We continue our series on the history of the Amazigh (Berber) people, with part four of the conversation between Azdean, co-host Sam and our researcher, Hiba.
In this episode, we delve into the Amazigh language, its importance to cultural identity, and the role of the Amazigh flag. Azdean, Hiba and Sam discuss the Tifinagh script, its ancient origins, and the preservation of the Amazigh language despite historical invasions.
Amazigh is an oral language, which helped it survive centuries of discrimination and oppression. However, conversely, this meant there was no formal written script until 1992! This is when a congress was held to codify grammar, spelling and form for the language and ensure its proper preservation, not to mention instruction in schools.
Out of approximately 9 million Amazighophones in Morocco, the Tashelhiyt dialect is the most common, with nearly 5 million speakers, largely in the south, from Tiznit and Agadir over towards Ouarzazate in the High Atlas Mountains.
This episode highlights the diversity within the Amazigh language, differentiating between various dialects spoken across North Africa such as Tarifit, Tashlehit, Siwi and Tumzabt. Modern borders have little say or influence on the spread of this ancient language and its various off-shoots, and as we've heard in the previous Amazigh Chronicles episodes, there are common bonds amongst Amazigh tribes that stretch across North Africa, indifferent to nation states.
We also look at the significance of the Amazigh flag: its colors, and the symbolic representation of language, land, and people of the Amazigh culture. The conversation underscores the importance of maintaining and promoting the Amazigh language and culture across various media platforms and daily life.
We encourage you to check out the following companion episodes for the full scope of our Amazigh exploration and conversations:
#50: "The Amazigh Chronicles" - The Berber History of Morocco (Part 1)
#51: "The Amazigh Chronicles" - The Rich Tapestry of Amazigh Tribes: History, Language, and Customs (Part 2)
#70: "The Amazigh Chronicles" - The Ancient Amazigh Civilization and Their Contribution to History (Part 3)
and our Live Q&A: Darija, Berber, French... what are some useful phrases for travellers in Morocco?"
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