Berbers are descendants of the Proto-Slavs. Berbers on Moroccan soil

I chatted on Skype with a young man for almost a year (I’m 48 and he’s 35), and I didn’t take him seriously. And she spoke to him frankly about it. And in April of this year, I received an SMS from a Moscow phone and a request to meet. He flew to Russia.

We are having a wedding in September.

I'm 48. Three divorces. I don’t know what will happen after the wedding, I also can’t say what would happen if I came to him in Morocco.

I can only judge what is happening between us in Russia.

I don’t know what will happen next, but now I can say we live on his means (I’m in a “creative search” for a new place of work). He doesn't drink or smoke. He doesn’t need to be told 100 times about what needs to be done. He's looking for more money job. It's not easy, because... His appearance is not Slavic and his passport is from abroad. But having arrived in Russia, he takes on any job to support his family.

Of course, the mentality and language barrier. (He does not speak Russian, and we communicate exclusively in English, which is not native to him or me). He's not from rich family. But the fact that he is not ashamed to go shopping with me and the fact that I don’t have to be told 10 times that we are running out of food is true. It's enough to say it once. Moreover, he always pays for everything.

I am the daughter of a single mother. The only late spoiled child. I always had my mother’s example before my eyes - “if you want something done, do it yourself.”

And in my previous families, as soon as I began to hope that my husband would do something, everything immediately went awry. And again I had to harness myself.

Here I also started to “lead”. And then I realized - I just need to let him be the Man and the head. And only then did I understand why I ran away from my 3 previous husbands - I was tired of being a mother-nanny-leader and getting nothing in return.

We just forgot what it means to be a Woman!!!

Of course, Russians are all different, and Arabs are also not all carbon copies. Although my Moroccan proudly declares that he is not Arab! He's a BERBER! What's the difference?…

Maybe I'm just lucky...

P.S. The audience here was experienced and, for the most part, savvy on the topic. Does anyone have observations of Berber families in their “traditional habitat”? It would be interesting to hear your REAL experience. (Thoughts and guesses on this topic do not interest me, only real observations in the “habitat” - those who spent enough time in Morocco).

Natalia, comment on the article

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After 3 weeks:

Now my beloved is no longer the groom. Now my Moroccan proudly calls himself “I AM A HUSBAND”)

Our marriage is already 3 days old. So far so good. Nothing has changed for the worse. His attitude towards me became even better, more respectful. We are planning to live in Russia for now, because... Obtaining Moroccan citizenship was not so easy. Even if all documents are in order, you need to wait 5 years to obtain citizenship and accepting Islam is one of the necessary conditions. I don't agree to this. We are planning to move to one of the Scandinavian countries.

I also met red-blooded Arabs on dating sites many times. And now I’m looking at my wedding ring, which he brought me from Morocco, and I’m thinking - what kind of courage and faith do you have to have to do this, practically without knowing each other (what is communication on Skype? It doesn’t give a real idea of ​​what kind of person in life) collect everything Required documents, buy wedding rings and come to a foreign country, without knowing the language, in a cold climate, etc. and so on. ...

My husband has a lot good qualities both male and human. In his homeland, he worked mainly with Europeans for 12 years, knows 5 languages ​​(only problems with Russian 😀 - we communicate in English at home) and I see that European culture sits in him very superficially, only some external attributes: clothes, etiquette etc.

My husband and I still prefer to communicate in English. It has already become a habit. Although sometimes I want to speak Russian at home, my level of Russian is still very low. In English we understand each other better, although it is not our native language.

And don't believe that mature age It is impossible to learn a language. I started learning English at 44 years old. Now I’m 48. I can’t say that I speak it perfectly, so I continue to study the language. In addition, communication on foreign language It develops your horizons with residents of other countries, and it becomes more interesting to communicate with you. And besides, speaking English, even at an intermediate level, made me more self-confident.

And I think that what saves me in many ways is the fact that we live in Russia. It’s not pleasant to realize this, but I think that if we lived in his country, his attitude towards me would be less gentle.

Special thanks for the comment with a hint where you can study Arabic. I think this will be useful to me in the future.

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After 3 months:

I can say that after marriage, a lot of things change in a relationship. But not only from the man’s side. Women change too. Yes, not everything is not always smooth. But for me great importance has the fact that he does not drink alcohol at all and does everything possible to ensure that our family lives in abundance. And I see that when he succeeds, he is proud as a man that he likes to take care of our family.

This is my 4th marriage. And he has the first one. Previous husbands were Russian. I have not seen such care from any of them as from my Berber.

Sometimes he can be mischievous and stubborn, like all Muslims. They all have a hard time accepting new things 😀 . But I just learned not to pay attention to these quirks and the problems became much less. He will grumble and grumble, and then he will still do as I ask.

And I also noticed this detail. Apparently, among Muslims from Arab countries, the wife in the family has much more rights than we usually think. We Russians are not used to this. But sometimes, when “Russian tactics” don’t help, I just stamp my foot and say: “I am your WIFE! And I want SO!” And oh, miracle! It works :)

True, I often don’t stomp my feet like that, I use “heavy artillery” only if something fundamentally important for both of us is being decided.

I don’t presume to judge what would have happened if we had lived in Morocco. But in Russia this is how it is for now. With them, with the Arabs, you just need to know how to behave.

If a year ago someone had told me that I would marry a Berber from Morocco, I would have decided that there was something very wrong with his head. 💡

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25 comments to “ My favorite groom is a Berber from Morocco”

1. Anna:

   I am married, and for your information, not to a Russian, my husband is Berber, and we have been living in my homeland for 3 years, we met on the Internet, purely by chance! Can I even briefly tell you how?
   My godmother went to work in Germany, and she’s been living there for 9 years now. There have been unexpected “turns” in my life related to Russian ex-husband, I had to strengthen myself, take courage, so as not to get lost in this world and perish.
   The godmother knew all this not from hearsay, but from me, because... Our age difference is small, we are like sisters and friends. I tried to help with advice. Having saved up for a plane, I flew to her for Christmas. She lives in Badsoden-Salmunster, about 60-70 km from Frankfurt on the Main.
   After talking day and night, she said that she would help me find a job for the first time, the main thing is to speak fluently! I knew him to a normal extent, but upon returning, it was like an intensive course to remember. The son was perplexed, what was happening? The German teacher also offered to help with the work. All that remains is to somehow put all my thoughts in order in order to understand how to leave, what needs to be done and what not to do, in short, to weigh everything.
   And during this period, when I was going to deactivate my profile, one man, not Russian, but who spoke Russian quite well, began to view her profile often. A correspondence began, and the rest was like a dream!
   I would like to note that there was no “dust” in the eyes! A man, like a man, is not a slacker.
   Having learned, after some time, that I was going to work in Germany, he advised me not to go, because... before that he had already proposed to me and said that anything can happen in life, my son will be left alone at home, how will he be there alone, because the Russian father needs him when he needed to talk after a drink!
   Now everything is completely different, and I’m not 33 years old, but older, and my son is already an adult!
   When we met in person, and it was in Spain, where we both flew, he gave me a laptop, with the words:
   - Do you know why I’m giving you a computer? because thanks to him we met and now we will always be together!

   Like this ordinary story happened to me, in this life!
   Comments on my comment will be unnecessary, because... I don’t really want to read rudeness addressed to myself, or read any attacks of aggression!
   Life is complicated, and you don’t want to spoil it for yourself, because there will always be many others who will ruin it for you!
   Goodness and mercy to your neighbors to all of you!

2. ANYA:

   Anna is a wonderful story with happy ending! Happy for you!

3. Elena:

   Good afternoon
   I completely agree with Natalya in terms of “... 3 previous husbands - I’m tired of being a mother-nanny-leader and getting nothing in return.” I have exactly the same situation as a carbon copy: 3 divorces and in the end I’m alone. I’m also looking for a husband on international dating sites, but I know for sure that I won’t risk getting involved with a Muslim. Because religion is a very important aspect of life. And I know for sure (my daughter herself is married to a foreign Adventist) I will have to fully accept his religion and observe his customs. So we can only advise one thing - immediately check with your future husband everything about his religion and customs.

4. Irina:

   Natalia, believe me, for them it is a huge difference - an Arab or a Berber!! 🙂 therefore, don’t tell your sweetheart what the difference is and don’t call him an Arab. And when you go to the groom’s country, don’t call everyone Arabs either 🙂 like everyone else is national. minorities, the Berbers are terrible separatists 🙂 For me, too, at one time it was the discovery of America that not only Arabs live in Algeria :)) for example, Zidane is a Berber 🙂 the Berbers are perhaps more beautiful than the Arabs, their skin is white, and they are proud of the fact that that they are the original population of the Sahara, and the Arabs are newcomers, in the 8th century AD. got stuck. so don't offend them nat. pride 😉 it doesn’t matter to them whether you’re Ukrainian or Russian. but for us there is a difference :)

5. Irina:

   and so, well done, you wrote everything correctly, I, as an Algerian girl, confirm everything :) Good luck to you and great family happiness!

6. Jackdaw:

   God grant that everything turns out well. How old is he? Will the wedding be in Russia? Where are you going to live later? Sorry for so many questions...

7. Elena:

   Natalia, your letter touched me very much. I sincerely wish you happiness. If I may, I’ll say the only thing that scratched me about him and caused concern: You write - what difference does it make whether he is a Berber or an Arab? You can feel for yourself that he is proud to be a Berber. Try to understand why. If you love him and are determined to long relationship, show respect for this feeling of his and try to find out how the Berbers differ from the Arabs (even if in our Russian opinion it’s nothing, but for them it’s important, I know what I’m talking about). I am sure that when you start to be interested in the history and customs of these peoples, you will become interested. It will be easier for you to get comfortable there. And believe me, your future husband will appreciate it. Good luck.

8. ANNA:

   Good day, everyone!
   In fact, everyone who wrote to you is right in some way, each in their own way!
   I'll start from the end of your monologue.
   — “Does anyone have observations of Berber families in their “traditional habitat”? It would be interesting to hear your REAL experience.” - I smiled a little when I read this sentence - “in the environment.....habitat” - as in the program “In the Animal World”!!! They are the same people as the Slavs, who have lived on the planet for a long time, and therefore they are proud of their origin and this is worthy of respect! Families are all different - therefore, no one will tell you anything definite either here or there!
   Can Americans, Dutch or other peoples say how Russians behave? - They can if they lived next to Russians, but this does not mean that they know Russians!
   About » real experience“... everyone has their own experience, you will have yours - but why share? I always thought that people who get married, be it a Russian couple or a mixed one, should first understand all the responsibility that lies with them - so that no one suffers later! Shouldn't you go to the supermarket?! First you need to think carefully about what you have in common? How will you solve your everyday, financial, moral difficulties if they arise?
   If you live in your spouse’s country, the opportunity to learn the language in a Madrasah and learn more about its traditions will be more accessible than in your homeland - that’s for sure, if your spouse doesn’t mind, and you have the desire!

   And as for family life, it’s just wonderful that you don’t need to repeat it a hundred times! That's for sure! The SPOUSE is ALWAYS RESPONSIBLE for the financial side of such a family - if he has an education and is a God-fearing Muslim, then there will be no problems; it’s another matter if the spouse spends money on all sorts of trinkets that are not needed in everyday life and then there is nothing to eat, then the conversation will be serious, and even more so , if you didn’t inform him that you bought it!
   In fact, a person needs little to live, it’s just that many “demands” and ambitions “grow” in order to show off in front of others, but your life SHOULD NOT BE THE PROPERTY OF OTHER PEOPLE! There are many envious people who will “wish” you in the back...
   To learn more, improve your English, then you can start learning French, if your spouse is BERBER, then most likely he should know it well, but not a fact!

   Good luck to you!

   • Natalia:

     I lived in their habitat for two months in the Atlas Mountains. I returned two weeks ago with great pleasure. There are no family scandals in Berber families, there are practically no divorces. They are very friendly and friendly people. They love children very much and almost never scold or punish them .There are no orphanages or women’s prisons in Morocco. There are 60% ARABs and 40% Berbers. WOMEN age quickly. There are few wealthy families, but there is clanism. I took a risk and came there at the invitation of a man who convinced me of his love for almost three months He said that he would pay for everything. He paid most of it, but it turned out that he is a narcissistic egoist who is used to living for his own pleasure. He is an atheist, but his mother is an orthodox Muslim. We talked to her on sign language and with him in English. I’m glad you were lucky, but I don’t regret the trip.

9. ANNA:

   For Elena:
   “...I’m also looking for a husband on international dating sites, but I know for sure that I won’t risk getting involved with a Muslim. Because religion is a very important aspect of life. And I know for sure (my daughter herself is married to a foreigner...)” - ???
   Can I ask you: what are you most afraid of?
   1 - change religion?
   2 - or the words “Muslim”?

10. Elena:

    For ANNA:
    I answer: 1 - change religion and lifestyle

11. ANNA:

    FOR ELENA:
    There is such an expression in the Russian colloquial genre: “THE EYES ARE AFRAID, BUT THE HANDS DO” - such an expression can be used for everyone, everywhere and always!
    Most likely it’s not about religion, but about how you associate it with someone? Looking at her daughter’s life, how will she change her life!?
    You write: “...I won’t risk getting involved...” - if you love, then don’t get involved! and exist as one whole, think together, decide together, be able to compromise!
    Strange, but with a rich historical culture, Russian women are less loyal - they are always ready to argue just to remain right, because... their “truth” is the most correct, they are often stubborn, not wanting to admit the obvious, etc.

12. ANNA:

    I would like to give readers of the site a parable about family happiness for reflection.

    "In one small town two families live next door. Some spouses constantly quarrel, blaming each other for all troubles, while others dote on their other half. The obstinate housewife marvels at her neighbor’s happiness. Jealous. Says to her husband:
    - Go and see how they manage to keep everything smooth and quiet.
    He came to the neighbors, quietly went into the house and hid in secluded corner. Watching. And the housewife hums a cheerful song and puts things in order in the house. He just wipes away the dust from an expensive vase. Suddenly the phone rang, the woman got distracted, and put the vase on the edge of the table, so that it was about to fall.
    But then her husband needed something in the room. He caught a vase, it fell and broke. “What will happen?” the neighbor thinks.
    The wife came up, sighed with regret, and said to her husband:
    - Sorry honey. I am guilty. She placed it on the table so carelessly.
    - What are you doing, honey? It's my fault. I was in a hurry and didn’t notice the vase. Anyway. We could not have had greater misfortune.

    ...The neighbor’s heart sank painfully. He came home upset. Wife to him:
    -What took you so long? Have you looked?
    - Yes!
    - Well, how are they doing? “It’s all their fault.” But we are all right.”

13. Elena:

    For ANNA:
    1. I don’t defend my “truth”, especially since there are so many people, so many “truths”... And they are all right, in their own way...
    I'm neither good nor bad. I am the way I am..
    2. My daughter prefers to go to Orthodox Church, and her husband insists that the whole family must attend the Adventist Church on Saturdays with him, and also wants her not to work on Saturdays. And on Sundays she can go to Orthodox church. There are differences in church services. This “strains” her a little, but she compromises here, especially since there is practically one religion (I don’t claim to understand much about different religions). And as a person and husband, her husband is very good. Moreover, she has someone to compare with. Her first husband was a spoiled, selfish guy.
    4. I knew a girl personally (she is my grandson’s aunt), she is a Muscovite, 7 years ago she married a Turk, gave birth to a son, lives in Turkey, is very happy with her husband and life.
    5. I myself am a Muslim, so to speak, by birth. But it so happened that the Orthodox religion is closer to my spirit. But in general, I am convinced that God is one, it’s just that we, people, address him differently, perform rituals differently...

14. ANNA:

    For Elena:

    1- yes, yes, of course, you are right.

    2- about truth...only the Almighty knows who is right, people can guess, but God has it!

    3- Muslim families live in my town, where the women are from my town, and the husbands are from Turkey, Dagestan, Morocco, Syria, Pakistan, and they live peacefully!

    They are people like everyone else, they also want to live happily and calmly, but “thanks” to some residents, their life becomes hectic! Because 80% of the population believes the media, if you are a Muslim, that means you are a terrorist! or a martyr! They have no idea about Islam as a religion of the WORLD!
    But the doors are opened to Jehovah's Witnesses, they talk calmly, smile, accept invitations and attend meetings, etc.
    Why are Muslims worse than sectarians?

    They humbly accept shouts and blasphemy addressed to them on the street, not allowing hostility to flare up, they do not respond to rudeness, they honor only ONE CREATOR, they pay zakat to help the poor so that they, in turn, calmly treat wealthier people, they fast in NE. Ramadan (Christians also fast), respect and honor and do not leave their parents in old age, support the younger ones as best they can! Recognize and respect all prophets and messengers! Is such a Muslim not worthy of respect?

15. Elena:

    Every person strives to live comfortably. And if someone is comfortable in Islam, then for God’s sake! May God bless you all. I just said at the very beginning that I don’t feel comfortable in Islam, I don’t want to wear a headscarf, long skirt, etc., I don’t like that a woman is considered unclean (although there are such moments in Orthodoxy)…
    I know cases when Muslims converted to Orthodoxy, and vice versa... In general, I love myself and live as I please. And I wish the same to everyone! I also wish everyone peace on earth, love and happiness! And whoever is looking for a husband on sites like me, I wish you success in your search! Well, I wish you success too!

    Tatyana, I completely agree with you. I like the same things about Muslims, and also their ardent faith in everyone (of course, I mean those with whom I know). But female circumcision is a terrible thing! I don’t wish it on anyone, not my potential daughters-in-law, or any woman at all!

Berbers are the most mysterious and ancient people of all those living on Earth. It was the Berbers who created a civilization in North Africa, the heirs of which were the ancient Egyptians, and the Berber culture became the ancestor of the culture of the Maghreb countries. . El Maghrib - “where the sunset” was, the name given to the African countries west of Egypt. For centuries, the royal dynasties of the Maghreb were aristocratic dynasties of the Berbers, from the Berbers comes the line of Moroccan kings...

Berbers (from Greek βάρβαροι, Latin barbari - “barbarians”) - this is what they call indigenous people North Africa, in the Maghreb countries. According to Berber experts, various Berber nationalities make up at least 60% of the population of Morocco, 45% of the population of Tunisia, about 25% of the population of Algeria, they also live in Libya, Egypt, Mauritania, Mali, Niger and other countries. The total number of Berbers is about 30 million people; 3 million Berbers live in European countries - in France (1.2 million people), Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, the USA and Australia.

The name “Berbers” is unknown to most of the Berber peoples themselves, as it was given to them by Europeans by analogy with “barbarians” due to the incomprehensibility of their language. The self-name of the Berbers: Amazigh, Amahagh, Amazir and even Amazai, which means “free man”.
Conquered by the Arabs in the 7th century, the Berbers profess Islam; they are mainly Sunni Muslims, supporters of Sufism and mystical teachings, but there are Jews and Christians among the Berbers. The Berbers managed for several centuries to resist total Islamization, maintain their independence and combine Muslim and Christian traditions with their own cults, original language and a culture that remains almost unchanged today.

Despite the fact that in terms of actual numbers, the Berber peoples are far from being in the minority everywhere in the Maghreb countries, they are in the position of national minorities, and they fight for their rights exclusively by peaceful methods. In Europe, an international cultural Amazigh Berber movement was created, which declared the goal of achieving equal status in countries inhabited by Berbers, giving the Berber language the status of a state language along with Arabic.

Moroccan Berbers demand rights calling children Berber names and use Berber toponymy (from ancient Greek τόπος “place” + ὄνομα “name”) in the Maghreb countries.

Among the numerous Berber peoples of the Maghreb, the main nationalities can be distinguished:

1. Amazahi- live in northern Morocco, on the extreme northwestern coastline of the mainland (Rif, “Reef pirates”) and the northernmost part of the Atlas Mountains to the province of Tella.
2. Mashuesh, Mazies, Matmata- peoples living in large communities, they decide everything together, value the internal warmth of relationships and help each other in every possible way.
3. Shilu, the Berber people, occupying part of a large plain along Um er Rebia and Tenzift, in southern Morocco.
4. Kabyles(from the Arabic “qaba’il” - tribe) - living in Algeria. The area of ​​Kabylie in North Africa.
5. Shauya- people in Algeria, inhabits Ores (Ares). Shauya are famous for their “evil eye”, and inspire superstitious fear of them secret knowledge, ethnoscience, magic, they decorate their faces with characteristic sacred tattoos, from combinations of crosses, dots and ovals.

6. Tuaregs (traglodytes), their self-name - Imoshag, Imoshag- An ancient Berber people living in Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso. They live separated by vast expanses of the Sahara Desert and inhabit the farthest corners of the desert.
7. Garamants(Greek Γαράμαντες) - the ancient Berber people, living from the end of the 2nd millennium BC. e. in the Sahara, and first mentioned by Herodotus in 500 BC. e., as “very great people" The Berbers consisted of warlike, desperate and quarrelsome tribes of Berbers who penetrated the steppe expanses of northern Africa in chariots drawn by four horses. In the 8th century BC. e. the state of the Garamantes included all of present-day Fezzan, southern regions Tripolitania and a large part of Marmariki. In 19 BC. e. The state of the Garamantes was captured and subordinated to the Roman Empire. In the 7th century AD e. The Garamantes were conquered by the Arabs. The Garamantes spoke the language of the Berber group and used the ancient Berber script - "Tifinagh", which is called "Ancient Libyan", or the Berber-Libyan language.

According to glottochronology, in the 6th millennium BC in the Nile Valley, the speakers of the Proto-Berber language separated from the closely related language of the Proto-Egyptians. Since the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC, the proto-Berbers - the Libyans - have been recorded in texts Old Kingdom and Egyptian art, as about Egypt's western neighbors. The proto-Berber-Libyan language split at the end of the 2nd millennium BC, following the defeat of the Sea Peoples and their Libyan allies by the Egyptians. Some Libyan tribes left the borders of Egypt and settled in the west and southwest of Egypt. The Berbers were part of the population of powerful Egypt. In history Ancient Egypt there were even several Berber pharaohs, it is known that!

Modern Berbers claim that they are direct descendants of the Etruscans and Romans. All Berber nationalities are Caucasian in appearance, white-skinned, with blue eyes, early balding, they are absolutely not like either Arabs or Africans of the Negroid race.

One of the greatest commanders and statesmen of antiquity Hannibal (247-183 BC) Berber blood flowed. Hannibal was born in Carthage into the family of the commander Hamilcar, nicknamed Barka - "lightning" given to him for his swiftness and tactics of fighting against the Roman troops in Sicily. Hannibal's army, which fought the Romans in Spain and defeated the Romans in several battles in Italy in 218 BC, included an entire cavalry corps of Berber warriors. Hannibal's warriors fiercely hated the Romans and more than once crushed Roman armies, for which the Romans considered them treacherous.

Before the Arab invasion in the 7th century, there were 9 Berber-Jewish principalities in northern Africa: Borion, Nafusa, Ores, Ludalib, Al-Kurdan, Shivava, Talmesan, Wad Draa and Tahir. Ores in Algeria became the center of the Judeo-Berber principalities, which, led by the legendary Berber Queen Kakhina, for a long time repelled the attacks of the armies of Arab conquerors.
Among the Berbers, elements of “folk Islam” are widespread - the cult of saints, religious and religious-guild associations, brotherhoods dating back to Sufi orders - tariqats.

TUAREG - Sunni Muslims. However, the Tuareg Berbers retained many pre-Islamic customs- veneration of the cult of the mother - the ancestor of the clan, the guardian ancient language and traditions among the Tuaregs Polygamy is prohibited. Girls learn to read and write from an early age, but men are allowed to be illiterate. Some of the Tuaregs who inhabit the Algerian Sahara and the Tenere Desert roam with herds of camels and goats and raise small cattle.
Basic traditional activities All Berber peoples have nomadic and semi-nomadic cattle breeding (camels, small and large cattle). For a long time, the Berbers maintained communal arable land use (“arsh” - earthen measure), hoe farming, grew grains, barley, millet, wheat, legumes, and gardened vegetables.
The Berbers maintain tribal relations; at the head of the tribal association is an elected council of elders - the imzran and the leader (aglid, amgar). Inter-clan networks are being established unions (tewizi), and cooperation in grazing (tauallat). The center of the tribal group is the fortified village of Tigremt or Dshar.

In ancient times, Tuareg society was divided into castes. The Tuaregs themselves are thin, light-skinned, tall warriors raided neighboring tribes, capturing people as slaves; the slaves were dark-skinned and constituted the lowest caste of society.

Hamsa means “five” - a protective amulet in the shape of a palm is considered a symbol of good luck and happiness, appeared before Islam. The Phoenicians associated her with the "Hand of Tanit", the wife of Baal or the Lord, the lunar goddess and patroness of Carthage. And in Cyprus she was associated with Aphrodite.

Berber Ljubljana - amber and anchovy - hand of Tanit

Ancient Tuareg legends tell about the “mother-ancestor” Tin-Khinan, who came to them from Morocco on a white camel with her maid Takamat, and became a queen. The most beautiful, young and strong male grooms came to Queen Tin-Khinan, but the queen treated the men in the same way as the legendary Amazons, she killed them in the morning. Queen Tin-Khinan and the maid Takamat gave birth to children, marking the beginning of a clan of the highest and lower caste The Tuaregs, their black and white descendants, are still united today by one tribal name. In 1925 in the area ancient fortification The Abalesses in Ahaggar found a rich burial of a woman, many Tuaregs believe that this is a tomb Queen Tin-Khinan.
In the 11th century, Arab conquerors invaded the territory of the Tuareg Berber tribes in North Africa, and they retreated west and into the farthest reaches of the Sahara Desert, but were still subjected to forced Islamization and Arabization.

In the Middle Ages, the Tuaregs created several state entities, which did not last long - the Sultanate of Agadez controlled important transshipment trade points, the city-state of Takedda on the territory of Niger.
During the colonial era, the Tuareg, despite resistance, were conquered by the French and their lands were included in French West Africa, in the colony of Niger. The Tuaregs rebelled in 1916-1917, the colonial authorities were able to subjugate the Tuareg tribes only by 1923. The French colonial authorities controlled the Tuaregs through clan leaders, taking advantage of the contradictions between clans.

The Berbers build houses from unbaked clay, decorating them with patterned windows, and the Berber valleys are called the valleys of a thousand fortresses, since their houses are more like impregnable fortresses.
Contrary to the popular opinion in literature about the belligerence of the Berbers, they are very peace-loving and harmless farmers, in contrast to the militant traders of the Phoenicians, Romans, Greeks, and Arabs. The Berbers were always ruled by someone, first the Egyptians, then the Phoenicians, then the Romans, Greeks, Arabs. Defending their freedom, independence, language, culture and way of life, the Berbers learned to fight.

All Berber nationalities and tribes are united by a common tricolor flag, the colors of which represent the sea, mountains and desert. Many famous and famous people from different eras are natives of from the Berbers, for example, Christian theologian Saint Aurelius Augustine, famous commander Hannibal.

A significant Berber diaspora lives in France, from which a number of famous personalities, for example, French singer Edith Piaf - real name Edith Giovanna Gassion.

The nickname Piaf, colloquially meaning “little sparrow,” became the stage name of this truly great artist of the 20th century. For the sake of her lover, Piaf converted to Orthodoxy.

The famous Algerian football player Zinedine Zidane comes from the Berber family of Kabyles.

Zinedine Zidane is a French footballer and coach of Algerian origin, head coach of the Spanish club Real Madrid. Considered one of the greatest players in football history.

Arabs and Berbers

Nashit, are you Arab or Berber? - we ask.

I am a Berber, like many people living in Meknes. They all speak Tashelhit. This is also my native language. But we also speak Arabic. And besides, we are all Muslims and Moroccans.

And he brings out another roulade, dashingly turning on a sharp turn of a mountain serpentine. Having caught our breath, we are in no hurry to resume the conversation, but our driver does not seem to notice this.

But you also speak Arabic, although you are not Moroccans,” he takes the initiative into his own hands. - You are probably Muslims. Anyone who speaks Arabic must be a Muslim.

We convince him that this is not so, but Nasheet does not believe us. At this moment, a bright ray of sun, hiding around the bend, literally pierces the windshield, and Nashit, even jumping for joy, makes something like battle cry and increases speed. The nature of his native places, its colors and smells, appearing now to the left, now to the right of the road, beautiful views of mountains, hills, valleys with olive groves, vineyards and oranges golden in the green gardens, apparently have an intoxicating effect on him.

What Nasheet said is quite remarkable. Moroccan Arabs (especially intellectuals) as a rule do not limit themselves to stating that they are Arabs, but almost always add that in Morocco it does not matter whether one is an Arab or a Berber. To a certain extent, this is now the case. And yet, everything is much more complicated. Throughout the history of Morocco since the arrival of the Arabs here in the 7th century. There is a continuous process of Arabization of the Berbers. Big cities and the villages of the western part of the country are inhabited mainly by Arabs or Arabized Berbers mixed with them, including semi-Arabized ones, that is, those who have adopted the Arabic language, but also retain their own. Therefore, it is very difficult to determine exactly how many Arabs and how many Berbers there are in Morocco, especially since you can meet both of them in any area. According to the famous Berber figure Mahjoub Akhardan, “all Moroccans are Berbers” and 15 kilometers from Rabat, in the Zemmour tribe, they do not speak Arabic. He repeats the opinion of the French scientist O. Bernard that in the Maghreb “there are no Arabs, but only Berbers at different stages of Arabization.”

They call different numbers. From these it can be concluded that between 50 and 70 percent of Moroccans are Berbers, many of whom (obviously the majority) are bilingual. The native language of the Berbers of the Rif (in the north of the country) is Tarifit, and the Berbers of the Middle Atlas is Tamazight. At the same time, both of them call themselves “imazigen” (“ free people") and, understanding each other, usually tend not to see the differences in language that exist between them. The most widespread group of Berbers are considered to be the Shlekhs, who speak the Tashelhit language and inhabit the mountains of the High Atlas, Anti-Atlas and the valley of the Sus River in the south, but recently settled also in the center of the country.The linguistic differences between them and the Berbers of the Rif are more significant than between the Imazighen.

Obviously, in addition to these differences that journalists write about and guides talk about, there are others. We had to talk in Meknes with two young employees of the Reef Hotel. Both of them were Berbers and considered Tashelhit as their native language. However, one of them said:

I am a shlekh, and my friend is a suoi (that is, a native of the Sus valley inhabited by the same shlekhs. - V.A.).

All this once again suggests that the Berber problem has not yet been sufficiently studied and is largely due to the inability to overcome old tribal barriers and regional isolation, which are gradually being destroyed, but have not yet collapsed.

The Arabs of Morocco are no less complex ethnic community than the Berbers. These are the descendants of not only those who came to the Maghreb in several waves in the 7th-11th centuries. Arab tribes (mainly the Maakil tribes settled on the Atlantic coast), but also part of the Arabized Berbers who had completely forgotten their language, Andalusian Moors, European captives who converted to Islam. In addition, among the Arabs and Berbers of Morocco, dark-skinned descendants of the Abids live almost everywhere and speak their dialects ( former slaves) "Black Guard" of Moulay Ismail, of whom there were about 150 thousand by the end of his life. Variety ethnic composition Moroccan Arabs is complemented by the presence of immigrants from almost all countries of the Arab world, who emigrated to Morocco at different times for one reason or another. In particular, we had to deal with indigenous Moroccans, who trace their origins to newcomers from Lebanon and Algeria.

Therefore, the Arabs of Morocco try to emphasize what unites them with each other, as well as with the Berbers. This is primarily the Arabic language, which the vast majority of the country’s inhabitants speak, regardless of origin, and the religion of Islam. It was interesting to talk about this with Nashit. He is inclined to consider the Arabic language as a universal means of communication for Muslims and quite seriously asked, for example, the following questions: “Do they speak Arabic in Russia? Are there Muslims there? So what language do they speak?” For a Muslim who believes that the Koran was revealed to a prophet in Arabic, all these questions are not as naive as they first seem. Moreover, Nasheet was firmly convinced that “Muslims good people, because they fear Allah." In his eyes, Christians and communists, the difference between whom he felt rather vaguely, lost precisely because they did not fear Allah. It is no coincidence that Nasheet, who does not read newspapers, but listens to the radio, was of all international problems more interested the whole question is about the shrines of Islam in Jerusalem captured by the Israelis.

It was also interesting to compare Nasheet with Muhammad, who did not ask naive questions and politely avoided topics that offended his interlocutor. But if the conversation turned to the Arabic language in Morocco and the problem of its division into literary and colloquial, he would always remark:

In this regard, things are better in our country than in other Arab countries. Our spoken Arabic is the same throughout the country, especially in the cities where they speak it, like Rabat and Casablanca.

Meanwhile, it is known both from the works of linguistic scientists and from the words of other Moroccans (in particular, the guide Mustafa, who later introduced us to Casablanca), that there are about 13 different dialects in the country, Arabic and Berber, which is not how Arabic is spoken in Rabat, like in Fez. Residents of the capital have only recently begun to acquire pronunciation features previously characteristic of Tangier and others. northern cities. As for Casablanca and the cities of the south, the Arabic language there goes back to the dialects of the Bedouin tribes and differs from the dialects of other cities.

The unity of all Moroccans, however, is facilitated by the spread of the Arabic language among the Berbers (primarily in cities), and the increased last years attention to Berber culture. The originality of the Berbers was recognized before - in the peculiarities of peasant clothing, folk dances and songs, folklore and legends, crafts and carpet weaving. Now done new step: Berber culture and language are beginning to be seriously studied. It is planned, as King Hassan II recently announced, to create an Institute of the Berber Language. The already mentioned Gazzal, back in Rabat, told us that the literary magazine Tamazight had recently begun to be published in the Berber language, but in Arabic script due to the lack of a written language among the Berbers.

Of course, this is just the beginning. Tamazight magazine along with literary works It also publishes materials on linguistics and other cultural issues. It's about about moving from a simple mention of Berber specificity to its deep understanding. At the same time, the spread of education among the Berbers will help them overcome the traits of tribal isolation and isolation. Nowadays, Berber youth, after studying at school, often speak a more literary Arabic language than young Arabs, for whom Arabic is primarily the native dialect of their area. As a result, the proportion of Berbers among the figures of Arabic-speaking culture of the Moroccan nation is growing and will undoubtedly continue to grow, which will bring both peoples even closer together, emphasizing the commonality of their cultural heritage.

Berbers and Arabs

The material was “taken away” from the site http://site/

Today the Berbers preach Islam; but they are rather humble followers of the prophet. Before the arrival of the Arabs, they worshiped the gods of Carthage: Gurzila, Mastiman and other barbarian deities.

According to Tertulien, they sacrificed children to Saturn. They also practiced a fire cult. During the period of Christian rule, several tribes neighboring Greek settlements were converted to.

Berbers are a monogamous people. Their women, although in to a lesser extent are under the care of women of Christian nations and do not have special rights.

Berber woman preparing couscous dish

Berber women

Berber women have enviable energy. Sometimes they can be seen fighting alongside their husbands. History has immortalized the memory of their courage and fortitude in the Amazon saga, in which Homer sang the praises of the Amazon queen who conquered Libya and parts of Asia Minor.

Amazons

Some Berber women held supreme power among the Berbers; This fact alone, completely uncharacteristic of the Arabs, quite clearly indicates that regarding certain issues the way of thinking of these peoples was completely different. During the conquest they met quite stiff resistance from Queen Kahina, who commanded several tribes and formed a league against the Arabs. In the first battle, she managed to put them to flight and occupy all of northern Africa.

Since the Arabs had returned in much larger numbers than before, she decided to ravage the country to prevent them from occupying it, and ordered the destruction of all villages and settlements from Tripoli to Tangier. This amazing woman terrified the Greeks and Arabs equally, and perhaps she would have changed the fate of her country if she had not found her death in one of the battles.

Character of the Berbers

Authors who spoke about the Berbers often held very conflicting opinions regarding the character of the latter. These contradictions are easy to explain, taking into account everything that we said in relation to the fact that they are so different depending on their living conditions. The descriptions we are using are accurate only for that part of the Berber population to which these descriptions apply; however, since this population was very diverse, what is true for some is not true for others. For example, what characterizes the Tuaregs, who are a dangerous nomadic tribe of robbers and bandits, has nothing to do with the Berbers living in the mountains.

The psychology of the Berber can be considered as very similar to the psychology of the Arab, provided, of course, that sedentary tribes are compared with sedentary ones, and nomadic ones with nomadic ones. For all peoples they are one of the most important factors, which, in turn, influence the formation of character. When considering similar conditions of existence, we should expect that we will find the same way of thinking and behavior. Sedentary Berbers, like sedentary Arabs, are diligent, patient, energetic and hardworking. The nomadic Berber tribes, like the nomadic Arabs, are independent, warlike, reserved and resilient. The former, like the latter, have a lively mind; they are also incredibly insidious and dangerous towards their enemies. They differ from the Arabs only in that they are more vindictive, cruel and not so smart.

A HUGE demonstration of Berbers took place earlier this week in the Moroccan capital Rabat. Demonstrators shouted slogans at native language Tamazight, carried posters with inscriptions written in the Berber Tifinagh script, reading: "We are not Arabs! Don't distort history!" Many of the passers-by reacted with sympathy to the demonstrators, but most were perplexed why the Berbers were denying what had connected them with the rest of the inhabitants of North Africa for 14 centuries, why they were abandoning the seemingly native and familiar Arab culture.

Officially Morocco is Arab country, Where state religion is Islam. Berber activists in Morocco claim that all Moroccans are Berbers, but Berber influence on political and economic life countries minimally. The official number of Berbers living in Morocco is unknown, but independent sources claim they are the majority. In total, according to various estimates, there are from 10 to 25 million Berbers in the world. Most of, besides Morocco, lives in Algeria, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Tunisia, Canary Islands, in Egypt, Burkina Faso and Chad.

Activists of the Berber movement complain that modern history books forget about the contribution of their ancestors to the history of the countries where they live. The Berbers are remembered mainly at folklore festivals and for the entertainment of tourists, mentioning them as something exotic.

The word "Berber" comes from "barbarian" - this is what the ancient Romans called this people during the conquest of North Africa. The Berbers themselves identify themselves by the name of the tribe, the people to which they belong (Tamazight, Rifs, Shleh, Tuaregs, Kabyles). Moroccan Berbers prefer to call themselves "Imazighen", which means "free man" in the Tamazight language.

In a speech to mark the second anniversary of his reign, King Mohammed VI of Morocco promised to create a Royal Institute for the Study of Berber Culture, calling it national treasure countries. The king added that the institute will do everything possible to preserve the Berber heritage. True, back in 1978, the country’s parliament decided to create such an institute, but this idea was never implemented. At the same time, the Berbers are not going to be content with the recognition of their culture - they demand that the Tamazight language be given status official language Morocco is on par with Arabic.

The problem with recognizing the Berber language is that it has about 300 dialects, and some experts even consider them independent languages. It’s good if the country is inhabited by representatives of only one Berber ethnic group. And if there are several of them, then which language should be recognized as the official one?

While in Morocco everything is going well without bloodshed, Berber unrest has not stopped for several months in neighboring Algeria. As NG already wrote, it all started with the murder of a Berber youth by police in Kabylia. A wave of protests gradually swept across several Algerian provinces. In July, to protest US support for the Algerian regime, Berbers picketed the White House during a visit to Washington by Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Demonstrations also took place in front of American embassies and consulates in many countries in Europe and Africa.

OF THE 29 MILLION population of Algeria, there are about 3 million Berbers. By the time of the Arab conquest of North Africa in the 7th century, the Berbers had already developed a feudal system. After the arrival of the Arabs, the process of their gradual assimilation began, Islam, the Arabic language, writing and culture began to spread. Nevertheless, the Berbers have maintained their language and customs for many centuries. The majority are Sunni Muslims in their religion; a small part, after the colonization of Algeria by France, converted to Catholicism. The Kabyles, who mainly represent the Berber population of Algeria, still retain many elements of animism, remnants of pre-Muslim beliefs and rituals, and do not observe many of the precepts of Islam. To this day, many of them live in villages that are small, closed “mini-states.”

For a long time, the Berbers resisted French and Spanish colonization. Since the colonization of Algeria, the Kabyles began to be intensively recruited into the French colonial troops and the French army, and the name of one of the Berber tribes living in Algeria - the Suava - gave the name to a special branch of the French troops: the Zouaves. The first such regiment was created back in 1831. Zouave regiments took part in almost all of France's colonial wars, the Franco-Prussian War and two world wars.

Organizer latest performances in Algeria is the "Movement for a Free Kabyle", created by a group of representatives of the Kabyle intelligentsia. The movement demands that those responsible for crimes committed against the Berbers be punished, their language recognized as an official language, national rights ensured, and the economic situation improved.

Recently, separatist slogans have been put forward more and more often. For many decades, relations between the Kabyles and Algerian Arabs were difficult. At the same time, the French colonial authorities cleverly exploited these contradictions.

The "Movement for a Free Kabylia" aims to unite all Berbers in single state. Similar plans exist among the leaders of another group of Tuareg Berbers living in the desert regions of Algeria and Libya, as well as in Mali and Burkina Faso.