Lalla (title)

Lalla Salma, the princess consort of Morocco.

Lalla (meaning, "Lord" or "Lady"), is an honorary title and sign of distinction given to important women or from large families among Berbers in North Africa. The name can also be used, on an ad hoc basis, as a sign of respect. Depending on the context, we can assimilate the title of "Lalla" to those of "Moulay" or "Sidi", male honorary titles close to that of "Sir". The title is a prefix to his or her given name or personal name, and is used by individuals of noble or royal background.

This title is used by the royal families in Morocco and Tunisia (before the abolition of the Tunisian monarchy in 1957) for the wife, daughters, and sisters of the king as well as the rest of his relatives.

In the Amazigh language, the word "Lalla" also means "older sister".

The term Lalla can also be used in Derja (Maghrebian dialect) as a synonym for "Lady".

The protocol of Morocco requires that those meeting a Moulay or Lalla must bow and kiss them on the hand to demonstrate respect. Also, the queen consort of Tunisia (wife of the king) was called Lalla Beya in reference to her husband (Bey of Tunis).

Notable Lalla

Celebrities and Princesses

• Lalla Fatma N'Soumer (1830–1863), heroine of the Kabyle resistance (Algeria) against the French colonial empire.
• Lalla Chella, wife of the Sultan of Merinid and Abbessine origin Abu al-Hasan and whose necropolis is located in Chellah, Morocco.
• Lalla Zoulikha Oudai, Algerian resistant during the Algerian war.
• Lalla Traki (18..–1919), daughter of Muhammad IV of Tunisia and wife of Muhammad VII.
• Lalla Khedaoudj El Amia, daughter of Hassan El Khaznadji, treasurer of Dey Baba Mohammed ben-Osman (Dey of the regency of Algiers in the 18th century).

Essaada palace built by Muhammad V Nasir of Tunisia for his wife Lalla Kmar for her sake.

• Lalla Kmar (1862–1942), queen consort of Tunisia during three reigns, after having successively married Muhammad III Sadiq, Ali III and Muhammad V
• Lalla Jeneïna (1887–1960), last queen consort of Tunisia and wife of Muhammad VIII, last king of Tunisia.
• Lalla Aïcha (1906–1994), first daughter and eldest child of King Muhammad VIII of Tunisia.
• Lalla Abla (1909–1992), wife of King Mohammed V of Morocco and mother of King Hassan II of Morocco.
• Lalla Lilia (1929–), daughter of Muhammad VIII, last king of Tunisia.
• Lalla Malika (1933–), sister of King Hassan II, and daughter of King Mohammed V of Morocco.
• Lalla Latifa (1945–), widow of King Hassan II, and mother of King Mohammed VI of Morocco
• Lalla Salma (1978–), princess consort of Morocco and wife of King Mohammed VI of Morocco.
• Lalla Meryem (1962–), first daughter and eldest child of King Hassan II of Morocco and sister of King Mohammed VI.
• Lalla Asma (1965–), daughter of King Hassan II of Morocco and sister of King Mohammed VI.
• Lalla Hasna (1967–), daughter of King Hassan II of Morocco and sister of King Mohammed VI.
• Lalla Khadija (2007–), daughter of King Mohammed VI of Morocco.

Saints

• Lalla Khlidja, also called Yemma Khlidja, woman poetess and saint Kabyle woman of the tribe of Imchedalen.
• Lalla Maghnia, saint who gave her name to the city of Maghnia in Algeria.
• Lalla Mimouna, saint, celebrated by the Jews of the Maghreb known throughout the Maghreb, especially in Morocco and Algeria. The city of Lalla Mimouna located in the province of Kenitra in Morocco bears his name. Jewish families in Tlemcen, Algeria, celebrate Mimouna in tribute.
• Lalla Manoubia, Tunisian saint of great renown. A hagiographic account entitled Manâqib is dedicated to him.
• Lalla Aziza, saint celebrated by the Amazighs of the Seksawa of the High Atlas. 16th century woman who had played a role in resistance to the Merinids. It introduced Sufism into the region and marked the independence of the Seksawa.
• Lalla Rahma Youssef, saint of Massa, in the Sous region of Morocco.
• Lalla Manna (18..–1939) or Emna Ben Hammouda, known to be one of the righteous saints of Tunisia.

Tombs and mausoleums

Mausoleum of Lalla Mennana in Tunis.

• Tomb of Lalla Aziza, located in the country Seksawa, in the High Atlas, in Morocco.
• Mausoleum of Lalla Mennana, in Tunis, Tunisia.
• Mausoleum of Lalla Yemna, located at the top of Mount Gouraya in Bejaïa, in Kabylia, Algeria.
• Mausoleum of Lalla Manoubia, located in El Gorjani, in Tunis, Tunisia.

Others

• Treaty of Lalla Maghnia.
• Mosque of Lalla Saïda.
• Museum of Lalla Hadria, museum in Djerba, Tunisia.