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The Shilha people
The Shilha people, also known as Ishelhien, Chleuh, or Schleuh, are a Berber ethnic group primarily residing in southern Morocco, particularly in the Anti-Atlas Mountains, High Atlas Mountains, Sous Valley, and the Soussi coastal regions. Their name, “Shilha,” is derived from Arabic, but they call themselves “Ishelhien,” which means “the free people” in their native Berber language. The Shilha are part of the larger Berber community, which includes several subgroups like the Tuareg, Rif, Kabyle, and Shawia. The Shilha people have a rich cultural heritage, deeply rooted in their Berber origins. They speak various dialects of the Berber language, which is part of the Afroasiatic language family. While many Shilha…
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The Ghomara
The Ghomara are a group of Berber tribes located in northern Morocco, specifically in the western Rif region, which includes areas such as Chefchaouen and Tetouan. They are part of the broader Berber ethnic group, which has a long history in North Africa. The Ghomara people speak a variety of Berber language known as Ghomara, though most have shifted to speaking Arabic over time. Despite the dominance of Arabic in daily life, some members of the community still retain their Berber linguistic heritage. Historically, the Ghomara were part of the Masmuda confederacy, one of the major Berber tribal confederations in Morocco. The Masmuda confederacy played a significant role in the…
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The Sanhaja
The Sanhaja were one of the largest and most influential Berber tribal confederations in North Africa, historically spanning regions such as Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Tunisia, and the Western Sahara. The term “Sanhaja” refers to a group of Berber tribes that, over time, came to form distinct confederations, each contributing significantly to the political and cultural landscape of the Maghreb and beyond. Historically, the Sanhaja were divided into three main confederations, which were recognized by scholars like Ibn Khaldun. The first group, known as the Danhāǧa/Sanhaja of the first type, included tribes such as the Kutāma and Zawāwa, located in the Kabyle mountains, and played a key…
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Riffians
Riffians, or Rifians, are an indigenous Berber ethnic group from the Rif region in northeastern Morocco. They primarily speak Tarifit, a Berber language belonging to the Zenati group, although many also speak Moroccan Arabic or Spanish, particularly those living in areas with significant emigration to Europe. The Riffians are mostly Sunni Muslims and have a long history of cultural and social traditions shaped by their mountainous and isolated homeland, which includes parts of the Mediterranean coast and the autonomous city of Melilla in Spain. Historically, Riffians have faced economic challenges due to the rugged and eroded landscape of their region, which is poorly irrigated and deforested. Despite these difficulties, they…
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The Chenouis
The Chenouis, also known as Chenoua or Icenwiyen in Berber, are a Berber ethnic group native to the Chenoua Mountains in northern Algeria. They are one of the many Berber groups in the country and have a rich cultural heritage deeply rooted in the region’s history. The Chenoui people traditionally inhabit the areas between Ténès in the east and Cherchell in the west, with their population estimated to be around 106,000. Their language, Shenwa, is a Northern Berber dialect closely related to the Shawiya and Zenata varieties spoken by Berbers in eastern Algeria and the Rif region. Geographically, the Chenouis’ traditional lands are located in the province of Tipaza, as…
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The Kabyle people
The Kabyle people are an indigenous Berber ethnic group native to Kabylia, a rugged and mountainous region located in northern Algeria. Situated in the Atlas Mountains, Kabylia spans an area about 160 kilometers (100 miles) east of Algiers. The Kabyles are the largest Berber group in Algeria and the second largest in North Africa, with a population of approximately six million people. Their cultural identity is deeply tied to their language, Kabyle, which is a variant of the Berber languages, and they are known for their strong sense of community and independence. The Kabyle people have a long and rich history, dating back thousands of years. Their society has traditionally…
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Matmata Berber
Matmata Berber is a dialect of the Zenati branch of the Berber language family, spoken primarily around the town of Matmâta and surrounding villages, including Taoujjout, Tamezret, and Zrawa, in southern Tunisia. This dialect is an integral part of Tunisia’s Berber-speaking population, which historically resided in the region. The speakers of Matmata Berber refer to their language as “Tmaziɣṯ” or “Eddwi nna,” meaning “our speech,” reflecting a strong sense of cultural identity. In Tunisian Arabic, the dialect is known as “Shelha” or “Jbali” Matmata Berber is a language with limited documentation. The most well-known record of this dialect is a collection of fairy tales published by the linguist Stumme in…
