Berbers are the indigenous people of Morocco, who inhabited the country before the advent of Islam. The word "Berber" comes from the Roman word barbares (translated - "barbarians"). So the Romans called indigenous people territories they captured and all foreigners. The Romans left Morocco, but the name stuck.
Berbers began to live in what is now Morocco in the first century BC. Their exact origin is difficult to establish. In North Africa, scientists have discovered traces of human settlements, which are about three and a half thousand years old. However, it was not possible to find a relationship between the Libyan people (as the ancient Greeks called them) and modern Berbers. According to one of the legends Moroccan Berbers are descendants of the inhabitants of Atlantis.
From an ethnic point of view, the Berbers are not a single entity. They can be divided into several peoples with different roots. Moreover, among them there are tribes of typical Africans and tribes of blue-eyed tall people.
The Berber languages are part of the Hamitic language family. Based on the results of research by linguists, the Berbers can be divided into three groups. The most common Berber group are the Masmuds (also called "shlehs"). They inhabit the High Atlas, the Sousse Valley and the Anti-Atlas. Shlekhs speak Tashelhit. Representatives of the Sanhaja group live in the Middle Atlas, in the Tafilalet region and on the Mediterranean Reef. The Berbers of the Middle Atlas speak Tamazight, while the people of the Reef speak Tarite. All of them are used to calling themselves imazigen, which in translation from their language means " free people". They perfectly understand each other and do not pay attention to differences in languages. Zenets live in the Middle Atlas and the eastern part of Morocco. They speak the language of knowledge.
Today, the Berber culture is on the verge of extinction. The indigenous language is constantly being replaced by Arabic, as it does not have its own script. However, many Berber groups (usually living in the mountains) try to maintain their language and traditions. There are even a few schools that teach in the Berber languages.
Tuareg
Every tourist who has ever been to the desert likes to talk about how he met with the "blue people" - the Tuareg. In all art galleries Morocco you can see the paintings in which they are depicted. The whole world knew about the Berber Tuareg tribes inhabiting the Sahara even in the time of Herodotus. They are called "blue people" because of the color of their traditional clothes. Interestingly, the clothes themselves were dyed indigo. And already from her blue color was transmitted to the skin of the Tuareg. Until the 60s of the twentieth century, the Tuareg owned the entire desert from Niger to Morocco. They simultaneously served as protectors and robbers for caravans. The Tuareg contributed to the development of the slave trade. It was possible to stop it only in the middle of the twentieth century, when the authorities of Morocco, Niger, Algeria and Mali introduced strict laws on restrictions on nomadism. By doing so, they closed the caravan routes. The Tuareg are followers of Islam. But it is customary among them that men hide their faces, not women. This happens because of the fine sand of the desert. He makes the Tuareg hide their faces. This leaves only the eyes visible. For the manufacture of a turban, haik is used - a blue woolen cloth.
Arabs
The Arab inhabitants of Morocco are also heterogeneous in their ethnic origin. The first Arabs set foot on the Atlantic coast at the end of the seventh century. They were on a military mission. Their commander was Okba ibn Nafi. But the first settlements of the Arabs began to appear only in the eighth century, when the Idris dynasty came to the country. Then the migration of Arabs to the territory of modern Morocco became more and more massive. Among the migrants were many Moors who had to leave Andalusia. All Arabs arriving in these lands were united by religion and language.
The Arabic language spoken in Morocco belongs to the De Rija dialect. It contains many French and Berber words. Linguists believe that there are 13 different dialects in the state. For example, in Fez, Arabic is spoken differently than in Rabat. in southern cities Arabic mixed with Bedouin dialects. However, in Morocco, the differences in the forms of the language are less significant than in other Arab states.
The Arabic alphabet has 6 vowels and 26 consonants. Words are built on the basis of a root consisting of three letters. Suffixes and prefixes are added to it, as a result of which several forms of one word are formed. When writing, short vowels are not used. Therefore, the meaning of the word has to be guessed. Because of this, there different translations the same text, as well as different interpretations of the spelling and pronunciation of words. Most often this can be seen in the names.
When writing the Qur'an, the Kufic style of Arabic was used. Its letters are square. This style is commonly used in architectural elements, as it is easier to draw straight lines in wood and stone. The modern style is more rounded. It arose later. This style is useful in everyday writing.
Jews
The first Carthaginian Jews came to the territory of Morocco in the 3rd century BC. They mixed with the local Berbers, as a result of which they became adherents of Judaism. Thus, some Jewish families", who now live in Morocco, have Berber roots.
A large number of Jews came to the kingdom in the 70s after the Romans captured Jerusalem. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the Jewish community in Morocco also swelled due to the persecution of the Jewish people in Europe.
Jews usually lived apart in areas that were created especially for them. These areas were called mellahs. In 1956, the number of Jews in the country reached 221 thousand people. But as a result of increased tension in the Middle East, many of them left for Israel. By the end of 1966, 15,000 remained.
Close to Gibraltar
Arabs and Berbers
In Fairy we went by taxi driven by cheerful Nashit. He seemed to be trying to justify the semantic meaning of his name ("active, active" in Arabic), did not stop talking all the way, laughed, and when the topic of conversation dried up, he began to sing loudly. He sang almost without words, starting with a low low, and then moving on to a more intelligible purr, a melody that he alone understood, which suddenly exploded in a drawn-out overflow on two or three notes of a guttural cry. At first, hearing this, we shuddered in surprise, then we got used to it. Nashit is broad-shouldered, stocky, with large working hands, a large, massive head, almost snub-nosed, with a tanned face. More like a dark brown than a burning brunette. And he has neither the olive brownness nor the slightly pointed features usually characteristic of African Arabs. It would have passed for a native of southern Europe. But he speaks Arabic, and in a language close to the literary one. Deftly driving the car, he manages to look around and look at us, noticing our attention, and smile broadly.Nashit, are you an Arab or a Berber? we ask.
I am a Berber, like many people living in Meknes. They all speak Tashelhit. This is my native language too. But we also speak Arabic. And besides, we are all Muslims and Moroccans.
And he brings out the next roulade, famously wrapping the mountain serpentine on a steep turn. Taking a breath, we are in no hurry to resume the conversation, but our driver does not seem to notice this.
But you also speak Arabic, although not Moroccans, - he takes the initiative into his own hands. You must be Muslims. Anyone who speaks Arabic must be a Muslim.
We convince him that it is not so, but Nasheet doesn't believe us. At this moment, a bright ray of sun, hiding around the corner, literally pierces the windshield, and Nashit, even jumping for joy, emits something like battle cry and adds speed. The nature of native places, its colors and smells, arising either to the left or to the right of the road great views mountains, hills, valleys with olive groves, vineyards and oranges golden in the greenery of the gardens act on him, apparently, intoxicatingly.
What Nasheet said is quite remarkable. Moroccan Arabs (especially intellectuals), as a rule, do not limit themselves to stating that they are Arabs, but almost necessarily add that in Morocco it does not matter whether one is an Arab or a Berber. To a certain extent, this is how it is now. And yet, things are much more complicated. Throughout the history of Morocco since the arrival of the Arabs in the 7th century. there is a continuous process of Arabization of the Berbers. The large cities and villages of the western part of the country are inhabited mainly by Arabs or Arabized Berbers mixed with them, including semi-Arabized ones, that is, those who adopted the Arabic language, but also retain their own. Therefore, it is very difficult to determine exactly how many Arabs and how many Berbers are in Morocco, especially since you can meet both of them in any area. According to the well-known Berber leader Mahjub Akhardan, "all Moroccans are Berbers" and 15 kilometers from Rabat, in the Zemmur tribe, they do not know Arabic. He repeats the opinion of the French scientist O. Bernard that in the Maghreb "there are no Arabs, but only Berbers on different stages Arabization".
Call different numbers. From these, it can be concluded that between 50 and 70 percent of Moroccans are Berbers, many of whom (apparently the majority) are bilingual. The native language of the Berbers of the Rif (in the north of the country) is Tararit, and that of the Berbers of the Middle Atlas is Tamazight. At the same time, both of them call themselves "imazigen" ("free people") and, understanding each other, usually tend not to see the differences in language that still exist between them. The most common group of Berbers are considered to be the Shlehs, who speak the Tashelhit language and inhabit the mountains of the High Atlas, Anti-Atlas and the valley of the Sousse River in the south, but beyond Lately also settled in the center of the country. Between them and the Berbers of the Rif, the linguistic differences are more significant than between the Imazighen.
Obviously, in addition to these differences, which journalists write about and guides talk about, there are others. We had a conversation in Meknes with two young employees of the Reef Hotel. Both of them were Berbers and considered Tashelhit as their mother tongue. However, one of them said:
I am a shlekh, and my friend is a suoi (that is, a native of the Sus valley inhabited by the same shlekhs. - V.A.).
All this once again suggests that the Berber problem has not yet been sufficiently studied and is largely connected with the inability to overcome the old tribal barriers and regional isolation, which are gradually being destroyed, but have not yet collapsed.
The Arabs of Morocco are no less complex ethnic community than the Berbers. These are the descendants of not only those who came to the Maghreb in several waves in the 7th-11th centuries. Arab tribes (mainly Maakil tribes settled on the Atlantic coast), but also parts of the Arabized Berbers, who completely forgot their language, the Andalusian Moors, who converted to Islam as European captives. In addition, among the Arabs and Berbers of Morocco, dark-skinned descendants of the Abids live and speak their dialects almost everywhere ( former slaves) of the "black guard" of Moulay Ismail, of whom there were about 150 thousand by the end of his life. Variegation of ethnic composition Moroccan Arabs complemented by the presence of immigrants from almost all countries Arab world, at different times for one reason or another emigrated to Morocco. We, in particular, had to deal with native Moroccans, who trace their origins to newcomers from Lebanon and Algeria.
Therefore, the Arabs of Morocco try to emphasize what they have in common with each other, as well as with the Berbers. This is primarily the Arabic language, which is spoken by the vast majority of the country's inhabitants, regardless of origin, and the religion of Islam. It was interesting to talk about this with Nashit. He tends to regard Arabic as the worldwide means of communication for Muslims and quite seriously asked, for example, such questions as: "Do they speak Arabic in Russia? Are there Muslims there? So what language do they speak?" For a Muslim who believes that the Qur'an was sent down to the prophet in Arabic, all these questions are not so naive as they seem at first. In addition, Nasheet was firmly convinced that "Muslims good people because they fear Allah." In his eyes, Christians and communists, the difference between which he felt rather vaguely, lost precisely because they were not afraid of Allah. It is no coincidence that Nashit, who does not read newspapers, but listens to the radio, was more interested in just a question about the shrines of Islam captured by the Israelis in Jerusalem.
It was also interesting to compare Nashit with Muhammad, who did not ask naive questions and politely avoided topics that offended his interlocutor. But if it came to the Arabic language in Morocco and the problem of its division into literary and colloquial, he would definitely notice:
We are doing better in this respect than in others. Arab countries Oh. Our spoken Arabic is the same for the whole country, especially in cities where they speak, like in Rabat and Casablanca.
Meanwhile, it is known both from the works of linguists and from the words of other Moroccans (in particular, the guide Mustafa, who later introduced us to Casablanca), that there are about 13 different dialects in the country, Arabic and Berber, which is not spoken in Arabic in Rabat, like in Fes. Residents of the capital have only recently begun to acquire pronunciation features that were previously characteristic of Tangier and other northern cities. As for Casablanca and the cities of the south, there the Arabic language goes back to the dialects of the Bedouin tribes and differs from the dialects of other cities.
Nevertheless, the spread of the Arabic language among the Berbers (primarily in cities) contributes to the unity of all Moroccans, and last years attention to the Berber culture. The originality of the Berbers was recognized before - in the features of peasant clothing, folk dances and songs, folklore and legends, crafts and carpet weaving. Now a new step has been taken: the culture and language of the Berbers are beginning to be seriously studied. It is planned, as King Hassan II recently stated, to create an Institute of the Berber language. The already mentioned Gazzal told us back in Rabat that the literary magazine "Tamazigt" had recently begun to appear in the Berber language, but in the Arabic script due to the absence of their own written language among the Berbers.
Of course, this is just the beginning. Tamazight magazine along with literary works also publishes materials on linguistics and other cultural issues. It is about moving from a mere mention of Berber specificity to a deep understanding of it. At the same time, the spread of education among the Berbers will help them to get rid of the features of tribal isolation and isolation. Today, it is not uncommon for Berber youth to speak a more literary Arabic language after schooling than young Arabs, for whom Arabic is primarily their native dialect of their area. As a result, among the figures of the Arabic-speaking culture of the Moroccan nation, the share of Berbers is growing and will undoubtedly grow, which will bring both peoples even closer, emphasizing the commonality of their cultural heritage.
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Berbers and their settlements in Tunisia Berbers (Berberians) are a North African people artificially separated by the borders of the Maghreb countries. Before coming to these lands in the 7th-8th centuries. Berber Arabs did not know the obstacles to free movement across the expanses North Africa. Now, in all countries of the region, they are in the position of national minorities, although in terms of real numbers they are far from being in the minority everywhere. The problems of the Berbers are somewhat similar to the problems of the Kurds in Turkey, however, they behave differently, and if they fight for their rights, then exclusively by peaceful means. There is no exact data on the number of Berbers. According to various sources, there are up to 20 million of them in the world. Most of the Berbers live in Morocco (according to official figures, they make up 60% of the population of this country), another 30% - in Algeria, the rest are distributed approximately in equal proportions between Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. In addition, significant groups of Berbers live in France (1.2 million people), Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, the USA and Australia. |
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The Arabs pushed the Berbers deep into the territory, into semi-desert, desert and mountainous regions, forcibly Islamized and tried to assimilate them. Different methods were used: for example, until the 40s of the twentieth century. Berbers tried to settle together with the Arabs. In Russia, such a policy was carried out at one time in relation to the Mordovians, who were settled in stripes with Russians, in every possible way promoting interethnic marriages. However, in Tunisia, where the process was led by the Arabs, this idea failed. Despite the prohibition of the Berber language for use in schools and official institutions, in the absence of printed publications, the Berbers have retained their mentality, culture, lifestyle, and language. Islam was adopted and generally played a role in unifying the population. However, among the Berbers, syncretism is common - a combination of elements of Islam and Sufism with pre-Islamic cults. |
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Of course, under the conditions strong state everyone observes the necessary laws and regulations and perform Muslim rituals: they visit mosques, observe fasts. But Sufi and pre-Islamic beliefs (animism) are very strong. Rituals connected with the forces of nature are performed with even greater zeal than Muslim ones. So, soon after the birth of a child, on his face - on his forehead, cheeks, chin - drawings in the form of crosses are applied with special tools, the scars from which remain throughout his life. According to the rite, it is necessary that the blood of a person sprinkle the mother earth, which will give strength and happiness. The unofficial capital of the Tunisian Berbers is Matmata, located in the southern part of the country. This is one of the oldest districts, together with the surrounding settlements, numbering about 70 thousand inhabitants. It is here that you can feel and understand the real soul of the cave dwellers. To the south of Matmata there are two more Berber regions similar in lifestyle, numbering 50-60 thousand people each - Tatooine and lakeside Kebili. In these areas, caves have also been preserved, in which the Berbers still live, migrating in certain seasons to the Sahara, where there are almost no permanent settlements. Then you can go through a dried-up salt lake - El Jerid salt marsh to another Berber region of Tunisia - Tamarza, where about 1 million Berbers live. This is the area least controlled by the government. All Berbers know that if you wish, you can find an occupation that generates income there. It has its own laws, in fact, everything is controlled by the local mafia. state border with Algeria is very conditional, international transit and smuggling traffic has become large. |
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If in Cappadocia there are churches underground, then in Tunisia there are mosques, and in the town of Chenini there is even a mosque of the Seven Sleeping Youths. The Islamic legend very interestingly plays up the early Christian story about the Seven Sleeping Youths of Ephesus: the young men slept before the arrival of the prophet, woke up, accepted the true faith and fell asleep again. Seven huge coffins are shown in the mosque, claiming that young men grow rapidly in their sleep. Berber settlements (here they are sometimes called troglodytes, i.e. cave dwellers) - small towns, villages, temporary settlements (something like our field camps), caves - are, in fact, reservations. Most of them are deprived of basic amenities - electricity, running water, sewerage, telephones. There is no transport connection with the capital and other cities. For water from the villages, women go with vessels several kilometers to special sources. Wash in a nearby river or other body of water. Far from all settlements have schools, and most children have to walk for knowledge on foot for 6-8 km every day. Arabs, both men and women, living in cities have much more opportunities to get an education. In the Berber settlements, horse-drawn transport is most common. Lots of bikes. Cars have only a select few, those who managed to find work in the city. Contrary to the widespread thesis in the literature about the militancy of the Berbers, they are very peaceful and harmless, friendly and hospitable. |
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Berber food is associated with their occupations and lifestyle. The diet contains a lot of fruits, vegetables, olives, sweets, some meat. The guest will definitely be offered Berber soup seasoned with lemon, couscous (something in between Kazakh beshbarmak and Uzbek pilaf), Brik (a dish somewhat similar to boiled millet porridge). The Berbers used to speak various languages belonging to the Berber group of languages, which in turn belongs to the Semitic-Hamitic languages. At present, the vast majority of Berbers also speak Arabic (at the mother tongue) and the languages of the former metropolitan countries (for example, in Tunisia or Algeria - in French, and in Western Sahara - in Spanish). However, the Berber language is still preserved in some regions at a fairly good level. The vast majority of Berbers who speak dialects of the Berber language live in the Maghreb countries - Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Libya.
However, it should be noted that the products have long lost their authenticity. Dishes are made on potter's wheels, and then painted with colorful patterns from bright colors- this is all characteristic of Arab traditions. However, watching the potters at work is of great interest. Right in front of the eyes, the master creates a real masterpiece with the help of a potter's wheel with a foot drive. To do this, he only needs a piece of viscous clay! He can turn it into a plate, a jug, a pot - yes, into anything! Raw products must be subjected to heat treatment. This is done using domed ovens. The dishes are loaded for processing in whole batches, which are lined with dry grass in order to set them on fire. The processed items go straight to the artist, who decorates the dishes with bright and interesting patterns and then glazes them. The Berbers themselves prefer to use unglazed earthenware. In their homes, you can find modest ceramics decorated with simple patterns in conservative colors - black and brown. In areas where there are almost no tourists, dishes are made without the use of a potter's wheel. Masters lay flagella from wet clay in a spiral, this is how vessels are formed. Before firing, the dishes are processed with a smooth object until a shine appears. After heat treatment, the surface becomes waterproof. The patterns depicted on Berber ceramics are usually associated with nature and agriculture. On the dishes you can see images of the sun, natural elements and protective symbols. On real Berber pottery one can often see geometric figures: triangles, crosses, circles, spirals, etc. |
Berber ceramics can be found in various shops of large cities, which are located on the path of tourist routes.The Tuareg are one of the best known nomadic Berber peoples living in the interior of the Sahara in North Africa.
The self-name of the people of Tomashek (those who speak Tomashek) or imoshag (“free people”), however, even the first researchers of the region began to call representatives of this people Tuareg, which is reflected in various historical and research work various historical periods.
Currently, the Tuareg live mainly in the North and West Africa, and it is believed that this people came from the south, gradually moving to the northern part of the continent in the last 2000 years. Earlier this nomadic people can be found throughout the Sahara. Also, the Tuareg are known for their unique ancient script, which, however, has rarely been used recently. Also, this people is interesting for its social organization and traditions that differ significantly from those of other Berbers and Arabs who inhabit the Maghreb countries.
Most likely, the Tuareg descend from the ancient peoples who inhabited the Sahara, which were described by Herodotus, and which were confirmed in the form of archaeological evidence in the ruins of Germa.
From about 500 AD. The Tuareg began to expand their territories south into the Sahel during the reign of the legendary queen Tin Hanan. It is this queen who is credited with uniting the hereditary Tuareg tribes and creating the conditions for the formation of a unique Tuareg culture, which has been preserved to this day. In support of the hypothesis of the existence of this legendary queen, a tomb was found in Abalessa, with the remains of a woman clearly aristocratic background, which was buried with all the honors and attributes of a high social status and which date back to the time indicated above.
The history of the Tuareg is closely linked to their way of life - they are predominantly nomadic tribes that have controlled the trans-Saharan caravan trade for the past two thousand years. The Tuareg were the same Berber tribe that fiercely resisted the colonization of the central Sahara at the end of the 19th century. This fierce struggle was marked by numerous battles and the massacre of entire villages. However, the Tuareg were still subjugated, and signed the corresponding agreements in Mali in 1905, and in Niger in 1917, which led to the partial abolition and reorganization of the Tuareg confederations. Also, the Tuareg resisted the colonists in other regions of North Africa.
After gaining independence by the countries of North Africa, the traditional territory of the Tuareg was divided among the resulting countries, which, in addition to the constant need for resources, led to a new wave of Tuareg resistance. The economy of the region began to change, this was especially reflected in the fact that many Tuareg, due to desertification, had to start sedentary life or move to large cities to feed their families.
At the end of the 1990s, it began new period uprisings of the Tuareg in a number of North African states, which demand for themselves at least the granting of autonomy in their ancestral lands. Especially strong uprisings occurred in Mali and Niger. The clashes of the armed forces of these countries with the Tuareg army led to the death of thousands of soldiers on both sides. With the support of Algeria and France, peace agreements were concluded, which fixed points regarding the liberalization of the national authorities of these countries and the integration of the Tuareg into society. In 2007, there was again an aggravation of Tuareg relations with the governments of some countries in the region.
Traditionally, the Tuareg society had a clear hierarchy, and is divided into an aristocracy with rulers and vassals.Each tribe (tavshet) consists of several families and is headed by a chief. Several tribes together form groups of tribes or confederations, headed by a ruler or king - Amenokal. Until now, Tuareg society is divided into castes: the aristocracy, guardians of religion, vassals, slaves and blacksmiths.
The work is divided according to social class, i.e. caste. The king governs the aristocracy, the aristocratic warriors organize the protection of the group, guard the livestock and control the trade of the caravan. Imgads or vassals represent the second class of Tuareg society, they are free vassals - shepherds and warriors who look after for the most part livestock in the tribe. Slaves or Iklans are believed to come from the enslaved aristocracy of other tribes or peoples, so they are above the lower strata of Tuareg society. Warriors have traditionally scorned other forms of labor and prided themselves on their position as a warrior and their martial skills.
Separately, it is worth dwelling on the caste of guardians of religion - ineslemen. After the adoption of Islam by the Tuareg, the caste of religious clerics began to play an important role in social structure society. After the execution of one in ten members of the chief caste during the colonial wars of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the nontribes in some tribes gained supreme power, even though they were all descended from slaves. Representatives of this caste traditionally did not have weapons, providing spiritual guidance for the aristocracy and the ruler, in return for this they received a kind of alms, at the expense of which they lived.
After the end of the colonial period and the years of famine in the 1970s and 1980s, the Tuareg caste system largely lost its importance, as the aristocracy had to abandon caste distinctions and start working, which was almost impossible before. Although the caste system and in particular the caste of slaves has not completely disappeared and still exists among the Tuareg.
The Tuareg inhabit a vast territory covering almost the entire Central and Western Sahara and the north-central part of the Sahel savannah. The Tuareg perceive the Sahara as numerous deserts, which are divided depending on the conditions and have different names. In particular, Adar, Tavat, Land mine, Jado, Tamasna, Kalasho, etc. The Tuareg in the pre-colonial period controlled all these lands, and their population was subordinated to the Tuareg caste system, however, recently relations between the Tuareg and local livestock breeders and farmers have been aggravated due to political change in the countries to which these territories belong.
After the adoption of Islam, the Tuareg are predominantly Sunnis, however, retaining their traditions and customs that were in their society before the adoption of Islam.
In particular, Tuareg society is widely known among Muslims for its attitude towards women and their position in this society. Until now, the Tuareg trace their ancestry to their mother, Tuareg women do not cover their faces, and play an important role in society. Particular attention is paid to the education of girls, they are taught to read and write from early childhood, it is they who are the keepers of the ancient Berber script - Tifinagh. A woman chooses her husband, and not vice versa, and a man, unlike other Islamic societies, has only one wife.
In the caste system of organization of the Tuareg society, a woman is given a special place, because the mother of the king in the hierarchical ladder is between the king and the assembly of tribal rulers. The king cannot make a decision alone, he needs the approval of the assembly, and it is his mother who can veto any decision of the assembly or the king, thereby confirming her status and role in society. Traditionally, men come of age in Tuareg society at the age of 18. On a young man's birthday, the family presents a traditional white or blue scarf to the "foxes", wearing which he is already considered an adult, and can no longer appear in public without him.
Tuareg art is expressed in the form of various kinds of jewelry, leather and metal products, in particular, decoration saddles and the creation of the finest swords and knives. The Tuareg are known for their jewelry made of gold and silver, in particular, it is worth noting the traditional Takaz necklace and Tizabeten earrings, which are known outside of Tuareg society for their elegance and fine workmanship.
Due to the fact that the Tuaregs have been living in the desert for centuries, they have their own astronomical system, with their own names of stars, planets and constellations. In particular, Orion among the Tuareg is called Amanar, which means "warrior of the desert", and Venus - Azzag Willy.
The Tuareg are also well known for their traditional dwellings. Akhaket - a red tent made from a stretched goat or camel skin; Tafala - a cover that is made of sticks, and represents a kind of canopy; akarban is a traditional winter temporary dwelling, while ategham is a traditional temporary summer home. Taghazamt is a traditional Tuareg house built of clay, such houses form the basis of the architecture of Tuareg castles and cities.
Tuareg clothing was influenced by the customs and traditions of pre-Islamic society, in particular, the matrilineal nature of Tuareg society.
Tuareg women do not cover their faces, while traditionally the face of a Tuareg man is covered with a scarf from the moment they reach adulthood. The most famous Tuareg symbol is the tagelmust, lisam or sheshst in the Berber language, which is a veil of blue color(there are also white and blue ones). Men wear a veil because it is believed that it can protect a man and his family from evil spirits, and also indicates his maturity. The veil should cover the face, excluding the eyes and the tip of the nose. However, scientists also believe that this form of head covering arose from life in the desert, where the sands are constantly blown by winds.
Also, an important tradition of the Tuareg is the wearing of amulets on clothes, which are supposed to protect a person; recently, many amulets contain verses from the Koran.
Traditional Tuareg clothing items:
Tagelmust - male turban
Alasho - a blue or blue veil worn by both women and men
Boukar - male black turban
Tasuvart - women's veil
Takatkat is a shirt worn by both men and women.
Takarbast - short shirt
Akarbey - traditional pants
Afetek - women's clothing
Bernuz - long woolen clothes for the winter season
Ahebai - light green or blue clothes for women
Ighateman - shoes
Iragazan - red leather sandals
Ibuzagan - leather shoes
The Tuareg are often referred to as the "Blue People" because of their fondness for the color indigo. Most Tuareg turbans, bedspreads and other garments are dyed blue or light blue. However, it is worth noting that at present, blue turbans are worn most often for holidays, and in everyday life, clothes can be of any other color.
In other African peoples, everything is exactly the opposite. And in order to protect his betrothed from the spirits living in the head of a stranger to her, men must cover all the exits from her. Thus, Tuareg men try to protect their wife and tightly cover their ears, mouth and nose. In turn, the wives do not wear any bandages on their faces. It is women who are the owners of land, family values, and only they have the right to divorce. The house is called according to the mistress of the house - its keepers and head. According to the Tuareg family code, during a divorce, the husband moves, leaving his wife and children there. A man raises his status by marrying a lady from a higher social level. A woman herself chooses her life partner. Men must support the family, and not having family property and other possessions. Tuareg women do not marry until they are 30. Here it is considered bad manners to be faithful to your husband. This custom is approved by all. However, the representative of the Tuareg is allowed to live and "love" men only of her tribe and of the same social status. If these two rules are violated, the woman is doomed to shame.The Tuareg family code rejects polygamy. A husband may have concubines, but it is forbidden to let them into the family tent. Despite all the privileges of women, they do not live so sweetly. After all, the creation of a hearth, caring for children, cooking, washing - everything remains on their fragile shoulders.
land, family values are owned by women. They have the right to divorce their husband. The house is called by the name of the hostess. If she decides to divorce her husband, then the man leaves the house, leaving his wife and children there. Polygamy is prohibited. The leader of the tribe is a man, but this is passed down to the female line. Only by marrying a woman with a higher social level can a man raise his status. But a woman will almost never marry a man of inferior origin. A Tuareg woman always chooses her own husband. Tuareg men are considered the most ruthless and strong African warriors, as well as the best merchants. They cannot be called henpecked. The Tuareg man is required to support the family, although the woman owns the family property. The men follow a strict code of honor from the people of the desert. They prefer knives and sabers modern species weapons. The Tuareg are one of the few Africans who have their own written language (most of the tribe's language exists only in oral form). There have always been many poets and romantics among them. Even after marriage, a woman can be friends with both men and women, which is not typical for most African Muslim tribes. “A man and a woman are made for each other to please the heart and eyes, and not just for bed comforts,” says the Tuareg proverb. Tuareg women use ocher, henna, antimony as cosmetics, and adorn themselves with jewelry. However, they wear only silver, as they are mystically afraid of gold. Each product carries not only semi-precious stones and silver, but also the history of her family and city. The woman's traditional hairstyle is adorned with kouri (a shell that replaces money in some parts of Asia and Africa) and artificial braids. A lot of braids attached to the top of the head are another hairstyle option. In the desert heat, they are very practical, as most of the head remains free of hair.
I talked on Skype with a young man for almost a year (I'm 48, and he's 35), and I didn't take him seriously. And she spoke frankly to him about it. And in April of this year I received an SMS from a Moscow phone and a request to meet. He flew to Russia.
We are getting married in September.
I'm 48. Three divorces. I don’t know what will happen after the wedding, I also can’t say what would happen if I came to him in Morocco.
I can only judge what is happening between us in Russia.
I don’t know what will happen later, but now I can say that we live on his means (I am in a “creative search” for a new job). He doesn't drink or smoke. He does not need to be told 100 times what needs to be done. He is looking for more money work. It's not easy, because his appearance is not Slavic and he has a passport from abroad. But having arrived in Russia, he takes on any job to support his family.
Of course, the mentality and the language barrier. (He does not speak Russian, and we communicate exclusively in English, which is neither native to him nor to me). He is not from rich family. But the fact that he is not ashamed to go shopping with me and that I do not have to tell 10 times that we are running out of food is true. It is enough to say once. And he always pays for everything.
I am the daughter of a single mother. The only late spoiled child. There was always an example of my mother before my eyes - "if you want something to be done, do it yourself."
And in my previous families, as soon as I began to hope that my husband would do something, everything immediately went awry. And again I had to harness myself.
This is where I started to take the lead. And then I realized - you just need to let him be a man and a head. And only then I realized why I ran away from my 3 previous husbands - I was tired of being a mother-nanny-leader and not getting anything in return.
We just forgot what it is to be a Woman!!!
Of course, the Russians are all different, and the Arabs, too, are not all carbon-copied. Although my Moroccan proudly declares that he is not an Arab! He is a Berber! What's the difference?…
Maybe I'm just lucky...
P.S. The audience gathered here experienced and for the most part savvy on the topic. Does anyone have any observations of Berber families in "their traditional habitat"? It would be interesting to hear your REAL experience. (Thoughts and conjectures on this topic do not interest me, only real observations in the "habitat" - those who have spent enough time in Morocco).
Natalia, comment on the article
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After 3 weeks:
Now my beloved is no longer the groom. Now my Moroccan proudly calls himself "I am a HUSBAND")
Our marriage is already 3 days old. As long as everything is ok. Nothing has changed for the worse. His attitude towards me became even better, more respectful. We are planning to live in Russia for the time being. Obtaining Moroccan citizenship was not so easy. Even if all the documents are in order, then you need to wait 5 years to obtain citizenship and the adoption of Islam is one of the necessary conditions. I don't agree to this. We are planning to move to one of the Scandinavian countries.
I also met Arab talkers on dating sites many times. And now I’m looking at my wedding ring, which he brought me from Morocco, and I’m thinking - what courage and faith you need to have in order to do this, practically without knowing each other (what is skype communication? it does not give a real idea of what a person is in life) collect all Required documents, buy wedding rings and come to a foreign country, without knowing the language, in a cold climate, etc. and so on. …
My husband has a lot good qualities both male and human. In his homeland, he worked mainly with Europeans for 12 years, knows 5 languages (only problems with Russian 😀 - we communicate in English at home) and I see that European culture sits in it very superficially, only some external attributes clothes, etiquette, etc.
My husband and I still prefer to communicate in English. It's already become a habit. Although sometimes you want to speak Russian at home, his level of Russian is still very low. In English, we understand each other better, although for both of us it is not a native language.
And don't believe in adulthood language cannot be learned. I started learning English at the age of 44. Now I am 48. I can’t say that I am fluent in it, so I continue to study the language. In addition, communication foreign language develops horizons with residents of other countries, and it becomes more interesting to communicate with you. And besides, knowing English, even at an intermediate level, made me more confident.
And I think that the fact that we live in Russia saves me in many ways. It is not pleasant to realize this, but I think that if we lived in his country, then his attitude towards me would be less gentle.
Special thanks for the comment with a hint where you can learn Arabic. I think it will be useful to me in the future.
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After 3 months:
I can say that after marriage, a lot of things change in a relationship. But not only from the side of men. Women change too. Yes, not everything and not always smoothly. But for me great importance has the fact that he does not drink alcohol at all and does everything possible to ensure that our family lives in abundance. And I see that when he succeeds, he is proud as a man that he likes to take care of our family.
This is my 4th marriage. And he has the first one. Previous husbands were Russian. I have never seen such care from any of them as from my Berber.
Sometimes he is harmful and stubborn, like all Muslims. With the acceptance of the new, they all have a hard time 😀. But I just learned to ignore these quirks and the problems became much less. Grumble, grumble, and then still do as I ask.
And I also noticed this detail. Apparently, among Muslims from Arab countries, the wife in the family has much more rights than we usually think. We Russians are not used to this. But sometimes, when the “Russian tactics” don’t help, I just stomp my foot and say: “I am your WIFE! And I want SO!”. And oh, miracle! It works :)
True, I often don’t stomp my feet like that, I use “heavy artillery” only if something fundamentally important for both of us is being decided.
I do not presume to judge what it would be like if we lived in Morocco. But in Russia this is how it is. With them, with the Arabs, you just need to know how to behave.
If someone had told me a year ago that I would marry a Berber from Morocco, I would have decided that something was very wrong with his head. 💡
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25 comments on “ My favorite fiance is a Berber from Morocco”
- Anna:
I am married, and for your information, not Russian, my husband is a Berber, and we have been living in my homeland for 3 years, we met on the Internet, purely by chance! Can I even briefly tell you how?
My godmother went to work in Germany, and she has been living there for 9 years already. There were unexpected “turns” in my life related to Russian ex-husband, I had to be strong, take courage, so as not to get lost in this world and not perish.
The godmother knew all this not by hearsay, but from me. We have a small age difference, we are like girlfriends-sisters. Tried to help with advice. Having saved up for a plane, I flew to her for Christmas. She lives in Badsoden-Salmunster, about 60-70 km from Frankfurt am Main.
After talking day and night, she said that she would help me find a job for the first time, the main thing is the language - fluent speaking! I knew him to a normal extent, but upon my return, it was like intensive courses to remember. The son wondered what was going on. The German teacher also offered to help with the work. It remains to somehow put all my thoughts in order in order to understand how to leave, what to do and what not to do, in short, to weigh everything.
And during this period, when I was going to deactivate my profile, her profile was often viewed by 1 man, not Russian, but who spoke Russian well. Correspondence began, and the rest is like a dream!
I want to note that the “dust” did not let into my eyes! A man, like a man, is not a bum.
After learning, after some time, that I was going to work in Germany, he advised me not to go, because. before that, he had already proposed to me, and said that everything happens in life, the son will be left alone at home, how he will be alone there, because the Russian father needs him when it was necessary to talk after drinking!
Now everything is different, absolutely, and I'm not 33 years old, but a little more, and my son is already an adult!
When we met in person, and it was in Spain, where we both flew in, he gave me a laptop, saying:
Do you know why I donate a computer? because, thanks to him, we met and now we will always be together!Such a common story happened to me in this life!
Comments on my comment will be redundant, because. I don’t really want to read rudeness in my address, and read some attacks of aggression!
Life is complicated, and you don’t want to spoil it for yourself, because there will always be many others who spoil it for you!
All goodness and mercy to your neighbor! - ANYA:
Anna wonderful story with a happy ending! Happy for you!
- Elena:
Good afternoon
I completely agree with Natalia in terms of "... 3 previous husbands - I'm tired of being a mother-nanny-leader and not getting anything in return." I have exactly the same situation as a carbon copy: 3 divorces and in the end I am alone. I am also looking for a husband on international dating sites, but I know for sure that I will not risk contacting a Muslim. Because religion is a very important part of life. And I know for sure (my own daughter is married to a foreign Adventist) I will have to fully accept his religion and observe his customs. So we can only advise one thing - immediately check with your future husband about his religion and customs. - Irina:
Natalia, believe me, this is for them. huge difference- Arab or Berber!! 🙂 therefore, don’t tell your sweetheart what the difference is, and don’t call him an Arab. And when you go to the country of the groom, don’t call everyone Arabs either 🙂 like all nats. minorities, Berbers are terrible separatists 🙂 For me, too, at one time it was the discovery of America that not only Arabs live in Algeria :)) here is Zidane, for example, he is a Berber 🙂 Berbers, perhaps prettier than arabs, they have white skin, and they are proud that they are the original population of the Sahara, and the Arabs of the alien type, in the 8th century AD. pinned down. so do not offend them nat. self-esteem 😉 it doesn’t matter to them, Ukrainian or Russian. but for us there is a difference 🙂
- Irina:
and so, well done, you wrote everything correctly, I, as an Algerian girl, confirm everything 🙂 Good luck to you and great family happiness!
- Jackdaw:
God bless everything goes well. How old is he? Will the wedding be in Russia? Where are you going to live next? Sorry for so many questions....
- Elena:
Natalia, your letter touched me very much. I sincerely wish you happiness. If I may, I will say the only thing that scratched me and caused concern: you write - what difference does it make whether he is a Berber or an Arab. You yourself feel that he is proud to be a Berber. Try to understand why. If you love him and are in tune with long relationship, show respect for this feeling of his and try to find out how the Berbers differ from the Arabs (albeit in our, Russian opinion, nothing, but for them it is important, I know what I'm talking about). I'm sure when you start to be interested in the history and customs of these peoples, you will become interested. It will be easier for you to get used to it. And believe me, your future husband will appreciate it. Good luck.
- ANNA:
Good day, everyone!
In fact, everyone who wrote to you is right in some way, each in his own way!
I'll start at the end of your monologue.
“Does anyone have any observations of Berber families in their ‘traditional habitat’? It would be interesting to hear your REAL experience. - smiled a little when I read such a sentence - "in the environment ... ..habitat" - like in the program "In the world of animals" !!! This is the same people as the Slavs, who have been living on the planet for a long time, and therefore they are proud of their origin and, this is worthy of respect! Families are all different - therefore, no one will tell you anything definite either here or there!
How can Americans, Dutch or other peoples say how Russians behave? - they can, if they lived next to Russians, but this does not mean that they know Russians!
About "real experience" ... everyone has their own experience, you will have your own - but why share? I always thought that people who get married, be it a Russian couple or a mixed one, must first understand all the responsibility that lies on them - so that no one suffers later! You don't want to go to the supermarket, do you? First you need to think carefully, what do you have in common? how will you solve your everyday, financial, moral difficulties, if they arise?
If you live in your spouse’s country, the opportunity to learn the language in a Madrasah and learn more about its traditions will be more accessible than in your homeland, that’s for sure if your spouse doesn’t mind, and you have a desire!And about family life, it’s just wonderful that you don’t need to repeat a hundred times! That's for sure! Behind financial side in such a family, the SPOUSE ALWAYS RESPONSES - if he has an education, and a God-fearing Muslim, then there will be no problems - it’s another matter if the spouse is spent on all sorts of trinkets that are not needed in everyday life and then there is nothing to eat, then the conversation will be serious, and even more so if you they didn’t put him in the course that they bought it!
In fact, a person needs little for life, it’s just that many “requests” and ambitions “grow” in order to show off in front of others, but your life SHOULD NOT BE THE PROPERTY OF OTHER PEOPLE! There are many envious people who “wish” you in the back ...
To learn more, improve your English, then you can start learning French, if the spouse is a BERBER, then most likely he should know him well, but not a fact!Good luck to you!
- Natalia:
I lived in their habitat for two months in the Atlas Mountains. I returned two weeks ago with great pleasure. There are no family scandals in Berber families, there are practically no divorces. They are very friendly and friendly people. They love children very much and almost never scold or punish them .There are no orphanages and women's prisons in Morocco. ARAB THERE are 60%, and Berbers - 40. WOMEN age quickly. There are few wealthy families, but there is clannishness. He said that he would pay for everything. He paid most of it, but it turned out that he was a narcissistic egoist who used to live for his own pleasure. He is an atheist, but his mother is an orthodox Muslim. sign language, and with him, in English. I'm glad that you were lucky, but I don't regret the trip.
- Natalia:
- ANNA:
For Elena:
“... I am also looking for a husband on international dating sites, but I know for sure that I will not risk contacting a Muslim. Because religion is a very important part of life. And I know for sure (my own daughter is married to a foreigner…)”- ???
May I ask you: what are you more afraid of?
1 - change religion?
2 - or the words "Muslim"? - Elena:
For ANNA:
Answer: 1 - change religion and lifestyle - ANNA:
FOR ELENA:
is in Russian colloquial genre such an expression: “EYES ARE AFRAID, AND HANDS DO” - such an expression can be applied to everyone, everywhere and always!
Most likely it's not about religion, but about how you associate it with someone? looking at her daughter's life, how will she change her life!?
You write: "... I will not dare to get involved ..." - if you love, then this is not to get involved! but to exist as one whole, think together, decide together, be able to compromise!
Strange, but with a rich historical culture, Russian women are less loyal - they are always ready to argue, if only to remain right, because. their “truth” is the most correct, they often become stubborn, not wanting to admit the obvious, etc. - ANNA:
I would like to give the readers of the site a parable about family happiness for reflection.
"In one small town two families live next door. Some spouses constantly quarrel, blaming each other for all the troubles, while others do not care for their soul mate. The obstinate hostess marvels at the neighbor's happiness. Jealous. Says to her husband:
“Go see how they do it so that everything is smooth and quiet.
He came to the neighbors, went quietly into the house and hid in a secluded corner. Watching. And the hostess sings a cheerful song, and puts things in order in the house. Just wipes the dust off an expensive vase. Suddenly the phone rang, the woman was distracted, and put the vase on the edge of the table, so much so that it was about to fall.
But then her husband needed something in the room. He caught a vase, it fell and broke. “What will happen?” the neighbor thinks.
The wife came up, sighed with regret, and said to her husband:
- Sorry honey. I am guilty. So carelessly put it on the table.
- What are you, honey? This is my fault. I was in a hurry and did not notice the vase. Anyway. We would not have had greater misfortune.... The neighbor's heart hurt. He came home upset. Wife to him:
– Nu that you so long? Looked?
- Yes!
- Well, how are they? - It's all their fault. But we are all right.” - Elena:
For ANNA:
1. I do not defend my “truth”, especially since there are so many people, so many “truths” ... And they are all right, in their own way ...
I'm not good, and I'm not bad. I am the way I am..
2. My daughter likes to go to the Orthodox church more, and my husband insists on the obligatory attendance of the whole family to the Adventist church on Saturdays with him, he also wants her not to work on Saturdays. And on Sundays she can go to Orthodox. There are differences in the church service. This makes her a little "annoying", but she compromises here, especially since the religion is practically the same (I do not claim that I understand a lot in different religions). And as a person and a husband, her husband is very good. Moreover, she has someone to compare with. Her first husband was a spoiled, selfish guy.
4. I personally knew a girl (she is my grandson's aunt), she is a Muscovite, she married a Turk 7 years ago, gave birth to a son, lives in Turkey, is very pleased with her husband and life.
5. I myself am a Muslim, so to speak, by birth. But it so happened that the Orthodox religion is closer to me in spirit. But in general, I am convinced that God is one, it’s just that we, people, address him in different ways, perform rituals in different ways ... - ANNA:
For Elena:
1- yes, yes, of course, you are right.
2- about the truth...only the Almighty knows who is right, people can assume, but God disposes!
3- Muslim families live in my town, where the women are from my town, and the husbands are from Turkey, Dagestan, Morocco, Syria, Pakistan, and they live in peace!
They are the same people as everyone around, they also want to live happily and peacefully, but "thanks" to some residents, their life becomes hectic! Because 80% of the population believes the media, since a Muslim means a terrorist! Or a martyr! they have no idea about Islam as a religion of PEACE!
But the doors are opened to Jehovah's Witnesses, they talk calmly, smile, accept invitations and attend meetings, etc.
Why are Muslims worse than sectarians?They humbly accept shouts and blasphemy against them on the street, preventing enmity from flaring up, do not respond to rudeness, honor only ONE CREATOR, pay zakat to help the poor, so that they, in turn, calmly treat more wealthy people, keep fasting in St. Ramadan (Christians also fast), respect and honor and do not leave their parents in old age, support the younger ones as best they can! Recognize and respect all the prophets and messengers! Isn't such a Muslim worthy of respect?
- Elena:
Every person strives to live comfortably. And if someone is comfortable in Islam, then for God's sake! God bless you all. I just said at the very beginning that I don’t feel comfortable in Islam, I don’t want to wear a scarf, a long skirt, etc., I don’t like that a woman is considered unclean (although there are such moments in Orthodoxy) ...
I know cases when Muslims converted to Orthodoxy, and vice versa ... In general, I love myself and live as I like. And I wish you all the same! I also wish you all peace on earth, love and happiness! And who is looking for a husband on sites like me, I wish you success in your search! Well, I wish you success too!Tatyana, I completely agree with you. With Muslims, I like the same things, and everyone has their ardent faith (of course, I mean those with whom I know). But circumcision in women is a terrible horror! I do not wish anyone, neither my potential daughters-in-law, nor any of the women at all!
