within Islam fostered a conducive environment for linguistic exchange. The dialects introduced by the Banū Hilāl exerted a profoundly influence on local vernaculars, oral traditions, and popular culture, thereby laying the foundations for contemporary Maghrebi Arabic. In conclusion, the present study aims to demonstrate that the migration of the Banū Hilāl played a decisive role in the Arabization of North Africa and was a fundamental factor in incorporating the region's linguistic identity into Arab-Islamic civilisation.

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