The nomadic Amazigh people
During the trip to the Sahara, I noticed that all the guides were people wearing very traditional clothing with very long headscarves. It turns out that many of these people are descendants of the Berber people. The term Berber stems from the Greek barbaria (or barbarian) and refers to many different tribes of people in northern Morocco. These people call themselves the Amazigh (which translates to free people). Many of them are nomadic pastoralists or operate small subsistence farms. In this blog, I would like to explore some of the socioeconomic challenges that these people have faced in the past and the challenges that they face today.
Go to nearly every city in Morocco and you will see the Berber language written on official buildings such as schools, police stations, and bus stations. Many people who live in Morocco are considered Arabized Berbers. The people who I saw in the desert living in tents and moving sheep are Berber, but more specifically, they are nomadic Berbers. These nomadic Berbers face many problems when in competition with a stationary world. Many times, their land is not under their control and can be taken up by anyone. These people are in constant danger of losing their land, traditions, and livelihood.
When we visited one of these nomadic camps, I was surprised to see that as far as the eye could see there was little or no vegetation on the rocky sandy plain. Considering that there have been 2 years of drought in Morocco, this is not surprising. The question is, "Why are they there?". Nomadic people live off the land that they travel in search of greener pastures. The reason is that these people have few places left to go. With a somewhat recently closed border between Morocco and Algeria, not even these nomads can cross. In the areas where these people live, there is a poverty rate of 53% which is 42% higher than the country's average of 12.5%. The Berbers are losing their way of life, and with no other choice, many are shifting away from the nomadic lifestyle and moving to the tourism industry working as guides. Switching from a nomadic lifestyle immediately puts one at the bottom in terms of economic status, but these people have no other choice. These Berber nomads are a vulnerable group. Without protection such as reserved land, the world will lose a unique way of life forever.
Schorpp, C. (2017, June 16). In the footsteps of the Berber people. Dunes & Desert. https://www.dunesdeserts.com/en/in-the-footsteps-of-the-berber-people/
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (n.d.). Refworld | Morocco: Brief history of the Berbers including their origins and geographic location. Refworld. https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be668.html
Henry, this was a great exploration into the struggles faced by nomadic berber populations. There status as vulnerable group makes them threatened by economic changes and development that come from more 'modernized' competitors. I like that you explored somewhat the reccent drought years and how it has forced many to abandon the nomadic lifestyle, subsequently shedding their own cultural practices. I feel like further discussion should by had as an increasingly changing climate has intensified these drought events and could lead to even more environmental problems for these already threatened groups.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Henry! I was fascinated by the nomadic Amazigh people as well. Not only are they already living in little tents near the Sahara desert, but they were so welcoming to us even though they don't have much for themselves. I was surprised that they welcomed us in and served us mint tea and bread. I know that is Moroccan hospitality, but I would have never expected this from people who live off of the land. I feel for the nomadic berbers who are losing their way of life due to drought and the closing of the Algerian border. I was surprised to find nomads living in an area with no vegetation and rocky plain. Little did I know that they have no choice and no where to go because of the drought.
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