Amazigh TV channel to make Moroccan debut in 2009
2008-12-16
After much delay, Moroccan officials prepare for the launch of an Amazigh language television channel.
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 16/12/08
 [Sarah Touahri] IRCAM Director Ahmed Boukous wants the new Amazigh network to serve as a medium to showcase Amazigh culture. |
An amendment to the launch agreement of the long-promised Amazigh TV was signed on Friday (December 12th) in Rabat. The TV channel is now scheduled to go on air in September 2009 after several postponements. This time, officials have vowed to stick to the scheduled launch date.
Communications Minister Khalid Naciri said that this amendment now paves the way for the creation of the legal framework and practical arrangements necessary to ensure that the large-scale media project will become a reality. A budget of 500 million dirhams to cover four years of broadcasting has been allocated.
The National Radio and Television Company (SNRT) will be responsible for the operational measures necessary to ensure that the channel is launched on schedule.
"The new channel has almost finished recruiting staff, procuring resources and drawing up training plans, which will be implemented by SNRT employees and other partners," said SNRT President Faisal Laraichi.
The chief of production and programming at SNRT, Alami Khellouki, stated that a number of technical contracts will be put out to tender. "We plan to enter into discussions with production companies to enrich our programming, and will also run training sessions for staff. In nine months' time the channel will be ready."
The head of the Royal Institute for Amazigh Culture (IRCAM), Ahmed Boukous, declared that his organisation was ready to offer the benefit of its expertise in Amazigh language and culture to the channel to ensure high quality broadcasting. "It will be a community-based channel. Its aim is to integrate the Amazigh community into Moroccan society. It's intended not as a folk channel, but rather as a medium which will showcase Amazigh culture, which belongs to all Moroccans."
The initiative has already drawn widespread praise as a way to strengthen the concept of a diverse and united Morocco. Khalid Naciri said that "the channel represents a new milestone on the road to the shaping of Moroccan national identity".
Finance Minister Salaheddine Mezouar echoed this sentiment, saying the success of Amazigh TV represents a triumph for the diversity that characterises Moroccan culture.
Amazigh Moroccans hailed the long-awaited initiative. Teacher Rahma Beddioui stated: "The channel will make a real difference in public awareness, especially among those who know nothing other than Amazigh culture. Amazighs will feel that their identity has been enriched."
Amina Bencheikh, a member of the IRCAM, said that "the signature of the new agreement is a historic event and will portray the Amazighs in a new light as an open, advanced and forward-looking community."
The general-interest channel, which will broadcast exclusively in Amazigh, will air a wide range of items including programmes devoted to fiction, sport, music, politics, society and culture, as well as the Amazigh language.
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عدنان الحسناوى Posted 2008-12-17
Very good. Diversity is required in this part of the world. Ever since the first conquest of Muslims, we have been seeing wars in order to make one idea control our existence. Under globalisation and among the opportunities offered by scientific progress, it is the right of minorities to defend their cultural rights against the arrogance of the Muslim majority in the name of “Islam”.
abdellah Posted 2008-12-17
Officials must release this channel because it was long waited. There are millions of Amazighs who wait for it.
bm Posted 2008-12-18
This was last thing we were missing: regionalism forever and always. We are still not done with tribalism. Why not be more realistic and more pragmatic and really turn towards our future, choosing an English language channel that teaches, popularises and perfects the language??? Our future largely depends on this, whether we like it or not.
free man Posted 2008-12-20
surely arrive in September 2009 when we will say that the television channel will ona since 2010 and so on, this channel was to go on the air since 2006, say that lack the money to create the channel Amazigh, but for assadisa and arrabi3a and Aflam tv we have the money because they are Arab channels, this is all a matter of Arabization
amarg Posted 2008-12-22
National unity finds expression in the acceptance of diversity and one’s history.
oulhadj Posted 2008-12-26
Gentlemen- I think that His Majesty, King Mohamed VI’s decision is very encouraging for the Amazigh community. I hope that Algeria will follow this path.
ilias Posted 2008-12-26
Azul- I am responding to our friend, BM, without a doubt. I will remind you that we are in North Africa, here in our own land.
امازيغ Posted 2008-12-26
Congratulations even if the announcement comes late. Despite everything which was said, we don’t trust promises until the channel is launched God willing. We wish success to the channel. We hope that it presents the true image of the Amazigh civilization and avoid folklorising the Amazigh culture which is the origin of the Moroccan civilization. Bye, thank you for your interest.
a.karim Posted 2008-12-28
amazigh channal is a good step taken by Morocco to prove its diversity . it's an act of reconciliation by Moroccan with their authentic and real Identity. all thinking people in Morocco and all patriots must say hello to this courageous move.
asirem Posted 2009-01-20
Azul- I am Algerian. Soon, Algeria will also have its Amazigh channel.
said Posted 2009-01-21
To the citizens of the Middle East- We are Muslim Amazighs, not Arabs. Our respective governments make proclamations long and loud about our (disputed) Arab-ness, running elsewhere for support from the Middle East, particularly the Saudis. After having been Phoenicians, Romans and Frenchmen, we are now Arabs. Maybe one day we will return to being Amazighs. A television channel is nice, but other battles await the Amazigh people, such as fighting against our disappearance. The most devastating acts in regards to the latter are the works of the Amazighs themselves, so we should hold a grudge against ourselves. In fact, Algeria, using the same methods as the Moroccans, also postponed the establishment of an Amazigh channel for several years. But, hope persists.
Massinisa Posted 2009-02-10
It`s okay, as we say in French, PAS MAL ! Morocco or marakech the real old name of our Great country,it`s an Amazighan country.99% are Amazighan,without discussion! And Med6th The son of The Amazighan woman knows this very well.some and not all,those living in the cities speak Moroccan and NOT arabic,therew` difference.they are arbized.and this`s known,since when,and how,the idea of the smatest Andaloussian 3LAL AL-FASSI. We the new generationin morocco and abroad,New Zealand,Australia,CanadaUSA,Europ,South Amaerica...we know our history very well ! We are Amazighan,our land isn`t for Saudi Arabiain and other Arabic to come to have fun in ? Just don`t let Amazighan leave the islam ! because we are used to live without religion !You should put this in mind very well !It`s our country,The official language must be Amazighan,the Arabic id for the Quran? Allah didn`t say,Arabize people,dominate other countries ? Anyhow,we know well that those terrorist andalossians will not stop working their crimes behind the walls of the leader.But at least this modest channel will let some people who don`t have TV in mountains,to see and know who`s in the government,we have a president ora king or Sultan, This`s TRUE,any people don`t know,they still live in caves ! And one thing,I hope that all moroccans stop saying this wrong word : MAGHRIB ALARABI.? WE ARE IN nORTH aFRICA,NOT IN THE MIDLE EAST ?i THINK YOU NEED TO READ GEOGRAPHY WELL ? AZUL, FROM New Zealand.
hafid de montreal Posted 2009-02-21
Hi All- I read in a newspaper that an Amazigh-language television channel is going to be launched at the end of March 2009 in Algeria. This is good advancement, because television has a large audience. For some odd years now, us Amazighs have been treated like foreigners in our own country, but, thanks to the sacrifices made by men and women, we can hope that one day things will change and we will be free in the true sense of the word.
abanar Posted 2009-03-04
Azul- We need to finally get this dear, much-anticipated Amazigh channel started in order to liberate us from Arab channels. All the Amazighs are waiting, but our patience has its limits!!! –Tanmirt
YanAdam Posted 2009-03-10
Personally, I do not expect these liars to keep their promises. Morocco (M’wortan) is currently governed by the worst cohort ever known since the onslaught of these dirty invaders. They have made war on us for twelve centuries, yet we believe that they are our brothers. Are we that stupid!?! My sole possible satisfaction comes in seeing Tamazigh freed from these renegades!!! NB: Mr. Moderator, if the comment by "Bm" is not insulting to Amazighs, then what exactly is insulting in your opinion??? If English is the future and Tamazigh is the past, then is Arabic to be the present!?!
افغان Posted 2009-03-10
Azul. What they are fearing is coming, there is no way to prevent it. The right will come up and the falsehood will go down.
youba Posted 2009-03-15
Does the alienated have an opinion? Our tolerant religion advises us to preserve our origins. So why are they depriving us from our origins?
أشلحيي إقورن. Posted 2009-03-17
I totally agree with Massinisa and Yan Adam. Curse BM. May God assist Amazigh people wherever they are.
يوبا Posted 2009-03-24
We are waiting for this channel because most Amazigh people do not understand Arabic.
مسلم Posted 2009-03-31
The presence of a Moroccan Amazigh channel is a way to divide Morocco into many small divided and fragmented states as many Moroccans don’t understand Tamazight. The presence of a channel dedicated only to Amazigh people is discrimination. I am sure that there will be discrimination as well in education as there are many different curricula. After the Sahara, Ceuta, Mellilla, we will see the Rif and Souss alone as well!! Where are we driving to? Anyway, I don’t care though I am Moroccan.
nadou Posted 2009-04-03
Hello everyone- It is interesting to discuss things and to note how many opinions we share on our ancestors, our history, our lands and our religion. I was afraid to read the comment by the internet-goer from New Zealand, but I can confirm that everything he wrote is true. If everyone of us knew our true history and everyone one of us was self respecting, then we could all march hand in hand and follow the path of the free man peacefully. We Amazigh people must live and we must respect our future as we have been taught to. There is no place for hatred; there is no place for supremacy. Human beings are all alike, such that one’s mentality is all that needs to be changed. And, it must be changed in order to allow people to be free. Everyone has a right to express themselves, a right to culture, a right to knowledge, which are all in and of themselves a form of wealth. Through knowing others we enrich ourselves, grow and become tolerant. Us Amazigh were born free men and our passion and love for this land and its language are legitimate. Yet, it is as if someone born of an Amazigh father and mother has to deny everything that came from them and feel ashamed of being like them. To those who think that being born Amazigh or Berber is shameful, as if they were born disabled, I remind you, if you will allow me to so say, that those people who travel the world come to realise how very wrong this is. Personally, I live in France, in Provence to be precise, and here the people speak a language, Provençaux. They have realised that Provençaux, the only wealth left from their heritage, is being lost. This was their language, their dialect, their dance, their folklore, their pottery...
ahmed Posted 2009-04-07
Firstly, I say to BM, any modernism which marginalises my culture and langauge is meaningless.
جواد Posted 2009-04-30
Salam alikum. Firstly, I thank all the opinions. I also thank everyone who made an effort to defend the Amazigh language and culture. In my opinion, all Moroccans should learn Amazigh language before any other language. It is because Tamazight is the language of their country. There are many people who speak it in the country. I thank in particular his majesty the king Mohamed VI who is making efforts to give everyone his right.
امازبغ Posted 2009-05-13
Azul. This injustice which killed all Amazigh will not last.
samantikka Posted 2009-05-14
I am waiting impatiently, yes impatiently...not for the project of launching this channel, but a new excuse not to launch the channel. Greetings.
أوخطو Posted 2009-05-20
Azul. Thank you for this nice initiative in setting up an Amazigh channel. When this channel is launched, the Amazigh individual in Morocco in particular will feel that he has obtained one of the simplest human rights and restore a civilization which has lasted for thousands of years. We Amazigh people should interact well with this newborn, avoid regional trends and say to our brothers in the east stop arabization and destruction. Ourto Sak.
amazigh Posted 2009-06-01
We hope the news is right and can be confirmed even if Amazigh people don't trust false lies.
rchouk omar Posted 2009-06-08
Salam alikum. I thank you for this great success. I hope you won't broadcast Egyptian and Mexican serials. Thank you. I wish you great success.
امنار سوس Posted 2009-06-12
Salam alikum. We thank Mohamed VI so much for this nice initiative in founding the Amazigh channel if this is really true because personally I don't trust this until I see it. This is because Arabs were described in Qur'an as “The dwellers of the desert are very hard in unbelief and hypocrisy”, God says the truth. Thank you. Bye.
قبائل تنفات Posted 2009-06-17
I congratulate Amazigh people for achieving a small part of their legitimate struggle. Amazigh or Arab we are all humans created by God and united by one faith La Ilahal Illa Allah Mohamed Rasoul Allah( There is no other God but Allah, Mohamed is the messenger of Allah”. If God wanted He would have made you one nation.
زائر Posted 2009-07-09
Those who are known by everyone practice the policy of procrastination in Morocco and Algeria firstly to test the reactions and secondly because they know that the extinction of Amazigh people is just a matter of time after they have exhausted all programmes of arabization, exclusion, marginalization, impoverishment, filling prisons with intellectuals and militants. Don't trust anyone. You have paid and are still paying the price, mostly because of your blind trust in foreigners in the past.
سملالي Posted 2009-07-26
No, no, no to hatred and animosity. We Amazigh people from Rif or Souss are all Moroccans. The bloods of Amazigh and Arabs were mixed up thanks to to marriage. The Arab is married to the Amazigh and the Amazigh is married to the Arab. The Amazigh channel is just our legitimate right. Nice greetings from Ida Ousemlal.
عبدالرحمان Posted 2009-08-07
Azul Amazigh people. We wish success for this channel. However, the arrogance of Al Istiqlal party or the union because it won't let it succeed.
نوره حسن Posted 2009-09-01
I hope that the new channel presents dubbed serials such « Juan El Ghol » and old dubbed serials. May God reward you with good.
فاقد أمل Posted 2009-09-03
The racist group ruling currently can just be described as the dog of the Arab League. Can't we understand while watching some Gulf channels that everything broadcast is addressed to Arab Gulf viewer if we take into consideration the live broadcasting hours? However, in spite of this, our rulers always run after the blessing of the east which operates for them a wide gala sleeping on its back. This work is odd and this blessing is odd Abbas. Hoo I am here Moussa Ho.
moha Posted 2009-09-04
Those who are known by everyone use the policy of procrastination in Morocco and Algeria firstly to test the reaction, secondly because they know that the extinction of Amazigh people is just a matter of time after they have implemented all their programmes of Arabisation, exclusion, marginalization, impoverishment, filling prisons with intellectuals and militants. Don't trust anyone. You have paid and are paying a high price as a result of your blind trust in foreigners in the past.
amazigh Posted 2009-09-21
September arrived and Rabat's Arab regime once again missed the meeting. The Arabs are not Arabs!!!
Ménéphon Posted 2009-10-02
Hello everyone- Congratulations for having successfully started your channel! I too hope to start a television channel in Réunion, but I do not know to get started. So as to conduct my project properly, I am permitting myself to ask your advice. What is the budget to start a channel? What technical solutions did you adapt? How do I set up a library of programmes and what are the key concepts for my channel? I strongly hope to be able to count on your advice and help in regards to starting my company. I ask you to trust, dear sir, in the sincerity of my distinguished respect. –Menephon
mohamed Posted 2009-10-02
I am very proud of being Amazigh. Our heritage is very great. The channel adds a qualitative touch to the Amazigh media in particular and the Moroccan in general. The channel will be very successful God willing. I hope from God to grant me success in life and to my friend to add new Amazigh channels for the Moroccan and Maghreb viewer.
امازيغ Posted 2009-10-04
I am an Amazigh man and proud of that. I read in the paper that the Amazigh channel will start a long time ago. I am waiting impatiently what will happen year after year. My mother doesn't speak Arabic, other channels make her feel bored except when they present Amazigh programmes. Therefore, this event is a source of pride, entertainment and culture to all Amazigh and Moroccans.
jukmo Posted 2009-10-13
Thank you. I am very proud and happy about the inauguration of the Amazigh channel. We have been for years in prisons without walls. We couldn’t teach our sons our great history, teach them as well reading and writing in Tamazight. Your brother in God Omar Bekkour from the republic of Egypt, city of Matrouh, oasis of Sioua. There are 26,000 Amazigh people on the oasis of Sioua.
أزروال Posted 2009-10-13
The scheduled date for the beginning of the Amazigh channel has passed. False promises of the governments, manipulation, were uncovered, and the house of Amazigh is still as it is. May God consider the situation of this people with its rulers.
يوسف adaskou tobozid Posted 2009-10-18
I am an Amazigh man and I am proud of it. I hope that those who are responsible for the project release as soon as possible this channel which is being waited for so long. My brothers, is it not a shame that our brothers in our dear country Morocco humiliate us and don't respect the native language of Morocco, I mean Tamazight. Why this humiliation. Aren't we Muslims? Shame on this people. We are all Moroccans. We love them and they humiliate us. They welcome foreign cultures and marginalize our culture. But judgment will come brothers. That day the road will be paved for its people. Goodbye.
amazigh Posted 2009-10-18
Up to now, we're at 19/10/2009, but we have seen nothing of [the channel]. The concerns of the Amazigh people are the last preoccupation of the Moroccan state, especially the El Fassi government. But all the blame is on the Amazigh people. As long as Amazigh people are silent, they won't get anything.
amnay Posted 13 days ago
In the name of God. At the beginning, I want to say to the technical staff of the Amazigh channel to encourage Tamazight with all forms of TV encouragement. I want them to encourage the south east with their technical resources.
mohmed ait milk Posted 4 days ago
The Amazigh channel is a distinguished project. I wish it success, God willing. We are waiting for the inauguration of the channel.
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