![]() Nomadic Berber men in the Sahara Desert | |
Total population | |
---|---|
c. more than 30 million Berber speakers; 40 m. Arabic speakers | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Morocco: 17 million (60% of total pop.) Algeria: 13 m (40% of total pop.). | |
Languages | |
Amazigh languages Arabic local dialects | |
Religion | |
Islam (mostly Sunni) | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Egyptian, Semitic people, Iberian people, Moorish people, Haratin people |
Berbers or Imazighen (singular Amazigh, plural Imazighen) are an ethnic group. They were the first people to live in the countries of Morocco, Algeria, Libya[1] and Tunisia in North Africa.[2] There are more than 100 different tribes/groups of the Amazigh people that live in different parts of North Africa.[1] Imazighen live in two different ways. They always move around to live in different places or they have land and stay in one place. The way they live is different in different parts of North Africa. The Amazigh people speak Tamazight and this language has many different dialects.[1] The dialects use the Tifinagh script.[1]
The Amazigh people have a different culture from the Arabs who live in Morocco. The art Imazighen create is unique to them. This can be pottery, carpet making, blanket making or tattooing. The colours and designs they use are different in each group. Groups are known by these colours and designs. This is how groups show their differences.[1]