|
Tribe Snapshots Berber |
| Location: |
Morocco and other neighboring Saharan countries |
| Population: |
3 million |
| Language: |
Berber |
| Neighboring
Peoples: |
Hausa, Fulani, Mossi, Mauretanians, Bedouin,
Egyptians |
| Types
of Art: |
Much Berber art is in the form of jewelry, leather,
and finely woven carpets. |
| History: |
Berber history in North Africa is extensive
and diverse. Their ancient ancestors settled in
the area just inland of the Medeterranean Sea
to the east of Egypt. Many early Roman, Greek,
and Phoenician colonial accounts mention a group
of people collectively known as Berbers living
in northern Africa. In actuality, Berber is a
generic name given to numerous heterogeneous ethnic
groups that share similar cultural, political,
and economic practices. Over the last several
hundred years many Berber peoples have converted
to Islam. |
| Economy: |
Contrary to popular romanticism which portrays
Berbers as nomadic peoples crossing the desert
on camels, most actually practice sedentary agriculture
in the mountains and valleys throughout northern
Africa. Some do, in fact, engage in trade throughout
the region, and such practices certainly had a
tremendous influence on the history of the African
continent. Trade routes established from western
Africa to the Mediterranean connected the peoples
of southern Europe with much of sub-Saharan Africa
thousands of years ago. There are basically five
trade routes which extend across the Sahara from
the northern Mediterranean coast of Africa to
the great cities, which are situated on the southern
edge of the Sahara. Berber merchants were responsible
for bringing goods from these cities to the north.
From there they were distributed throughout the
world. |
| Political
Systems: |
Berber society was divided between those who
tended the land and those who did not. At one
time, tilling the land was considered the work
of the lower classes, while the upper classes
were merchants. Usually, groups of sedentary Berber
paid allegience to a locally appointed headman,
who in turn reported to the noble who considered
the village his domain. As time has passed, however,
these sedentary farmers have been able to accumulate
wealth while the trans-Saharan trade routes diminished
in importance. They were also given political
status by colonial and postcolonial administrations. |
| Religion: |
Most Berbers are at least nominal followers
of Islam, and many strictly observe Islamic traditions.
Most of the feasts are observed and celebrated,
but the fasting that is required during Ramadan
is often excused for those who travel. Like most
followers of Islam in northern Africa, many Berbers
believe in the continuous presence of various
spirits (djinns). Divination is accomplished through
means of the Koran. Most men wear protective amulets
which contain verses from the Koran. |
|
|
