Awjila

Awjila, also known by several alternative names like Aujila, Augila, Aoudjila, Awgila, and Awdjila, is a critically endangered Berber language spoken in the Awjila oasis region of Cyrenaica, Libya. Its native name is Jlan n Awilen, and it is part of the Eastern Berber branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family. Awjila shares a close relationship with the now-extinct Sokna language, also spoken in Libya, and is considered part of the Eastern Berber subgroup.

The language has suffered a significant decline over the years, with estimates suggesting only about 2,000 to 3,000 native speakers remain, mostly within older age groups. This decline is attributed to both the political and social context in Libya, especially during the rule of Muammar Gaddafi. Under Gaddafi’s regime, the Berber languages, including Awjila, were severely oppressed. The regime not only denied the existence of the Imazighen (Berber people) but also prohibited the use of their languages, considering them a colonial imposition. As a result, Berber languages like Awjila and Ghadames faced a dramatic loss in speakers and cultural recognition. Gaddafi famously stated that Libyans were “only Libyans when they left their homes” and dismissed the Berber identity entirely.

Despite the oppression, some efforts to preserve the language continue. Social media platforms like Facebook have become a space where Awjila speakers, especially younger generations, interact in their native language, providing some hope for revitalization. However, without formal education systems or broader support, the survival of Awjila remains uncertain.

Given the dwindling number of speakers and the ongoing challenges of cultural preservation, Awjila is classified as a “moribund” language by Ethnologue and is in urgent need of revitalization efforts to ensure its survival for future generations.