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Introduction
The Berbers lived in north Africa long before the arrival of the Arabs,
and their culture probably dates back more than 4,000 years. Berber states known as
Mauritania and Numidia existed in classical times.
Between the 11th and 13th centuries, two great Berber dynasties
– the Almoravids
and the Almohads
– controlled large parts of Spain, as well as north-west
Africa.
Today, there are substantial Berber populations in Morocco
and Algeria, plus smaller numbers in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. In Morocco, about 40%
acknowledge a Berber identity, though many more have Berber ancestry.
Berbers are identified primarily by language but
also by traditional customs and culture – such as the distinctive music and dances.
There is a tendency in Morocco to regard the Berbers as
backward, partly because their culture is strongest in the less-developed rural areas.
Many of the children in these regions drop out of school because they are taught in what,
to them, is a foreign language - Arabic. The language barrier often remains a problem
throughout adult life, especially when dealing with officialdom.
Berber is not officially recognised in Morocco, though
French (the old colonial language) is. There was some pressure in 1996, when the
constitution was being revised, to have Berber
recognised. For more about this see the Berber
manifesto.
In January 2010 Morocco established its first Amazigh TV channel,
broadcasting in the Tachelhit, Tarifit and Tamazight dialects.
Linguistically, Berber belongs to the Afro-Asiatic group,
and has many dialects.
The three main dialects used in Morocco are Tachelhit, Tamazight and Tarifit.
Collectively, they are known as "shilha" in Arabic.
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Tachelhit (sometimes known as
"soussi" or "cleuh") is spoken in south-west Morocco, in an area
between Ifni in the south, Agadir in the north and Marrakech and the Draa/Sous valleys in
the east.
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Tamazight is spoken in the Middle Atlas,
between Taza, Khemisset, Azilal and Errachidia.
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Tarifit (or Rifia) is spoken in the Rif
area of northern Morocco.
Berber is basically a spoken language, though there have
been (and still are) attempts to gain acceptance for a written form. A Berber
alphabet, probably derived from the ancient Punic
script, has existed for around 2,500 years.
More about Berbers:
Wikipedia BBC
"The story of Africa" series The
Amazigh (phoenicia.org) Pictures:
Moroccan
Berbers
Photographs by William Coupon
Images of daily life in
Morocco
by James Miller
Articles
The Amazigh Question and National Identity in Morocco
By Said Bennis (Professor, Mohammed V University – Faculty of Literature and Social Sciences). Arab Reform Initiative, July 2009
Libyan Berbers struggle to assert their identity online
By Aisha al-Rumi. Arab Media & Society, Spring 2009 Morocco: Lift Restrictions on Amazigh (Berber) Names
Human Rights Watch, September 2009
Algeria, Saudi Arabia partner for first-ever Tamazight Qur'an
Magharebia, 21 August 2009 Morocco: The Berber Dance Is Over
By Daan Bauwens. Global Analyst Online, 13 August 2009
Television wiping out ‘satanic’ Berber culture in Morocco
Daily Star, 14 August, 2009
The Tamazight issue in 2009
Regarding Algerian Berbers. The Moor Next Door, 25 March, 2009
French among Algeria's elite
A discussion of the politics of language. Jabal al-Lughat, 25 April, 2009
Morocco's Berbers
battle to keep from losing their culture..
by Peter Prengaman (San
Francisco Chronicle, 16 March, 2001)
The Amazigh
revival in Morocco
by Driss Benmhend (wafin.com, June 1997)
Reflections on the Amazigh
consciousness in Morocco
by Ahmed El Asser Renaissance berbčre
au Maroc
Joël Donnet (Le Monde diplomatique,
January 1995)
The
Berbers: fighting on two fronts
About Algeria's berbers. BBC 28 June, 1998
Berber music
The ancient Berber culture is extrordinarily rich and diverse,
with a variety of musical styles. These range from bagpipes and oboe (Celtic
style) to pentatonic music (reminiscent of Chinese music) - all
combined with African rhythms and a very important stock of authentic
oral literature. These traditions have been kept alive by small
bands of musicians who travel from village to village, as they have
for centuries, to entertain at weddings and other social occasions
with their songs, tales, and poetry. To hear the sounds visit the excellent
Azawan amazigh website, or
check out the musicians below:
Abdelli (Algeria)
His website: www.abdelli.com
Argan
Album: "South Moroccan Motor Berber"
Bnet
Marrakech (Morocco)
Hasnia
El Becharia (Algeria)
Idir
(Algeria)
Master Musicians
of Jajouka
Their website: www.jajouka.com
Moh
Alileche (Algeria)
Najat Aatabou
Details of her album, Country Girls and City Women
Numidia
(Spain)
Their website: www.numidiamusic.com
Orchestre
National de Barbes (France)
Umalu
(Algeria).
His website: www.adrum.com
Yelas
(Algeria)
His website: www.yelas.com
Websites
Achal
Amazigh Cultural Association in
America
(Tiddukla Tadelsant Tamazight di Marikan)
Amazigh Voice (Taghect
Tamazight)
Berbere
Radio Television
Broadcasts from France in tamazight and French. The radio
can be heard over the internet.
Berber World
(Monde Berbere)
A comprehensive site in English, French and Berber
Izlan
Imazighen
Kabyle.com
Tafsut
Berber cultural association
Tamazgha
Berber cultural association in France
Tawalt.com
Libyan amazigh website. (Inactive since February 2009, but
still online – see
article.)
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