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The generalized Berber crisis across North Africa raises the question of whether there is communication among all Berbers. Because they are scattered over a large area separated by mountains and deserts, the potential of communication and unity is generally low. However, the Berber crisis in Morocco and Algeria clearly affects the stability of the region, in which the hegemony of states is challenged by several important questions, including the rights of indigenous peoples. Even though the Maghreb states are parties to the international conventions ensuring the linguistic and cultural rights of all people without discrimination, there are still no official documents or institutions that recognize or confirm the Tamazight dimension of the Maghreb culture. Despite their massive participation in the liberation struggle against the French, Berbers have been forced to fight for their survival.
The governments of Morocco and Algeria have vowed through their particular constitutional revisions to respect human rights and work positively to ensure the linguistic and cultural rights of all peoples without discrimination. What happened in 1994 demonstrates serious contradiction with those ideals. No matter what the governments' intentions may be, however, Berbers have succeeded in resisting and slowing down the process of de-Berberisation by making the international community aware of their crisis. Perhaps this political activity will succeed over the long term in preserving the Berber cultural and national identity.
for more information, contact:
L'Association Nouvelle de la Culture et des Arts Populaires
Rabat, Morocco
tel: 73-01-39
Fourth World Bulletin • Fall 1994/Winter 1995
Copyright © 1996 by the Fourth World Center
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