عنوان

A Socio-Historical Perspective on the Amazigh (Berber) Cultural Movement in North Africa

LA107596

انگلیسی

A Socio-Historical Perspective on the Amazigh (Berber) Cultural Movement in North Africa

[Article]

Abderrahman El Aissati

Leiden

Brill

A socio-historical perspective on the Amazigh (Berber) Cultural Movement in North Africa North Africa has known various colonizations which in contact with indigenous ones have given the area a special character. One continuing presence since antiquity is that of the Berbers, or the Imazighen, the indigenous population of the area. In this article an attempt is made to shed light on the status of the language and culture of the Imazighen, and in particular on the recent calls for official recognition of the Amazigh language in the constitutions of the two countries with the highest presence of Imazighen, namely Morocco and Algeria. Although some recent developments, like the teaching of the Amazigh language in primary schools, give reason enough to be optimistic about the future of the indigenous language and culture, a closer look at the ideological background of pan Arab-nationalists casts doubts on any serious government intentions to guarantee the maintenance and development of the Amazigh language and culture. This ideology will be brought to light by contrasting the constitutional rights that some Muslim and/or African countries grant to their citizens who speak different languages than the official one(s).

2005

59-72

Afrika Focus

18/1-2

2031-356X

African Studies

Amazigh identity

Amazigh Language

Berber

culture

General

linguistic rights

minority languages

pan-Arabism

Social Sciences

Abderrahman El Aissati

10.1163/2031356X-0180102005

p

[Article]

275578

a

Y