Berber Cultural Overview
An index and description of the geography, history, daily life, society, economics, beliefs, and arts of Berber peoples.
The Berbers, or Imazighen (singular Amazigh), are the indigenous people of the Maghreb, a region spanning most of North Africa.
Geography
The traditional homeland of the Berber cultures is the Maghreb, a region of North Africa including the nations of Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, and Mauritania. The majority of its population live along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, backed by the Atlas Mountains. North of the Atlas range, the climate tends to be wetter and more suited to agriculture. To the south, the Sahara desert stretches for hundreds of miles. Berber peoples have inhabited both areas since ancient times.
Climate: Arid to Mediterranean
Total Population: Approx. 96.5 million
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History
The ancestors of modern Berber people have inhabited the Maghreb for thousands of years. They first organized as small farming communities and kingdoms before falling under the influence of Carthage, a Phoenician state. Amazigh warriors soon found respect within the Carthaginian military, where they took part in the Punic Wars against Rome. In 206 BCE, however, a Berber leader turned against Carthage, helping to seal its defeat. Several Amazigh kingdoms developed in the wake of Carthage before becoming provinces of Rome. The Maghreb then saw a series of conquests by groups like the Vandals, Byzantines, and Arabs.
The Arabs brought with them a new religion, Islam, and the Arabic language. Many North African people today have mixed Arab and Berber ancestry. As part of the Arab conquest, Berber armies pushed north into modern Spain and Portugal, where they ruled over parts of Al-Andalus for centuries. At this time, they were known to Europeans as the Moors.
The last Islamic strongholds of Spain fell by 1492. The Berbers and Arabs retreated back to the Maghreb, where they were soon conquered by the Turkish Ottoman Empire. This was followed by a period of European colonialism led by France. North African nations gained their independence in the mid-20th century. Today, Berber people are often a minority in Arabized countries. Modern activists have worked to preserve their cultures, languages, and lifestyles. This has led to several nationalist movements, particularly in Libya and Mali.
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Daily Life
Historic Berber peoples led diverse lifestyles dependent on time and place. While desert nomads survived as hunters and herdsmen, more sedentary communities north of the Atlas Mountains prioritized farming, fishing, and trade. Typical diets featured foods like bread, couscous pasta, dairy products, olives, dates, figs, mutton, goat, and poultry. Their homes have ranged from lightweight, mobile tents to large urban homes with central courtyards. The most widespread form of traditional apparel is the *djellaba, *a long outer robe made from wool or cotton. Head coverings are common among both genders. Today, North African people may wear clothing in indigenous, Arab, or Western styles according to taste and local culture.
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Society
Traditional Berber societies were clan-based, which then organized into larger tribes, confederations, and kingdoms. Within communities, it was common for the heads of each family to meet and discuss as a group. Elected chiefs could also make important decisions. This egalitarian system ensured that each family had its say in local politics. Amazigh women tend to hold higher status than their Arab counterparts, especially around the issue of marriage rights. These family structures are still followed in many areas, but changing economics have eroded the social dynamics of extended families and tribes in others.
Major Languages: Amazigh languages and Arabic
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Economy
Since at least Roman times, the peoples of North Africa have taken part in the trade of the Mediterranean Sea. Besides their own goods, Berber merchants connected the trade routes of Sub-Saharan Africa to the markets of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Traders crossed the deserts on camel caravans, acting as guides and collecting tributes in exchange for safe passage. On a more local level, average people tended to live as farmers and herdsmen, depending on their climate and culture.
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Beliefs
The majority religions of the Maghreb today is Islam, though Amazigh peoples have historically practiced many faiths. Their earliest known faiths appear to have been polytheistic and oriented toward ancestor veneration. They also took influences from neighboring cultures, including Judaism and Christianity and Phoenician, Greek, and Roman polytheism. In the 7th century, the Maghreb was conquered by the armies of Islam and began the gradual process of mass conversion. Today, most but not all Berber peoples practice a form of Sunni Islam. Other forms of worship like Judaism, Christianity, and older indigenous beliefs have also survived to the present day.
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Arts & Music
Like other primarily Muslim cultures, the arts of the Maghreb revolve around religious expression, textiles, metalworking, glass, ceramics, and Arabic calligraphy. In addition, many Berber groups possess extensive oral histories and literature preserved in their native languages. This includes traditions of poetry, storytelling, and traveling musicians. Berber textiles, most notably woven carpets and tapestries, have been popular internationally for centuries. Today, Amazigh people practice a variety of arts, both traditional and contemporary.
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References
Goodman, Jane. Berber Culture on the World Stage: From Village to Video. Indiana University Press. 2005.
Hart, David M. Tribe and Society in Rural Morocco. Routledge. 2014.
Maddy-Weitzman, Bruce. The Berber Identity Movement and the Challenge to North African States. University of Texas Press. 2011.
Nisan, Mordechai. Minorities in the Middle East: A History of Struggle and Self-Expression. 2nd ed. McFarland. 2012.
“The World Factbook: Algeria.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 6 June 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ag.html.
“The World Factbook: Morocco.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 8 June 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mo.html.
“The World Factbook: Tunisia.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 2 July 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ts.html.
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