The Moroccan Club of Washington at Georgetown University in Washington is organizing a seminar on Berbers in Morocco during April 2008
Studies of confusion in their visions often combine the diverse cultural and intellectual peculiarities of Morocco, the Maghreb and the rest of the Arab Middle East, which obscures the cultural uniqueness of the Moroccan society, which is characterized by the Amazigh cultural contribution in addition to the Arabic language and its culture.
The Moroccan Club of Washington invites you to learn about the Amazigh cultural heritage and to learn about the latest developments related to the way of dealing with the cultural diversity that interacts in Morocco.
Academics, anthropologists, ethnologists, human rights and others will lecture on Amazigh culture in an attempt to answer one question:
Why and how was the process of marginalizing Amazigh culture for several years?
What is the impact of French colonialism on this problem? What are the last movements to revive this culture?
The show will be followed by a reception with the participation of a Moroccan Amazigh music band and Amazigh art performances.
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Special paper on the subject of Berber culture by Driss Benmhand
Revival of Amazigh in Morocco
By: Driss Benmhand
Translation: Washington Media Club Office
Washington, November 2007
After years of marginalization, the Amazigh movements in Morocco have entered into a vigorous research phase in order to reach the goal of re-consideration and recognition of the Moroccan Amazigh identity. The number of Amazighs active in civil society institutions is increasing in order to achieve the same goal, and condemn this process of marginalization.
Dozens of associations have been established in the last decade, and moreover, they have accumulated on the shelves of kiosks and libraries in all major cities of Morocco Amazigh magazines, studies and articles interested in Amazigh culture.
Returning to history, we see that the Amazigh lived in North Africa, a region which was then known as "Tamazga", but after the Arab invasion in the seventh century, the name of this region to become "Morocco." Despite their conversion to Islam, Berbers have preserved their native language. But little by little Tamazgha or Morocco began to lose its original Amazigh identity.
After the French, Italian and Spanish presence, Tamzga is now known as the Maghreb after the creation of the so-called "Arab Maghreb Union". It is na السve to consider Morocco only as an Arab and to cast all historical evidence on top of which, even after the Arab invasion of Morocco, the Amazigh families took over the leadership of Morocco (the Almoravids, the Almohads and the Marinids) for centuries.
What is more, more than half of the Moroccan people speak Amazigh (Amazigh in the Atlas, Rifia and Shalha) and use it as a language for daily circulation in a socio-economic and even cultural context. Therefore, any attempt to deny the Amazigh origins of Morocco is a blow to the right of the Moroccan people to enjoy their original culture.
In sum, Morocco is an Arab and African Amazigh who liked it or not.
Well-known writer Robert Kaplan wrote:
"Morocco is not an Arab country at all, but a Berber with a deceptive Arab mask"
It is the Mazzigh heritage that makes Morocco and all the countries of North Africa distinct from the rest of the Arab countries in the Middle East. We began to see some results in the Amazigh file.In a speech on 20 August 1994, the King of Morocco stressed the need to preserve the Amazigh culture and stated that teaching of the Amazigh language should start in schools. On July 30, 2001, King Mohammed VI announced the establishment of the Royal Center for Amazigh Culture, which entrusted him with all legal and financial powers under a royal decree.
Although these steps are only small contributions, they are important in the way of achieving the rest of the goals. However, the pride will be greater when all our rights are restored. There is much to be done at the regional and national level to publicize our cause and mobilize all Amazighs to denounce this marginalization.
For further information, please contact: Mr. Hassan Samgouni, President of the Washington Club, at:
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