Amazigh

The Amazigh, or Imazighen, are an indigenous ethnic group of North Africa. The name Amazigh means “free people” or “noble men.” The term Berber is an older exonym used in various languages, but many contemporary speakers prefer Amazigh or Imazighen. They are native to the Maghreb and surrounding regions, with historical settlements in the Atlas and Anti-Atlas mountains, the Sahara, and coastal zones across present-day Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and portions of Mali and Niger, as well as communities in Europe through migration. Today they number in the millions and form a central element of the region’s cultural and linguistic landscape.

Languages and culture are central to Amazigh identity. The Amazigh speak Tamazight languages, part of the Afroasiatic language family. Major varieties include Kabyle (Algeria), Tashelhit/Shilha (Morocco), Tarifit (northern Morocco), Central Atlas Tamazight, and Tuareg varieties such as Tamasheq and Tamahaq. The languages are written in the traditional Tifinagh script and are also rendered in Latin or Arabic scripts in some areas. Cultural expression includes music, crafts, dress, and festivals tied to seasonal and communal life. Tuareg communities within the broader Amazigh umbrella have distinctive nomadic traditions and social structures.

History and modern status. The Amazigh have inhabited North Africa for millennia, interacting with Carthaginian, Roman, Islamic, and later colonial powers. In the 20th century, Amazigh movements sought recognition of language rights and cultural autonomy. In contemporary nation-states, Amazigh languages have achieved formal recognition in some countries: Tamazight is an official language in Morocco (since 2011) and Algeria (since 2016), with accompanying measures in education and media in many regions. Diaspora organizations and civil society continue to advocate for linguistic rights, cultural preservation, and political representation.