Often referred to as “Berbers”, the Amazigh are a diverse collection of ethnic groups Indigenous to North Africa. While they are concentrated primarily in the Maghreb region (Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Tunisia and Morocco), they can also be found in northern Mali and northern Niger.
Predating the arrival of Arabs in the region, the Amazigh people have a rich cultural heritage and linguistic traditions that stretch back centuries. Their ways of life have persisted even as waves of outside influence, from Arab migrations to European colonisation, have washed over the region.
In Morocco, the Amazigh continue to maintain a distinct identity and experiencing their cultural heritage is a highlight of any visit.
In this guide, I’ll share with you a brief history of the Amazigh people of Morocco and how you can learn more about them while visiting the country.
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A brief history of the Amazigh people
Descended from North African Stone Age tribes, the first written accounts of the Amazigh people can be found in ancient Egyptian writings dating back to around 2000 BCE. During this time, Amazigh languages and cultures began spreading westward from the Nile Valley across the Sahara Desert into the Maghreb region of North Africa.
Over the centuries, a diverse array of Amazigh groups arose and some established influential kingdoms (such as Numidia and Mauretania) that wielded significant power and influence in the region. However, their political autonomy was challenged by the Arab conquests of the 7th and 8th centuries CE. This set in motion a long process of "Arabisation" - the spread of Arabic language and culture - that would have a profound and lasting impact on Amazigh communities. It eventually led to the widespread adoption of Arabic as the primary language and the conversion of many Amazigh people to Islam.
While local Arab dynasties came to rule parts of the Maghreb, Amazigh tribes remained powerful political forces and even founded new ruling dynasties in the 10th and 11th centuries. The spread of Islam also provided ideological momentum for the rise of major Amazigh empires like the Almoravids and Almohads in the 11th to 13th centuries. Their successors - the Marinids, Zayyanids and Hafsids - continued to wield power until the 16th century.
Colonial rule saw the rise of “Berberism” - a political-cultural movement against the Arabisation of North Africa. However, it was only once Arabic was adopted as the official language in the wake of Moroccan independence that the movement began to gather force amongst the general populace. This was largely due to the fact that indigenous Amazigh people were forced to study Arabic and weren’t able to use Tamazight at school.
In Morocco, the constitutional reforms enacted in 2011 were a watershed moment, as they elevated the Amazigh language to an official national language that is now taught in schools. This represents a major shift away from the historical marginalisation and suppression of Amazigh identity across the Maghreb. It has also amplified the question of whether we should be referring to Indigenous Moroccans as “Amazigh” or “Berber”.
History of the Amazigh people of Morocco
Amazigh vs Berber: What’s the difference?
Historically, the Indigenous peoples of Morocco did not refer to themselves using the terms “Amazigh” or “Berber”. Instead, they used their own local names and languages to identify themselves, with each community or tribe having its own distinct terminology.
The word "Berber" itself is derived from the ancient Greek term “barbaros" (“barbarians”) which was used to describe non-Greek speaking peoples and was later adopted by Arab conquerors to refer to Indigenous North Africans. As such, some Indigenous Moroccans view the term "Berber" as derogatory and would prefer to be referred to by the collective term “Amazigh”, which means “free people”.
That being said, many Amazigh people in Morocco have no problem with the term “Berber” and proudly use it as a form of cultural identification. Many Amazigh-owned businesses have “Berber” in the title, as do cultural museums. My husband is Amazigh and is happy to be referred to as “Berber”, although he recognises that others don’t.
In addition to their cultural identity, the Amazigh people of Morocco have placed a strong emphasis on preserving their ancestral language. This language, which dates back over 2,000 years, has been known by various names over the centuries, including Tamacheq, Tamaheq and Tamazight. In modern times, the preferred term is generally Tamazight, though the specific dialect can vary considerably depending on the geographic region.
For instance, the Souss people in southern Morocco refer to their language as Tashelhit and this is what my husband’s family speaks at home. The nomadic Tuareg people of the Sahara Desert call their Tamazight dialect Tuareg while the Mozabite people of the M'zab valley in Algeria speak Tumzabt. Despite this diversity of regional dialects and terminology, native speakers often refer their language as “Berber” when they are talking to foreigners.
As a traveller, I feel a responsibility to understand the struggles of Indigenous peoples in the countries I visit and to educate myself on their preferred terminology. Our choice of words is incredibly important in giving Indigenous peoples the dignity they deserve and supports the preservation of their cultural legacy. It’s for this reason I have predominantly used the word “Amazigh” throughout my website, except when “Berber” has been used by an organisation or business to describe itself or if I am directly quoting someone else.
Amazigh vs Berber: What's the difference?
How to experience Amazigh culture in Morocco
If you’re travelling to Morocco, there are so many opportunities to experience the country’s Amazigh culture, from the majestic Atlas Mountains to the expansive Sahara Desert. Many remote towns and villages are still predominantly Amazigh and there are lots of tours that enable you to visit with the help of a local interpreter. In the Ourika Valley, you’ll find the Berber Ecomuseum, which showcases Indigenous handicrafts and artefacts that illustrate their traditional way of life.
Even in the cities, there are opportunities to experience Amazigh culture, whether it’s shopping for handmade goods in the souks or visiting the Musée Berbère within Marrakech’s Jardins Majorelle compound. Agadir is an urban heartland of Amazigh culture and one of the only cities in the country where Tamazight is spoken by more than half the locals. This is where my husband grew up and while he is a modern city dweller, he is culturally rooted in Amazigh traditions.
There are also lots of cultural festivals taking place across Morocco throughout the year that celebrate Amazigh traditions, with none more important than Amazigh New Year. Also known as Yennayer, it takes place on January 12 and is like a big party, with lots of amazing food and music in the streets. Other festivals such as Tafraoute’s Almond Blossom Festival and the Imilchil Marriage Festival are, on the facade, about the harvest season and love, but they are also celebrations of the Amazigh traditions in their respective towns.
To learn more about Morocco’s incredible cultural festivals, check out my detailed article here.
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