The Amazighs: the commemoration of the Amazigh Spring

Each year, April 20 celebrates the celebration of the Amazigh Spring, a significant period in the history of Algeria. Thousands of people demonstrated in the streets in order to see their language, Tamazight, formalized and their culture recognized through Algerian identity. Independent since 1962, Algeria had not faced any major opposition movement: the events of the Amazigh spring in April 1980 were the first major opposition movement against the establishment. The Amazighs represent an ethnic group that has lived for thousands of years in North Africa. The claim and affirmation of Amazigh culture are present today in Algeria, but everywhere through the indigenous peoples of the region. Faced with the injustices and stigma experienced by the Amazigh community all over the region, the Amazigh spring represents the struggle against the repressive policies that exist in the countries where Amazigh communities live. FACTS: There are more than 30 million Amazigh people in North Africa The Tamazight language has its own ancient alphabet, Tifinagh. The word “Berber” is a term with a pejorative connotation, since it derives from a colonial name, “Barbaros” which means “foreign”, “barbaric”. Today, we try to favor the term “Amazigh” (m), “Tamazight” or “imazighen” (in plural), which means “free man” An ancient tradition of Amazigh culture is tattooing, which was practiced for several reasons, such as when approaching a marriage or by belonging to a tribe SOURCES: https://www.ipacc.org.za/north-africa/ https://www.france24.com/fr/20100420 -... https://www.thenationalnews.com/opini...