AMAZIGH in North Africa more than 5.000 years of History

Imazighen (singular Amazigh) means, in the Amazigh / Berber language, the free men.

The Imazighen, commonly called "Berbers," are the native inhabitants of North Africa.

They are distinct from the Arabs with whom they share a territory and a common religion Islam.

They are discontinuously distributed from the Atlantic Ocean (Canary Islands) to the Awjila (Libya) and Siwa oasis (Egypt), and from the Mediterranean See to the Niger River (South).

Historically, the Amazigh have been variously named : Tehemou, Lebou, Garamantes, Getulians, Nasamones by the Pharaohs and ancient Greeks, Numidians, Barbaros by the Romans, Moors or Maures by medieval Europeans, and Berbers by the Arabs.

Over time, coastal regions of North Africa and their Amazigh inhabitants saw a long parade of invaders, including Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Vandals, Franks, Byzantines, Arabs (starting VIII. A.D.), Turks, and more recently the French, Italians and Spanish.

Despite successive invasions, wars and persecutions they have survived, and resisted assimilation, notably in the Libyan cities of Yefren, Jadu, Kabaw, Nalut, Zuwara and in the Desert around the city of Ghat.

They managed to maintain their identity, as well as their language, which is not Arabic (Berber is spoken from the Libyan mountains of Nefusa and Zuwara to the Atlas mountains, Sous and Rif regions in Morocco, through the Aures, Kabylia, and Mzab in Algeria, and desert areas (Tuaregs) (with local variations), their own ancestral customs, habits, traditions, clothing, jewellery, food, music, and art.

ImazighenLibya You Tube channel is dedicated to them, the Berbers of Libya (and also to their Amazigh brothers in other parts of North Africa), with online videos displaying multiple aspects of their life, culture, music and history.

Peace be upon you.