What are Amazigh known for?

From about 2000 bce, Berber (Amazigh) languages spread westward from the Nile valley across the northern Sahara into the Maghrib. Meanwhile, Berber merchants and nomads of the Sahara had initiated a trans-Saharan trade in gold and slaves that incorporated the lands of the Sudan into the Islamic world.

What is Amazigh?

We are called Amazigh, plural Imazighen, a word which means “free people” in the Indigenous Tamazight language. Among outsiders, the more common – though incorrect – name for Imazighen is Berber, a term that is largely rejected by Imazighen for its negative connotations.

How many Amazigh people are there?

The Amazigh population amounts to around 30 to 40 million people, who are spread out across Morocco (around 14 million), Algeria (around 9 million), Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Mali, Niger and Mauritania. There are also large Amazigh migrant communities across Europe.

What race is Amazigh?

The Amazigh (or Imazighen, the plural for Amazigh) are said to be the indigenous peoples of Morocco either having mythical origins or immigrating from Yemen, Syria/Lebanon, or Nigeria (Maddy-Weitzman, Berber Identity Movement and the Challenge to North African States, 2011).

Are Berber people friendly?

The Berber people are so incredibly friendly and kind. You’ll be offered to share ‘Berber Whisky’ (or Moroccan mint tea) and can indulge in traditional Moroccan cuisine such as Tagine or Pastilla.

What is the Amazigh culture?

Indigenous to North Africa, the Amazigh people, sometimes known as Berbers, have spent decades fighting for cultural recognition in the predominantly-Arab region. The third pillar of Amazigh identity, Ddam, represents a sense of belonging through the cohesiveness of family and culture, while also signifying sacrifice.

What does the Amazigh symbol mean?

The blue symbolizes the Mediterranean Sea & the Atlantic Ocean; the Green represents nature & the green mountains; the Yellow represents the ‘Free Man’ which is the meaning of the Berber word ‘Amazigh’, the Berbers own name for themselves. The Red is the color of life, and also the color of resistance.

What’s the meaning of Berbers?

Definition of Berber 1 : a member of any of various peoples living in northern Africa west of Tripoli. 2a : a branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family comprising languages spoken by various peoples of northern Africa and the Sahara (such as the Tuaregs and the Kabyles) b : any one of the Berber languages.

Who made the Amazigh flag?

Originally created by the Berber Academy (Agraw Imazighen) in the 70s, the flag was adopted in 1998 flag of the Berber people by the Amazigh World Congress (CMA, Agraw Amadlan Amazigh). The “ⵣ” symbol is a Tifinagh letter called “yaz” and pronounced [z].

Who are the Amazigh in North Africa?

Amazigh, (Berber) the Indigenous Non-Arab Population of North Africa, and Their language. The Amazigh or Imazighen (Berber) and the Phoenician Punics The Phoenician colonies in North Africa started out as peaceful, trading presence among the Amazigh original inhabitants of the region.

What does Imazighen mean in Amazigh?

Shoshenq was an Amazigh of Libyan descent, and is one of the most notable Amazigh figures in ancient North African history. For Imazighen, the date therefore symbolises strength and power.

When is the Amazigh New Year?

The Amazigh New Year coincides with the 12th of January every year. Today is the first day of a new decade: 2970 Year. The Amazighs are one of the indigenous peoples that inhabited the North African region extending from the Siwa Oasis in the east to the Atlantic Ocean in the west.

Did the Amazigh preserve the Phoenician language?

The Amazigh, as well as the Punic Phoenicians, who survived the Roman subjugation of the region are credited with preserving the Phoenician language up till the time of Saint Augustine in the 5th century. Further, traces of the Phoenician alphabet are evident in the Tamazight (Berber) alphabet called Tifinagh.