The Shawia people, or Chaouis (Algerian Arabic: شاويه, Shawiya: Išawiyen) are a Berber people who live mainly in the Aurès, Nememcha and Belezma regions located in and surrounded by the Aurès Mountains, a large part of eastern Algeria known in ancient times as Numidia. They call themselves Išawiyen/Icawiyen (pronounced [iʃawijən]) and speak the Shawiya language.
Historically, the Aurès Mountains served as a refuge for Berber peoples, forming a base of resistance against the Roman Empire, the Vandals, the Byzantine Empire and Arabs. Aurès was also a district of Algeria that existed during and after the Algerian War from 1954 to 1962. It was in this region that Berber freedom fighters started the war.
The patriarch of Berbers is believed to be Madghacen, common ancestor of the Zenata and of the Botri as well. Ibn Khaldun identified the Zenata as Berbers. Modern historians rank this Berber region within the group of Numidians and Gaetuli or the much more ancient such as Meshwesh, Maesulians and Mazaxes, from whom formed the Zenata, the main inhabitants of the Aurès in the Middle Ages. Chaoui clans known by Ibn Khaldoun were the Ifren, Maghrawa, Djerawa, Abdalwadides, Howara and Awarba.
(Rollin' rollin' rollin' rollin' rollin' rollin'
rollin' rollin'
Rawhide rawhide rawhide)
Rollin' rollin' rollin' rollin' thought the streams are
swollen
Keep them dogies rollin' rawhide
Through rain and wind and weather hell bent for leather
Wishin' my gal was by my side
All the things I'm missin' good fiddles love and
kissin'
Are waitin' at the end of my ride
Move 'em on head 'em up head 'em up move 'em on
Move 'em on head 'em up rawhide
Head 'em out ride 'em in ride 'em in let 'em out
Cut 'em out ride 'em in rawhide
(Movin' movin' movin' movin' movin' movin' movin'
movin')
Movin' movin' movin' movin' thought they're
disapprovin'
Keep them dogies movin' rawhide
Don't try to understand them rope and throw and brand
them
Soon we'll be livin' high and wide
My heart's calculatin' my true love will be waitin'
Be waitin' at the end of my ride
Move 'em on head 'em up...
(Rollin' rollin' rollin' rollin' rollin' rollin'
rollin' rollin'