An official holiday for the first time.. Morocco celebrates the Amazigh New Year
Moroccans celebrate the Amazigh New Year in Rabat
More than a thousand Moroccans celebrated the Amazigh New Year in Rabat, on Sunday, with an official holiday for the first time in the Kingdom after Amazigh activists had demanded it for a long time.
The celebrants gathered in front of the Parliament building in the center of the capital, wore colorful costumes, and played traditional music as a reminder of the "origins of Morocco," Hanan Oubella (21 years old) told Agence France-Presse, placing an Amazigh flag on her shoulders.
Amazigh New Year celebrations
The Amazigh New Year (January) is celebrated every year on January 13 in Morocco, the country with the largest Berber population in the Maghreb region.
King Mohammed VI announced in May 2023 that this day would become an official holiday, similar to the beginning of the Gregorian and Hijri years.
Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch considered that celebrating the Amazigh New Year is a celebration of the great heritage of all Moroccans.
Akhannouch said in a statement reported by the official Moroccan news agency, on the occasion of the celebration of the Amazigh New Year 2974, “Today in Agadir, we celebrate with the Moroccans this national occasion, which is a great heritage not only for the Amazigh but for all Moroccans.”
The Secretary-General of the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture, Hussein Mujahid, pointed out that this year’s celebration is characterized by the presentation of artistic performances by the “Taskiwin” band, hailing from the areas where the September 8 earthquake occurred, as a gesture of solidarity with the affected residents, and an exhibition of photos by the creator Khaled Atlas, which includes “pictures of activities.” Children organized after the Al Haouz earthquake in Tifnut.
For his part, the director of the Center for Didactic Research and Pedagogical Programs of the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture, Abdel Salam Khalfi, said that the celebration of the Amazigh New Year has undergone important transformations in recent decades, as the celebrations and rituals accompanying this event have moved from the circle of family spaces and limited circles to broad cultural and institutional spaces. ".
It is noteworthy that “January Day” is considered, according to popular tradition in North Africa, to mark the beginning of preparation for the agricultural season and at the same time refers to the season of fertility. It is also considered an annual anniversary for meeting and preparing various dishes, including the “Orchimen” dish, which is prepared with seven types of grains, according to the agency. Moroccan news.
"It is the culmination of a long path of struggle," Amazigh activist Mounir Keji told AFP.
He considered that "this official recognition reconciles Moroccans with their civilization, culture and identity that has spanned thousands of years."
The Amazighs, who pre-existed Arabs and Islam, call themselves “Berbers,” the plural of “Amazigh,” which means “free man” in their Amazigh language.
In 2011, the Amazigh language was recognized as an official language alongside Arabic in the Moroccan constitution, after decades of activists’ struggle.
In 2019, a basic law was adopted to popularize the Amazigh language. This text specifies their use in administrations, local authorities and public services, their teaching in schools and their use in cultural activities.
One of the most prominent results of this official accreditation is the appearance of the Tifinagh alphabet on public buildings, in addition to the Arabic and French languages.
Since 2010, a Moroccan public television channel, Tamazight TV, has been dedicated to promoting Amazigh culture, but Amazigh activists criticize the slow spread of this language, especially in the field of education.
Source: websites