During my trip to Morocco, I had the opportunity to hike in the Atlas Mountains, a region that has long been home to the Amazigh people. There, I shared a meal with a local family. The lunch consisted of homemade bread, couscous and a tagine of vegetables and chicken, all made from ingredients grown in their own fields. The family conversed in Tamazight, their language flowing naturally between them. Although I couldn’t understand a single word, their kindness and hospitality needed no translation. The delicious food inspired me to write about their culture, history and experiences.
While Morocco has made significant strides in recent years towards recognising the Amazigh people and their language, Tamazight, as a component of the nation’s identity, challenges still remain. Tamazight, alongside Arabic, was declared an official language of Morocco in the 2011 constitution—a major milestone in preserving the language and promoting the cultural rights of the Amazigh people. However, despite this inclusion, there are ongoing issues with how Tamazight is both used and perceived within Moroccan society.
Let’s get some context, the Amazigh, also known as Imazighen (meaning “free people”), have lived in North Africa for thousands of years, long before the arrival of Arab settlers. Today, they make up a significant part of Morocco’s population, with the majority residing in rural areas, particularly in the High Atlas and the Rif Mountains. However, the Amazigh culture and arts have often been marginalised by the Arabic-speaking majority.
Tamazight vs. Arabic: A Lingering Disparity
While Tamazight’s recognition as an official language is significant, it has not achieved the same level of integration as Arabic in Moroccan society. Arabic dominates government, education, media, and business, while Tamazight is used far less frequently. Many Moroccans, including some Amazigh, prefer Arabic for its wider understanding, social prestige, and better access to opportunities. In urban centres, like Marrakech, Arabic is the primary language, relegating Tamazight to informal settings and rural areas. Despite its official status, many Amazigh find it challenging to use their mother tongue in formal contexts, reinforcing a linguistic hierarchy that devalues Tamazight compared to Arabic. This situation highlights broader social and economic disparities.
The official recognition of Tamazight is not just about language, but also about the broader struggle for cultural recognition and identity. Language is intimately tied to identity, and the status of a language is often reflective of the status of its speakers. For the Amazigh, the promotion of Tamazight represents a reclaiming of their cultural heritage and an assertion of their right to be seen as equal members of Moroccan society.
Tamazight vs. Berber: The Importance of Terminology
Another crucial aspect of this discussion is the terminology used to describe the language and the people. Tamazight is broadly referred to as Berber, a term that was not created by the Amazigh themselves. The word Berber originates from the Latin barbarus, meaning barbarian, a term historically used by the Romans to describe people they considered uncivilized. While Berber has become a common term to describe the Amazigh, it carries negative connotations and can be seen as pejorative.
For this reason, I prefer the use of Amazigh and Tamazight, terms that the community uses to describe themselves and their language. These terms reflect the people’s self-identification and affirm their right to define their own cultural identity. The push for appropriate terminology is part of the broader struggle for recognition and respect, highlighting the importance of language not just as a means of communication, but as a symbol of dignity and identity.
The Importance of Recognising Languages, Not Dialects
The case of Tamazight highlights the broader issue of linguistic diversity and the importance of recognising languages in their own right, rather than dismissing them as mere dialects. Too often, minority languages are labelled as dialects, a term that carries connotations of inferiority or lack of legitimacy. This can lead to the marginalisation of both the language and its speakers, as it suggests that their language is somehow less valid than the dominant language.
Anthropologists have long emphasised that languages are more than just systems of communication—they are repositories of cultural knowledge, history, and worldviews. When a language is diminished or lost, so too is the unique perspective it offers on the human experience. For the Amazigh people, the recognition of Tamazight as a full-fledged language is a crucial step in preserving not only their linguistic heritage but also their cultural identity.
In conclusion, the recognition of Tamazight as an official language in Morocco is a significant achievement, but the journey towards true linguistic equality is ongoing. As Morocco continues to navigate its multilingual landscape, it is essential to ensure that the Amazigh people are not only recognized in the constitution but also empowered to use their language in all aspects of life. Just as my experience in the Atlas Mountains reminded me, language is more than words—it is a living, breathing part of who we are. Language nourishes the human spirit just as food sustains the body.
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Alejandra Gotóo (Mexico City, 1991) writes to explain herself the world where she inhabits. Her work has been published in Spain, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Croatia. She holds a master's degree in Social Anthropology and a bachelor's degree in English Literature. Nowadays, she is a columnist in Dubrovnik Times. She has two published novels, Ruptura and Isadore or Absolute Love. Her topics of interest include nature, adventure, language, books, food, culture, animals, conservation, and women's rights. She also writes in her blog: Cardinal Humours.