Roots of Amazigh assertion of identity
2005-11-23
A presentation of the Middle East Studies Association of North America focused on the rise of Amaizgh identify in North Africa, with presenters arguing that it mostly came about in recent times.
 [File] A Kabylia statue honouring people involved in Amazigh movement |
At the 39th Middle East Studies Association of North America conference in Washington DC, the Amazigh question was tackled by Oxford University's Michael J. Willis in his presentation "A Berber Spring in Morocco?: Political Dimensions of Berber (Amazigh) Identity in Morocco and Algeria". He is author of "Islamist Challenge in Algeria" and is currently working on a book called "Comparative Politics in the Maghreb".
While the recent push among the Amazigh for identity and recognition is often painted as the culmination of a long struggle, Willis feels the phenomena has more recent roots.
He specifically points to the 1980 "Kabylia Spring" in Algeria, when Amazigh protests led to the cancellation of an election.
The main impetus to the demonstrations was an Algerian effort to make Arabic the sole language for education. A reason for the Amazigh starting to support their identity has roots in France's "Berber Myth". The French felt that Amazigh may be more "European" than other North Africans and the population was given more access to French education, with the learning informing them of their own identity.
The Amazigh movement in Morocco seems to be more the concern of educated urbanites and expatriates
The natural outgrowth of Amazigh identity moved it to Morocco. The movement likely moved to Morocco later because the Amazigh population tends to be more geographically spread out than in Algeria. Another factor is that the Amazigh had long before infiltrated the military and royalist parties. The Amazigh movement in Morocco seems to be more the concern of educated urbanites and expatriates than the actual population. The people themselves tend to want to see the nation made more democratic as a whole, without any special emphasis paid to them. Factors that could lead to Moroccan Amazigh asserting themselves more are if they start to see themselves as a poor segment of society and if more radical ideas are spread via the Internet.
While Jonathan Wyrtzen of Georgetown University notes the slow destruction of indigenous Maghreb culture to an Arab one over the past 1,000 years, he sees the roots of Amazigh identity in the period 1930 to 1939.
A noted French historian saw Morocco as a place populated by urban Arabs and rural Amazigh. The conclusion led to France issuing the "Berber Decrees".
The heart of the decrees was a quasi-partition of Morocco into Amazigh and Arabic spheres. The French spread the idea that Amazigh may be subversive, while many Morccans actually saw them as heroes of earlier struggles.
Nationalist Moroccans were disheartened by the splitting of the country, especially by the idea that the Aamzigh may not answer to the sultan. A special Latif prayer was said in mosques throughout the country asking for unity.
While the outbreak of the Second World War ended the momentum of the nationalist movements, the French-manufactured identity split may have set the stage for the Amazigh identity emergence of today.
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أولبصير محمد صادق Posted 2006-12-07
I am very pleased and happy for your commitment in favor of Amazigh language and culture. I wish this wont be limited to Morocco or Algeria. I would like to see this struggle for Amazigh identity reach the Canaries Islands and the North of Egypt, because it is a struggle for « Amazigheness » (THAMAZGHA), and this thamazgha is not limited to one North-African country. Congratulations, God bless you. Long live Amazigh TAHIA THARWA NIMAZIGHEN
oulebsir mohamed saddek Posted 2006-12-07
Thank you for opening this forum to various stakeholders, so that they can express their feelings and opinions on the Amazigh issue. Let us hope it will last forever and that Imazighens from all around the world foster Amazigh language and culture. Glory to the Imazighens martyrs Tahia tharwa natmazgha.
nakata183 Posted 2006-12-19
May the Lord reward you for this work. Tamazight will live with or without the will of Arabized regimes because North Africa is being hijacked by these regimes loyal to the East for a connection between the Arabs and easter "origin". Amazigh are being persecuted and wiped out. But Amazigh are become conscious of their cause and I say to those working vigilantly to support it: Tanmirt: Thank you!
khalidos Posted 2007-01-17
Very mediocre article. It is distorting the history of North Africa. "Tamzgha" is an historic land whether you like it or not. Enough of your snobbishness and chauvinism!. With all the due respect. An Amazighi, proud of his history, identity and culture. Thanks
takfarinas Posted 2007-02-04
Amazigh is a mother and blood in my veins. It is a struggle and the air that we breathe. Will die for it Thanks
sammy Posted 2007-02-05
this is a matter that exist in Morroco and Algeria in tunisia doesn't play a role any more and thank god of it. the importing thing to me that i am tunisian even if my ancestors may have a berber blood in them it won't make me feel a berber one.
بلعيد Posted 2007-03-02
Tamazight is recognized by the world as a language except Morocco. It has though forged its way of progress with the help of the Tamazigh Democratic party that spared no effort to promote this language despite the harassment that it faces from Morocco, but it has achieved its goals. Thanks
ghighouchi Posted 2007-03-29
Azul to all Amazigh people, I tell you that hand in hand, the Amazigh will progress, with or without the will of everyone, greetings.
محمد Posted 2007-04-01
Salam Alaikoum my dear Muslim brothers, stop dissipation and dispersion, be aware of what's been plotted. I say to my Muslim Amazigh brothers, you're our brothers and we love you. There are no problems between us as Muslims. And we do not accept any harm to our religion. And what's said about persecution, that's totally absent. The proof is that Amazigh people occupy positions in all the institutions of the State.
ESMAIL Posted 2007-04-02
Amazigh language is love and pride and all Amazigh people are free.
TODRT Posted 2007-04-02
The role of the Amazigh is limited to developing Morocco and achieving good communication between all Moroccans.
M.HMD Posted 2007-04-06
Azul , there's no cage that will hold Amazigh people even if it's golden. A free people who has lived in freedom and in the era of oppression and violations it's uprising to find its lost and violated freedom, and with the will of God, victory is upcoming and not much is separating us from victory of our case. Thanks to God You have created me Amazigh and granted me Islam as religion and please God take revenge from the oppressors and envious.
MOHAMED Posted 2007-04-08
Amazigh issue is fair and everyone who denies it is a traitor before God and before history
esmail Posted 2007-04-09
Tamazight is just a language like all other languages
lmssyh Posted 2007-04-09
We here in Lakhsas in Souss, we communicate with Amazigh language in the street, at home, and in public administrations, except at schools. Most people don't know how to write in its alphabet because of the school, that's why we ask the Ministry to standardise teaching Amazigh language at all levels.
walid Posted 2007-05-14
Thank you for your interest
abdellatif Posted 2007-05-17
Fear God, Fear God, the tumult is latent...I'm Amazigh, but what I see and write about the excesses and threats by those who think that they're defending the Amazigh langauge make me concerned about the future of this safe country. In the first and last place we are Muslims. The fact that the Arabic language is the language of the Qur'an should be a great honour for us.
laajaj houcine Posted 2007-05-25
Salam Alaikoum, I'm an Amazigh and I'm proud of my identity, but I think that this illusionary struggle means that we have to fight for nothing, meaning that we have to make tha Amazigh language an official language and so on...I don't agree because we don't serve the interest of the nation and thus we'll divide and destroy the country, we should be quite satisfied that the Arabic language is the language of the Koran
ايحيحي Posted 2007-05-28
The Amazigh language will survive with or against the will of the stupid Arab, from here I address a warning to the socialists chauvinists that we'll revenge for the killing of the Amazighs Alhasnawi and Alfasawi.
ba3jja el kbbaba Posted 2007-05-29
How can we let the Amazigh do what they want to us? They say we have to expel Arabs from our lands but our blood has been mixed for 14 centuries. Enough rupture and vagrancy and problems with our Sahraoui brothers, as well as internal problems such as unemployment... We have to unite and mobilize ourselves behind our king, and protect our monarchy from any potential threat. From an Amazigh person concerned about the interest of the country and who doesn't like personal interest, salam
اوال Posted 2007-06-05
Preserving the Amazigh identity is the responsibility of its faithful sons, that's why we have to join efforts in order to oppose anyone who tries to attack it and deny its existence
أمازيغي Posted 2007-06-07
The first word on the real democratic book of this country is constitualization of the Amazigh language in addition to the Arabic, spread it in all educational levels, introduce it in the administration and judiciary in all the regions of Morocco. Let's start hand in hand for a true and solid union. Not a nationalistic union which is pointless. Be realistic, how can we move forward if we aren't recognized.......
انوال Posted 2007-06-10
Long live Amazigh people wherever they are, we cannot forget our language or identity.
assanach Posted 2007-06-12
Salam alaikoum, I'm one of the Muslims of Beni Mazigh, we're the people who made history throughout time, who fought Rome, Persia and Egypt in the era of Pharaohs, we're the volcano which recorded history, a history full of victories, I want to say we're Muslims and not Arabs, we don't believe in the Arabic nation but we believe in the Islamic nation alone all the year round-----I want to say who are Arabs, how did they invade North Africa, how did they sow tumult between Berber tribes, and why are presidents Arabs only and not Berber. Why this chaos?
lhoussaine Posted 2007-06-15
Greetings to you my brothers and sisters, we the Amazigh people have established the Amazigh, the Watassn have gone, and even if they have gone they'll come back, and if they don't come back, we'll come back, it's not me who says that, anyone who cheats Imazighen we trust, greetings.
ماسين Posted 2007-06-15
The Amazigh language is an identity and culture for the Moroccans with the will of those who will and despite those who opppose it. No feeling of Moroccan Amazigh
hassan alouazgani Posted 2007-06-17
A greeting to the free nice Amazigh people, we'll be Amazighs forever, thank you.
قومي عربي Posted 2007-06-18
To the Berber brothers, I say that I hear a noise and see nothing. All this talk doesn't lead anywhere. I tell you, you can never be independent of the Arabs because you're like fish- if it leaves water, it will die. And it's understood from the culture of Berbers that they love those who subjugate them and oppress them like cats that love those who oppress them. Think about what I say- even if Arabs crush you with their feet, you won't relinquish them as you're peaceful people. How many nations have colonized you and conquered you? The first conquest came to you from the East from Phoenicians, then conquests succeeded from Romans, Vandals, Byzantines and even French people who governed Algeria for 130 years, Algerians didn't rise up against the French until after the French were defeated in Vietnam and made false promises to Algerians.
andich chahid Posted 2007-06-26
Greetings of Tamazight, what I want to say is the Amazigh language will be permanent and fight its enemies/time/ Arabism....
ابن ليـــبـــيـــا Posted 2007-06-29
I'm an Amazigh from Libya which hosts the most resisting Amazigh people against arabization and destruction practised by the arabized authorities and their assistants. Long live the Amazigh , land, race and identity and our language. We're always be Muslim amazighs. A free Libyan Amazigh man...
sifaw Posted 2007-07-13
Greetings, Heigel says 'A person who isn't conscious about himself, is degraded from the status of a person and becomes a thing that can be taken and possessed'. Hand in hand, Amazigh people will be on the top.
مسلم بادن الله Posted 2007-07-13
Stop this fragmentation, division and splitting, those who encourage this fragmentation are the American and French enemies, the malicious, who hate Islam, plot against it and create hatred among its sons, regardless whether you're Amazigh, Arab, or Persian, you're Muslim. And it's the Muslim who is targeted by these enemies, so stop nation of Islam being an easy bite in the mouth of the enemies and a subjugated tool to serve their low aims. Supposing that the Islam's teams or states gained one more state, what's the service you'll do for Islam . It will weigh down on Islam. The world demolishes gates, borders and walls, and meds differences. As for us in Islam , we're so good at finding the differences and fragmentation means. To God we are and to God we shall return.
tafoukt Posted 2007-07-23
We're Amazigh Muslims, we love Islam and respect it, but this doesn't mean that we'll waive our roots. We won't allow anyone to say that Amazigh language belongs to the past. Never, as it's and will always be present. I also want to say to all Amazigh people who say let's waive our origins to avoid causing a tumult. This is idleness...Why do we have always to be a billy-goat...finally...if it's Arabised it will be ruined...and if it's Berberized it will be restored.
لمثوكي محمد بوابوظ Posted 2007-07-26
God bless you for your interest in Tamazight Tachlhit Tamazight the heritage
طيفل امزيغي Posted 2007-07-28
We Amazigh people won't allow anyone to say that Amazigh language belongs to the past. I want to say to Amazigh people who foresake their roots that they should always stick to their Tachlhit, God, nation and the king. Long live the king and may God grant the king success.
عدو القوميين العرب Posted 2007-08-02
No to the Arabism of Morocco, Morocco is the country of Amazigh people, with its North, South, Sahara and mountains. Arabs have settled in the country in the name of Islam. Islam disowns them. Why were Persia, Turkey, Indonesia... not Arabized. Away with Arabs and their panarabism.
Alhoceima Arif Posted 2007-08-03
Azul, the presence of Arabs in Tamzgha (country of Amazigh people) is like the presence of America in Iraq. As for Islam, it's the religion of God not the religion of Arabs!!
تانيث تمازيغت Posted 2007-08-05
Greetings to you. What I'll say is that the present conflict is similar to the one which rose between Arabs and Turkish people in Palestine, as Arabs called for foreign assistance, and everyone fell in colonization. We've all to recognize the other with his traditions, customs and past. As everyone knows, man evolves, for the person who said that Amazighs can't live without Arabs. Do you make equals to Gods, your words???? Long live Amazigh language, my langauge and the language of my mother. I'll upsurge if anyone tries to obliterate my existence, ignore my existence and culture, like what ALG did with France. And as a philosopher said, man is a wolf to his brother. What can be said about this attempt to bury the Amazigh identity. It comes, goes, and comes, the evil has gone. Greetings.
acharif moulay abdellah bouskraoui Posted 2007-08-06
A Letter from Moulay Abdellah on the Potential for Amazigh. Dear Brothers, During your conferences and your pursuits, always remember the open hands and help his majesty the King has extended to you, because all Moroccans are Amazigh, be it their mothers, be it their fathers, be it other family members, and be they of Arab or Jewish ancestry. Morocco is our country and the king is our unifier. Be faithful subjects to his majesty the King, just as you have always been. I am proud that in each of your conferences you have shown your loyalty to the radiant throne and your devotion to the service of Our Sovereign, His Majesty, King Mohammed VI. I hope that dialogue on the Amazigh will not be a new way to try and win privileges, as these people have already suffered enough from other’s ambitious. By the hands of the justness of Our Supreme Chief, Our Unifier, His Majesty King Mohammed VI May God guide you in your task. May God protect him. Amen. –Signed, Acharif Moulay Abdellah Bouskraoui
معاذ Posted 2007-08-06
Salam alaikoum, machallah, God bless you.
سيفاو Posted 2007-08-06
The Amazigh state is the origins and blood, they're the first people in Africa, but time and oppressive regimes are the reason why they've remained in North Africa. Greetings, Rmitoune Sifou.
jabrane omar marrakech Posted 2007-08-09
Islam is our religion, Tamazight is our language, Souss is our state, and struggle is our way; driving away Arabs from the state of Tamzgha is the highest of our hopes.
tamu Posted 2007-08-10
It's one of the components of democracy to acknowledge the Amazigh language, because the country is theirs and right is on their side, and animosity is for another man who gave his orders to set up an institute to consider studying the Amazigh language and upgrade it to promote it in the coming future. It is inevitable to deal with this blessed phenomenon. We should avoid condemning its supporters because it will only bring negative effects on its people.
قومي عربي Posted 2007-08-11
Adam divorced Eve as she gave birth to Berbers. From an Andalusian poet: I saw Adam in my dream and told him "Father of humanity people pretend that Berbers are your sons", he said "Then Eve is not my wife if what they say is true".
zedgui hahou Posted 2007-08-26
Long live Tamazight, long live free Amazigh people, with the consent of the supporters and opposition of opposers.
امنار Posted 2007-09-02
Greetings to you, I confirm that the Amazigh nation has a far better civilization, more than what can be imagined.
ولد لبلاد Posted 2007-09-04
I think that unfortunately, there is no solution for this issue. I’m an Arab, I have lived with Amazigh people from Souss, they treated me as though I was their enemy, even if I respect them. The destiny of the State is to be divided between Arabs and Amazighs. I support this solution without complimenting the fate.
مازيغ ارقاز Posted 2007-09-10
We're so proud of our origins, and the origin is hard, it cannot be shaken, and we're the way of the civilization, i.e. in the Libyan, we're hard on you.
اثري نريف ا زايو Posted 2007-09-15
Greetings my Amazigh brothers, I tell you stick firmly to your identity. God the Almighty says in His holy Koran "We have made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other. Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you". My Arab brothers, do you know that Amazigh respect Islam more than you do. If you want an example go to the Rif to see how we stick to Islam.
تنيت تمازيغت Posted 2007-09-16
An endless conflict. I hope there will be an equality between Amazighia and Arabic, because no one suffers the humility of the Amazighi person who doesn't speak Arabic when he travels. I support the Amazigh struggle and militancy. Long live the Amazigh people. Long live Tamzgha and the land of Tamzgha.
علي العربي Posted 2007-09-19
Arabs have a role in Morocco. They are homogenous with Amazighs, their unity is unbeatable with the will of the supporters and against the will of those who disagree, the sick and cramped.
mohamed Posted 2007-09-30
Amazigh language is like all other languages and we're very proud of our language...Tamazight, Tamazight our blood in our veins, we'll never forget it unless they kill us and take our blood...!
ابراهيم نجم Posted 2007-10-01
In the name of God, peace and prayer on the messenger of God. Salam alaikoum. Greetings to you. I’ve read some articles whose authors are following the current of tumult whether Arabs or Amazighs. I want to tell you just look at America which gathers different races who live away of division although it’s a secular materialist State. But we Muslims we’re still debating the problems of you’re Arab, you’re a terrorist, you’re Amazigh, you’re… Why don’t we act in one position faithful to God? If the Amazigh person wants to be known in the scientific field, he should work hard, innovate, introduce his language and identity but not through tumult or illusions. We need brotherhood and unity and not division. May God guide all Muslims. This is a sincere call from me to you. Stop these shambles, be open and look around you, the Jews are a small group but we’ve remained at the bottom, stepped over by everyone.
mohamed Posted 2007-10-05
Together to make Tamazight an official langauge in the country.
mohamed el berhichi Posted 2007-10-06
The Muslim offers his life for three things: his religion, country and language...!!!! Tamazight is our langauge and Morocco our Morocco...A good greeting to you.
amazigh o3ta Posted 2007-10-13
Greetings to you sons of Tlili. We're Amazigh people, we were born Amazighs and we're still Amazighs. We won't forget as long as our blood is Amazigh. We will defend our Amazigh identity until death.
IDIIIIR Posted 2007-10-22
Greetings to Imazighen- how are you? I tell you hand in hand, Tamazight will go up, with the will of the supporters and against the will of those who oppose. A warm greeting.
مغرب الامازيغ(جبران عمر) Posted 2007-10-26
Long live the Amazigh nation despite the plots of the schemers. God who created Tamazight is capable of protecting it. But we shouldn't forget that there are good and evil people.
محمد البرهيشي Posted 2007-10-27
Today or tomorrow, Tamazight is certain.
عمرو امازيغ Posted 2007-10-28
Greetings to you brothers Amazigh, we the Amazighs will live and die Amazighs. Hand in hand we will achieve our aim together.
سمير لقبايلي Posted 2007-11-01
Tamazight: our language, the language of our fathers and forefathers...etc. Islam: our religion, the religion of our fathers and forefathers...etc And if anyone wants something different in Algeria, he is not one of us.
saad Posted 2007-11-01
I'm Arab, but my son is half Arab and half Berber. We're brothers whether you want or not. Saad.
الشاوي Posted 2007-11-05
For how long have the roots of Tamazight in North Africa been buried as it they were a dead corpse scraped by the Arab oppressive occupation? Africa is for Africans and African Amazighs. Massinsa, Accel, Bougarthen and Al Kahina look at us with the eye of a perplexed dead at the state of Amazighs. For how long have you buried your heads in the earth like ostriches, leaving the oppressive Arab occupation to plunder the resources of your land. Be or not be, history has no mercy.
جبران السوسي Posted 2007-11-05
We're with the Amazighs of the Atlas, the Rif and the Amazigh of Algeria, Libya and Tunisia and all Amazighs of the world. We Amazighs from Sousse are proud of our identity because we're despised by the savage Arabs. We're free and the Western Sahara belongs to the Moroccan Amazighs and not Arabs the mercenaries.
أمازيغي مغربي Posted 2007-11-07
Salam alaikoum everyone. The call to revive the Amazigh language is not intended to enhance discrimination between cultures. It intends to revive the Amazigh civilization and heritage. We hope it will contribute to our overall culture. It worth mentioning here that we are all Moroccans, our religion is Islam and our common fate concerns us all, Morocco belongs to all of us. I condemn all the discriminatory movements that are narrow like the narrowness of the minds and ideas of their supporters who are parasites to the Amazigh language. Amazighs describe them with a description used by someone in his comment and which I am not going to repeat here, given the evilness of its meaning and the baseness of its origin. Moreover, I don’t want to stoke the fires of division which are felt in every word by this low clown. We the Moroccans are proud of having lived like united brothers related by strong and tight links. And here we are heading, with the will of God, Arabs and Amazighs, to build the foundation of our nation, united against anyone who thinks of violating the unity of this nation. Can anyone pretend that he can distinguish Amazighs from Arabs in that crowd of Moroccans who are trespassing and overcoming the fictive borders to Melilla? It’s certainly The Moroccan citizen's spirit which has been formed and built from the different culture of Moroccan identity…!
محمد البرهيشي Posted 2007-11-13
We have our own date and not the hegira.
mouman houcine Posted 2007-11-18
Amazigh people should confirm their identity.
امازيغ Posted 2007-11-21
We are Amazighs in the past, present and in the future. We're neither westerners nor Arabs. Our identity is Amazigh always and forever. We won't change our Amazigh origins/our life. We were born Amazighs, we will live Amazighs and will die Amazighs. (Our life is Amazigh, Tamazight is life). Greetings.
sahrawé ichmarin tinghir chleuhh Posted 2007-11-29
Tamazeght is necessary to get by.
ساليم Posted 2007-12-05
Salam alaikoum, I’m an Amazigh from Algeria. I just have a question, whenever we talk about our identity we find some illusionary and imaginary ideas from some sides and parties such as violating the territorial integrity, tumult, external pressure…You should be realistic, how can an Amazigh Algerian Muslim accept that his country subdues all you think of and Amazighs are known and recognized by Muslims to spread the religion of Mohamed, conquering Andalusia and also by Romans, Byzantines, Turkish and Pharaohs…to be free…
عبد أبعمران Posted 2007-12-16
Greetings to you Amazigh. Whatever you do Arabs, history isn’t merciful. How many centuries have elapsed since the entry of Islam? Tamazight was excluded but history didn't forget, and now the time has come for Amazighs to restore all the stolen rights for centuries even if this requires bearing arms in the face of Arabs. Bye.
جبران عمر Posted 2007-12-17
Oh Amazighs, Oh Arabs you should save Islam, it's in danger. No citizenship, no nationalism, yes to a Muslim Caliphate. God is greater and loss to the infidels.
مصطفى Posted 2008-01-10
Salam, azul, greetings. Souss is our emirate, Tamazight is our language, Islam is our religion and Morocco is our country. We should join hands and not be racists. The enemies of Islam want to stir up tumult between Arabs and Amazigh people. We should hold on to our traditions and customs and look forward to the future. There should be no tumult between us.
morad Posted 2008-01-10
Salam alaikoum. I'm an Amazigh man and I'm proud of it. I ask you as Amazighs to be one body and stop the Arab oppressive outspread in Amazigh regions, know that victory will come soon and we hope???
مسلم Posted 2008-01-12
Salam alaikoum. So odd how some people claim they're Muslims and they're radical against Arabic and everything Arab. Every Muslim is Arab and should learn Arabic. We have an example to be followed in our ascendants, for those who weren’t Arabs, when they joined Islam, they left their languages and stuck to Arabic until they became Imams whose words are taken as evidence. May God save us from humiliation after disgrace.
abdtalat Posted 2008-01-16
The Amazigh language is a living language and the mother tongue of millions of Maghreb people. Now it is imprisoned. It waits for its people to remove its chains so that it benefits like other languages from freedom and prosperity. This will be achieved only by struggle and struggle. A greeting to everyone jealous for this langauge. The language of our forefathers and our roots.
المازيغية Posted 2008-01-20
Africa for the Africans.
Achelhi75 Posted 2008-01-26
There are acrivists in organisations and universities who merit quite a lot. But, there can be daily activism as well, such as teaching your child Amazigh, not buying pirated CDs in order to help Amazigh artists, not automatically speaking Arabic in Morocco, etc. You are not obliged to ask for a coffee in Arabic when a German can ask for it in his language and, whether it be a cop or a merchant, they make the effort to respond in kind. I have two daughters who go to private schools in Paris. The eldest is 8 years old and, even though she comes here ever year to stay in Agadir for two month, she still does not know that in Morocco any other language besides Amazigh is spoken. With a real effort at restraint, there will be some sunny days ahead of us.
Anonymous Posted 2008-01-28
We are not against Amazigh being studied and spoken locally, as it is part of all our culture, but I think that to try to impose it on everyone is a mistake. It is as if one were to ask all the French to learn Corsican or Breton. As far as writing goes, let us take Persia and Pakistan as examples: they adopted Arabic script, and I assure you they are no less intelligent than us. And, finally, we are not going to allow ourselves to be manipulated such that we are divided in a way to be more easily ruled over. Trust me, I am of Kabyl origin.
ايمان Posted 2008-02-07
What’s the relationship between Berber and Amazigh, is it the same word? What about its definition in the dictionary ‘Lissane Al Arab’.
alnif 45 Posted 2008-02-08
The Amazigh language is a living language and the mother tongue to millions of Maghreb people. Now it is imprisoned. We expect of its people to break its chains so it can thrive in freedom and prosperity like other languages. This won’t be achieved only by struggle and struggle. A greeting to everyone protective for this language, the language of our forefathers and our roots.
جبران عمر Posted 2008-02-24
Chauvinism is paganism, atheism, retardation and racism. Whatever this chauvinism, its nationality, position or goals, whether Amazigh or Arabic, it is one of the rebuffs of ideas, personal and collective tendencies which were relentlessly fought by Islam.
oudad amazigh Posted 2008-03-12
The homeland is one there is just one point Arabs don’t like Amazigh people, why, because Arabs are racists what do they call to Berber people in Morocco, they call them all Mohamed; for us Mohamed is a very great name for us, we like it because it is the name of the prophet peace and prayer upon him. For them, Mohamed is a low thing. Please forgive me. Tamazight forever to death.
جمال Posted 2008-03-13
The Amazigh language and the Amazigh identity will one day take its merit courtesy to the dedication of its sons to achieve it. Amazighs aren’t the descendants of Arabs… Amazighs are free by their own nature… and will remain so…
mina Posted 2008-03-29
I love Amazigh and hope to be a teacher of this subject. I am a teacher in the Amazigh school in Agadir. Greetings.
mohamed Posted 2008-04-18
Firstly, I am an Amazigh Muslim who loves the Amazigh language because it is my mother tongue and I love Arabic because it is the language of the prophet, peace and prayer be upon him and the language of God in His book. Those who learn the language of a people, they secure themselves against their evil, whether they are Arabs or other people. There is no difference between Arabs and foreigners except in faith. God of humanity has chosen many of His creatures, and they were not all Arabs. As to my reply to the author of the stupidity that Amazighs or Algerians didn’t fight the French until after 130 years, I tell him that you should check history before you speak wrongly. The free people of this country didn’t spare a drop of blood for the cause of God alone. Because whenever a revolution was quenched, a greater revolution emerged. The price was three million martyrs. 1.5 million martyrs in the greatest revolution. These are the Muslims of Algeria, Amazighs and Arabs, brothers unified by Islam whether you like it or not. I say to those who fear division that with the will of God it won’t take place, because those who believe in God aren't enemies to their Muslim brothers. Finally, I say forget racism, it is one of the relics of pre-Islamic ignorance and as my beloved messenger of God said, leave it because it stinks. Thank you, greetings in the peace of God.
مسلم امازيغى Posted 2008-05-15
Arabs are the cause of North African nations' underdevelopment. Long live my kind mother Tamazight. Most Arabs are highwaymen.
Michael Posted 2008-05-15
I'm Amazigh but not muslim and proud thank you
Anslam Posted 2008-06-05
We the Amazigh people aren’t racist as some Arabs might think whenever we talk about the Amazigh issue. If they were so, why do they talk about Arabic and reject the other. We are Muslims, we don’t want to be enemies to anyone. We want to defend our Amazigh identity. Greetings to you Muslims.
laila Posted 2008-07-09
Salam alaikoum. I respect all languages and I say that Tamazight exists for centuries. There is no need for it to be taught at school. It already has a value. It doesn’t need anyone to raise its value.
الباشا الكلاوي Posted 2008-07-09
I am a free Amazigh for a long time. I hate every Arab who hates me. I love God and Islam. But I hate all Arabs because they have been very oppressive. We Amazigh people have our pride and dignity. I also hate every Amazigh who isn’t happy to speak the language of his forefathers. My greetings to you Amazigh people of Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. I thank the Algerians especially for their struggle for the Amazigh cause. Thanks to everyone who has Amazigh blood in his veins even if he isn’t Amazigh. Bye.
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