The Berber people

Also called Imazighen(in antiquity, known asLibyans by the Greeks), the Berber are the
indigenous people of North Africa, west of the Nile Valley. Many Berbers call themselves some
variant of the word Imazighen (singular: Amazigh), possibly meaning "free people" or "free
and noble men". The word has probably an ancient parallel in the Roman name for some of
the Berber, "Mazices".

The name Berber comes from the name given to this people by the Romans, meaning
barbarians. The history of the Berber people in northern Africa is both extensive and diverse.
Their oldest ancestors settled in the East of Egypt. Many are the references to this old people
in Greek, Roman and Phoenician texts. In fact, Berber is a generic name given to numerous
heterogeneous ethnic groups who share similar cultural, political and economical practices.

The Arabization of the Berber people happened in three stages. First it was the contact with
Arabic invaders in the 7th century. The second stage started with the arrival of the Bedouins
in the 11th century. And finally the 3rd stage took place between the 15th and 17th centuries
and it was accelerated by the arrival of Andalusian refugees.

Contrary to the romantic, popular image that portrays Berbers as nomadic people who cross
the desert in camels, their main activity is sedentary agriculture, which they carry out in
mountains and valleys. But their long-recorded influence in trading in the region is also true.
They were the first to open the commercial routes between Western Africa and Sub-Saharan
Africa. They were responsible for bringing goods from beyond the Sahara desert to Northern
African cities.

Nowadays, besides the traditional means of living, there is a new element which is part of the economy of Berber
families, namely income from the large number of immigrants in Europe, especially in France. Along several millennia
the Berber language, Tamazight, has gradually turned into nearly thirty existing languages and hundreds of dialects, to
say nothing of several others which disappeared long ago like Guanche spoken in The Canary Islands. Although the
Berber language is basically oral, Berbers have had their own writing system, called Libico-Berber, for at least 2,500
years. At present this alphabet is used by the Touaregs but the Latin alphabet with a few variations and the Arabic
alphabet are the most commonly used.

Berber society has traditionally been divided into farmers and merchants. Cultivation of the land was considered
lower-class work whilst upper classes were merchants. Normally sedentary farming groups would pay tribute to a
merchant local chief, as guarantee to be defended in return. However, as time went by, these farmers acquired a certain
amount of wealth while, at the same time, the economic importance of commercial routes fell. Besides, these groups
were given priority by colonial and post colonial authorities, in detriment of the traditional power merchants used to
have.

Their architecture is as varied as the countries they live in. Berber constructions in the hills of Jebel Nebusa are among
the most remarkable. They are underground houses carved vertically or horizontally in limestone. Some of them look
like ordinary caves on the slopes of hills. Others have been deeply dug on the ground and they have a complex net of
rooms around a central hole which is used as a fountain.
As for their beliefs, since their conversion to Islam in the 7th century (they were mostly Christians before this time)
they have been faithful observant of its rules, except for the Ramadan fast that travellers are not obliged to follow. Like
most Muslims in North Africa, many Berbers believe in the continuous presence of several spirits (djinns). Divination
is carried out through the Koran. Most men use protecting amulets which contain verses from The Koran.

In Morocco the Drawa Berbers inhabit the region of the river Dra Valley; The Dades live in the North East; The
Mesgita, Seddrat and Zeri along inflowing rivers of the North West; The Ghomara live in the Moroccan Rif, the north-
eastern region of the country, north of Fez; The Kabyle, meaning "the tribes", originally referred to all Berbers.
However, nowadays the term covers only Berbers living in Al-Quabail Mountains, and The Sousi in High Western
Atlas Mountains.

The Berber people

Also called Imazighen(in antiquity, known asLibyans by the Greeks), the Berber are the
indigenous people of North Africa, west of the Nile Valley. Many Berbers call themselves some
variant of the word Imazighen (singular: Amazigh), possibly meaning "free people" or "free
and noble men". The word has probably an ancient parallel in the Roman name for some of
the Berber, "Mazices".

The name Berber comes from the name given to this people by the Romans, meaning
barbarians. The history of the Berber people in northern Africa is both extensive and diverse.
Their oldest ancestors settled in the East of Egypt. Many are the references to this old people
in Greek, Roman and Phoenician texts. In fact, Berber is a generic name given to numerous
heterogeneous ethnic groups who share similar cultural, political and economical practices.

The Arabization of the Berber people happened in three stages. First it was the contact with
Arabic invaders in the 7th century. The second stage started with the arrival of the Bedouins
in the 11th century. And finally the 3rd stage took place between the 15th and 17th centuries
and it was accelerated by the arrival of Andalusian refugees.

Contrary to the romantic, popular image that portrays Berbers as nomadic people who cross
the desert in camels, their main activity is sedentary agriculture, which they carry out in
mountains and valleys. But their long-recorded influence in trading in the region is also true.
They were the first to open the commercial routes between Western Africa and Sub-Saharan
Africa. They were responsible for bringing goods from beyond the Sahara desert to Northern
African cities.

Nowadays, besides the traditional means of living, there is a new element which is part of the economy of Berber
families, namely income from the large number of immigrants in Europe, especially in France. Along several millennia
the Berber language, Tamazight, has gradually turned into nearly thirty existing languages and hundreds of dialects, to
say nothing of several others which disappeared long ago like Guanche spoken in The Canary Islands. Although the
Berber language is basically oral, Berbers have had their own writing system, called Libico-Berber, for at least 2,500
years. At present this alphabet is used by the Touaregs but the Latin alphabet with a few variations and the Arabic
alphabet are the most commonly used.
Berber society has traditionally been divided into farmers and merchants. Cultivation of the land was considered
lower-class work whilst upper classes were merchants. Normally sedentary farming groups would pay tribute to a
merchant local chief, as guarantee to be defended in return. However, as time went by, these farmers acquired a certain
amount of wealth while, at the same time, the economic importance of commercial routes fell. Besides, these groups
were given priority by colonial and post colonial authorities, in detriment of the traditional power merchants used to
have.

Their architecture is as varied as the countries they live in. Berber constructions in the hills of Jebel Nebusa are among
the most remarkable. They are underground houses carved vertically or horizontally in limestone. Some of them look
like ordinary caves on the slopes of hills. Others have been deeply dug on the ground and they have a complex net of
rooms around a central hole which is used as a fountain.

As for their beliefs, since their conversion to Islam in the 7th century (they were mostly Christians before this time)
they have been faithful observant of its rules, except for the Ramadan fast that travellers are not obliged to follow. Like
most Muslims in North Africa, many Berbers believe in the continuous presence of several spirits (djinns). Divination
is carried out through the Koran. Most men use protecting amulets which contain verses from The Koran.

In Morocco the Drawa Berbers inhabit the region of the river Dra Valley; The Dades live in the North East; The
Mesgita, Seddrat and Zeri along inflowing rivers of the North West; The Ghomara live in the Moroccan Rif, the north-
eastern region of the country, north of Fez; The Kabyle, meaning "the tribes", originally referred to all Berbers.
However, nowadays the term covers only Berbers living in Al-Quabail Mountains, and The Sousi in High Western
Atlas Mountains.