In the heart of the expansive Mauritanian desert of Sahara lies Maaden el Ervane, a verdant haven where communal life, spiritual devotion, and sustainable farming form the pillars of a balanced existence.
Established in 1975 by Sufi spiritual leader Mohamed Lemine Sidina, 250 miles North East of Nouakchott, the capital city of Mauritania; this secluded village was christened Maaden el Ervane, meaning “the deposit of wisdom” in the local Arabic dialect. Isolated from everything, it is situated in the mountainous region of Adrar.
Sheikh Sidina envisioned a community rooted in equality, brotherhood, tolerance, and diligent labor, built on fertile land beneath a modest rock outcrop. Despite Sidina’s passing over two decades ago, his ideals persist, and his legacy lives on.
At the site of the oldest building in the village, Imam Taha Sidina regularly recalls his father’s vision for Maaden el Ervane. “Each evening, the community would get together to plan the next day’s program,” he said. “Digging wells, creating roads, or planting palm trees, and people help each other without expecting to get paid.”
Imam Sidima insists that obedience was enough to transform this green oasis in the middle of nowhere into a fraternal utopia half a century ago. The village grew house by house. Residents first built a small dam to retain precious water, then laid out fields, founded a school, and set up a community clinic.
Mohamed Ould Vaide, a farmer of Maadem el Ervane, told AFP, that today their land feeds more than two thousand inhabitants and their animals. “This is the first time I have cultivated this plot,”said Ould Vaide. “These days I have just started harvesting tomatoes, onions, carrots, peppers, and many other vegetables. The land is good, and we can live from our produce without any problem.”
Vaide, like many villagers, earns a living from farming, thanks to innovations introduced by Pierre Rabhi, a French pioneer in organic agriculture. Rabhi who traveled to Mauritania in 2018, was captivated by the village and imparted his environmental principles, leading to the adoption of compost over chemical fertilizers and solar panels in place of fuel-powered pumps, making the village nearly self-sustaining.
“Before, our palm trees lacked nutrients,” said Palm Tree Owner Khalil Ould Talib. “When Pierre Rabhi came, he taught us how to make compost and put it under the palm trees. This makes the land more fertile, and date production.”
Rabhi also facilitated the delivery of a henna grinding machine, enabling women to process the local plant for cosmetics while engaging in crafts, agriculture, or trade. “In Maaden, women can farm, wear boots, perform manual labor, and greet men. It’s distinct from other villages,” said Zeinab Mintou Boubou, 57, leader of the women’s farming association. Traditional Islamic law in the rest of Mauritania prohibits interactions between unrelated men and women and excludes women from certain activities.
Hospitality is a cornerstone of Maaden’s moral nature, embodied by a visitors’ center that accommodates and feeds all travelers. While neighboring villages face population decline, Maaden flourishes, with its arable land gradually increasing due to a beneficial wind that keeps the fields clear of sand.