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Fall– Winter 2011
Volume 19, Issue 1
The Amazigh Voice

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Tasγunt n Tiddukla Tadelsant
www.tamazgha.org
Tamaziγt deg Marikan
A magazine published by the Amazigh Cultural Association in America
442 Route 206, #163, Bedminster, NJ 07921— Phone [phone]

IIIInnnnssssiiiiddddeeee TTTThhhhiiiissss IIIIssssssssuuuueeee Editorial

Editorial 1
by Faziqa Aïtel
By Fazia Aïtel
This 19th volume of Amazigh Voice though 50% of arabized Tunisians are of
Homage 2
is a special issue for several reasons. First, Amazigh origin, only 1% still speak
By Rabah Seffal
we have the pleasure to introduce you to Tamazight. ACTA strives to promote
our new team of editors composed of Sou- Amazigh culture in Tunisia and to resist
Imazighen n Lybia: 3 mia Aitelhadj Karim Achab, Mokrane the marginalization and denial of the
Zigh Mazal-iten! Bouakiz, Rabah Seffal, and Fazia Aïtel. Amazigh existence in that country. The
By Fazia Aïtel We intend to make Amazigh Voice as in- post-Ben Ali era has given Tunisia’s
teresting as ever with informative and Imazighen new hopes in spite of the suc-
Interview: isteqsiyen i 6 original articles about Tamazgha and cess of Ennahda, which is not disposed to
Fetḥi n Xlifa Amazigh communities in the diaspora in recognize Tunisia’s Amazigh dimension.
2011 the United States and around the world.
By Fazia Aïtel
To this end, we continue to welcome
scholarly articles from various fields such The other major event in Tamazgha is the
Names of Inhabited 8 as history, politics, linguistics, and litera- spectacular emergence of the Imazighen
Locations in Kabylia ture as well as fiction and poetry. of Libya. Some might remember the few
By Ramdane Lasheb adventurous Amazigh militants, who, by-
This issue is exceptional because of the passing the entire Libyan territory, would
Ṭṭrad n Yugurten 11 way Tamazgha is shifting before our eyes venture to Siwa, the Egyptian oasis, to see
Sγur Karim Achab though perhaps it is our perceptions that for themselves the last bastion in the east
are shifting. Indeed, over the past few where Tamazight was still spoken. Siwa
Tamedyazt 13 months, major changes have taken place became a sort of pilgrimage place for Mo-
Sγur Moh Crif
in North Africa. One significant moment roccan and Algerian Amazigh militants.
News/ isallen 15 was the adoption of Tamazight as the sec- But what about Libya? Was the silencing
ond official language of Morocco, making of its Amazigh minority so efficient that
Recent Publications 17 it the first North African country to claim activists would go to Siwa to hear the last
Tamazight as an official language. By few individuals speak Tamazight in
Film/ Book Review 18
contrast, Algeria only granted Tamazight Egypt , thus overlooking entire regions of
status as a “national” language in 2003, Amazigh speakers in Libya? In 1990, Jean
after decades of intense and determined Servier, a renowned French ethnologist

Amazigh activism. Another significant and historian, pointed out that the pres-
moment has been the legalization of the ence of Berber speakers in Libya is evi-
Tunisian Association of Amazigh Culture dent in the Nefousa Mountains, in Zouara,
(Association tunisienne de la culture Sokna, Aoudjila and Siwah, while esti-
Amazighe ATCA) in July 2011, three mating the total Amazigh population in
decades after its creation. Even Libya to only a few tens of thousands
Page 2 The Amazigh Voice Volume 19, Issue 1
Obituary
TTTThhhheeee AAAAmmmmaaaazzzziiiigggghhhh VVVVooooiiiicccceeee
Paulette Galand-Pernet, (1919- 2011)
Marceau Gast (1927 -2010)
The Amazigh Voice (ISSN

1526-5730) is a quarterly publica-
French ethnologist
tion of the Amazigh Cultural
Association in America Inc. Marceau Gast
(ACAA). passed away on
July 25, 2010. Born
All Rights Reserved ©2006 in 1927, he was a
renowned specialist

on the Tuareg
ACAA is an international non-
world. He was the
profit, cultural, and scientific or-
first to study the
ganization dedicated to the protec-
food, the traditional
tion and promotion of the Amazigh
(Berber) culture in the USA and skills and the
Paulette Galand-Pernet, a specialist in
abroad. material culture of the Tuaregs in the
Amazigh literature passed away on May Ahaggar in the 1960s. He then focused on
5, 2011. She attended the Ecole Normale several themes in social anthropology:
Chief Editor Supérieure de Sèvres and was drawn to
parental structure, heritage, oral history and
Fazia Aïtel medieval studies. It was during an
the traditions of the populations in the
extensive stay in Morocco with her
Sahara.
Editors husband Lionel Galand, also a prominent
He also worked on Kabylia (Algeria),
Soumia Aïtelhadj
scholar in Amazigh linguistics, that she
Yemen, Queyras (France), and Haute-
Karim Achab
discovered Amazigh oral literature. She
Provence (France). He started as a school
Mokrane Bouakiz
collected substantial material and dived
Rabah Seffal teacher in 1948 in the Sahara and was a
into the new field of Amazigh literature.
researcher at the Bardo Museum in Algiers,
Galand-Pernet became a researcher at the
where he worked with Gabriel Camps for
Design CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche almost forty years.
Hsen Larbi Scientifique) where since 1968 she led
He was the director of the Laboratoire
the research group called “littérature
d’Anthropologie et de Préhistoire des Pays
orale arabo-berbère, Ethnologie,
de la Méditerranée Occidentale (LAPMO)
Distribution
Dialectologie.” She worked on ancient
founded by Gabriel Camps in 1969. He
Mokrane Bouakiz
manuscripts, contemporary poets, and
was also a regular contributor to the
singers, as well as eclectic figures such as
Layout and Production Encyclopédie Berbère. More than one
Mohya. She greatly contributed to the
Fazia Aïtel hundred hours of the sound recordings he
field of Amazigh literature as well as that
made in the Sahara are still in need of
of Amazigh linguistics in general. She
The Amazigh Voice welcomes transcription at the Maison
articles, columns, reviews, edito- was known for her passion and Méditerranéenne des Sciences de l’Homme
rial correspondence, and poems generosity. Her dedication for Amazigh
(MMSH). Gast retired in 1992, but just like
in Tamazight or English. Contri-
studies never stopped. One of her last
Paulette Galand-Pernet, he continued to
butions should be sent to:
projects left unfinished is her work on
contribute to his field through research,
[email protected] or Tachelhit texts on traditional women publication and through helping young
Amazigh Voice activities. Here is a selection of her
scholars. Besides a remarkable career as a
PO Box 1702
publications:
scholar, Gast will be remembered for the
Bayonne, NJ 07002
Recueil de poèmes chleuhs... 1, Chants de
Phone: [phone] diversity of his interests, his open-
trouveurs (1972)
Fax: [phone] mindedness, and the connections he helped
Littératures berbères: des voix et des lettres
establish between people and disciplines.
Opinions expressed in The (1998)
His most recent works include:
Amazigh Voice are not necessarily «Mohia 1970. Quelques notes. » Etudes et
those of ACAA representatives Documents Berbères (2006) Moissons du désert. Utilisation des ressources
and do not reflect those of naturelles au Sahara central (2000) and
« Mohand, héritier créateur. Edition, auteur,
ACAA. Material may be reprinted Tikatoûtîn : Un instituteur chez les Touaregs,
sens de l’œuvre ». Etudes et Documents
only with permission. itinéraire d'un apprenti ethnologue (2004)
Berbères. (2007)
Page 3 The Amazigh Voice Volume 19, Issue 1
Imazighen n Lybia: Zigh mazal iten!
by
Fazia Aïtel
Libya’s history well as the vigorous revisionist history that Qadhafi
championed which led, among other things, to the
The name of the modern country of Libya is creation of the Libyan Studies Centre.
derived from the name of an Amazigh tribe
(referred to as Lebbu by ancient Egyptians) that Libya and its Imazighen
was established in Eastern Cyrenaica at the
beginning of the second millennium BC. At the Libya’s Amazigh speaking population is estimated to
beginning of the 20th century modern Libya was known comprise 9 to 10 % of the total Libyan population while
as Italian North Africa and in 1934 Italy adopted the most Arabs are in fact arabized Imazighen. Imazighen
name of Libya for their colony, a name which was also are the known indigenous inhabitants of the
used by the Ancient Greeks for all of North Africa. In geographical area before the Muslim conquest in the 7th
1951, Libya declared its independence from Italy and Century. In Libya, there are several Amazigh-speaking
took the name of the Libyan Arab regions such as Zuwara, Ghadames, Jalo,
Republic. Since its independence, Libya Jebel Nafusa, and Sukna. In retracing the
has only known two rulers: first King history and emergence of Amazigh
Idris, a Sufi leader and the infamous resistance in Libya, the similarities with
Muammar Qadhafi. The Egyptian the communal experience of the
revolution inspired the latter to do the Imazighen from Algeria and Morocco is
same in Libya and he became an active uncanny. Indeed, which country claims in
militant against the monarchy and finally its constitution that the official language
enrolled in the Royal Military Academy is Arabic and Islam is its religion?
of Libya, convinced that only the army Algeria? In which country are Imazighen
could bring down the monarchy. In 1969, considered a colonial invention, created
Qadhafi took power and declared his new for the sole purpose to divide and
vision for Libya: neutrality, socialism, conquer or have been accused of being
Arab nationalism, and Arab unity. Arab Zionists, CIA agents, or simply agents of
nationalism, along with Islam, was a first Sifaw imperialism? Algeria, Morocco? And
and indispensable principle for Qadhafi. after independence which country
He also articulated a “third way” between capitalism recruited Egyptian teachers to set up a post-colonial
and communism, which he called the “third Universal education, and shape the Arab character of the country?
Theory.” Qadhafi continued with his social and Algeria? Which poet wrote Amazigh poetry, produced
economic theories in The Green Book, a manifesto of studies on Tamazight grammar and oral literature?
three volumes which elaborated a system of direct Mouloud Mammeri? Which country in the 1970s and
democracy, although the people could only exercise early 1980s saw the development of Berber publications
their rights through official organizations. His book was while music became an important vehicle for Amazigh
based on socialism as he understood it, with the claims? One naturally thinks of the MCB, Imazighen
elimination of capitalism and private enterprise and an Imula, and Tizi-Ouzou. Where did Tifinagh scripts
emphasis on egalitarianism. His policies were called eventually appear in slogans and graffiti? Kabylia?
“distributive” and according to historian Phillip Naylor, Where did a soccer game reveal the extent of Amazigh
Libya’s population “rose from being one of the poorest specificity? You think of Algiers in 1977, Boumediène
countries in the world to one of the wealthiest.” (206) and the JSK. Where were Amazigh names for newborns
Although throughout his career, Qadhafi shifted from banned? You might think of Morocco.
being a Pan-Arabist to being a Pan-Africanist, one
aspect that is important to consider now, with regard to If all of the answers are true of Algeria and Morocco,
Lybia’s minorities and especially the Imazighen is of surprisingly, it is also true of Libya. The surprising side
course his emphasis on and the centrality of Arabness as of it lies in the fact that Libyan activism is much less
Volume 19, Issue 1 The Amazigh Voice Page 4
known. Indeed, these events are part of the history of by Libya’s Imazighen was written in Arabic or with
Libya’s Imazighen who have endured much of the same Arabic scripts—though recently much effort has been
forms of repression as their Algerian and Moroccan put into using the Tifinagh alphabet. Thus the
counterparts. Reading the history of Libya’s Imazighen, circulation of information and literature was hampered
one is struck by its similarities with that of Imazighen in in both directions and the expression of solidarity was
other parts of North Africa. The discourse used to lacking. There are surely many other reasons to explain
dismiss them and deny their the disconnection between

existence, the repression and the Imazighen from Algeria and
emergence of a resistance Morocco—which, one should
movement through small remember, only recently strive
publications, songs, and to work together and develop
militancy, the awareness that cross-national ties—and those
developed over the years, the use of Libya. The above questions
of new technology and exile to and many others need to be
circumvent governmental addressed in future research
suppression, the creation of on Libya’s Imazighen. Indeed,
organizations and associations a whole new Amazigh front
and the few concessions gained just opened for researchers
are all analogous to the difficult An Amazigh Rally in Tripoli on November 23rd 2011 and scholars and for
and tragic history of Imazighen “western” (west of Libya)
in independent Morocco and Algeria. Imazighen in general.

What is surprising, again, is that their plight is not as The twenty-first century and Imazighen in post-
well-known as that of, say, the Kabyles. Most Amazigh Qadhafi Libya
scholars barely mention them, if at all, while the
majority of Amazigh militants from Algeria and Just like in Algeria and Morocco, the 21st century began
Morocco have, until recently, ignored their existence. with significant changes for Libya’s Imazighen. Amid
(there are a few exceptions among Amazigh activists troubles that emerged from Amazigh regions (Zuwarah,
such as Ferhat Imazighen Imula who included Libyan Yefren) Imazighen organized themselves and created
songs in some of his albums). One could speculate on associations (e.g. the London-based Libyan T’mazight
the reasons for this state of affair and colonial history Congress or Agraw A’Libi N’Tmazight) and demanded
first comes to mind. Algeria and Morocco were both the protection and development of their Amazigh
colonized by France and shared a common treatment heritage. The use of new technology such as the internet
from the same colonial power. French intellectuals and (e.g. Tawalt, Libyaimal.net) allowed for the expression
scholars wrote extensively on Imazighen from both of Amazigh claims. Imazighen were reluctantly granted
countries while attempting to formulate theories about some rights (such as the lifting of the ban on Amazigh
race, culture, and language. In contrast, Libya was names, though it was reinstated later, and granting
controlled by Italy with a different outcome. Though permission for a meeting of the Amazigh World
Italian authors wrote considerably on Libya’s Congress in Tripoli in 2007). Qadhafi’s son Sayf al-
Imazighen, most historians believed Imazighen from Islam even declared Arabs to be Berbers too. There
Libya to have been Arabized and would describe Libya were also efforts to acknowledge the historical Amazigh
as being populated by an ethnically mixed “Arabo- heritage of Libya. This sounds familiar and indeed it is.
Berber” population. Another reason that could explain Granting some rights to curtail Amazigh activism and
the absence of Libya’s Imazighen within Amazigh acknowledging the Amazigh people’s past while
studies in general is linguistic. Early on, there was a vast drowning their present specificity into the all-inclusive
literature available in French on Imazighen from Arab identity (or all inclusive Berber origin), are
Morocco and Algeria while the populations of both strategies previously used by neighboring Algeria and
countries were also educated in French. As a Morocco to avoid further uprisings and claims from
consequence when Imazighen took up the pen to express their Amazigh constituencies. As for the timid
themselves, they often did so in French and exploited concessions made, they are far from addressing the
the French literature written about them to articulate a problem that the Amazigh populations are facing in
different take on their ethnic, cultural, and linguistic North Africa and much remains to be done. Suffice it to
specificity. In contrast, much of the literature produced read the following excerpt from the Human Rights
Page 5 The Amazigh Voice Volume 19, Issue 1
Watch report on Libya as of January 2011, on, major newspapers and TV networks including Al
Jazeera ran stories on the Imazighen of Libya. The New
“The Amazigh (Berbers), Libya’s main York Times ran an article entitled “Berber Rebels in
cultural and linguistic minority, face Libya’s West Face long odds Against Qaddafi”; The
discrimination and harassment by security National Post addressed the question of Tifinagh in
officials. Libyan authorities do not allow “Ancient language renewed in Libyan rebellion”; The
schools to teach, or media to use, the Amazigh Guardian ran an article titled “Libya’s Berbers join the
language. Libyan law also bans use of non- revolution in fight to reclaim ancient identity”, El Watan
Arab Amazigh names on all official had an article on Imazighen’s new claims “Les Berbères
documentation. In January Colonel Gaddafi s’organisent pour réclamer de nouveaux droits
criticized Amazigh New Year celebrations as politiques” (the Berbers organize to claim new political
un-Islamic and not recognized by the state, rights); Le Monde addressed the place of Imazighen in
saying they disrupted national unity; an the new Libya “A Tripoli, les Berbères réclament leur
Amazigh organization reported that at least place dans la Libye nouvelle” (In Tripoli, the Berbers
two people had been arrested in connection claim their place in new Libya) while Jeune Afrique ran
with trying to organize celebrations. The an article titled, “Libye: Amazighs, plus que
Amazigh website Libya Imal was among those jamais” (Libya: Amazighs more than ever). The
blocked by authorities in January. In August Amazigh flag appeared in Tripoli and in other cities in
Internal Security officers arrested Amazigh Libya, the Tifinagh scripts surfaced on the walls of
activist Ali Abu al-Seoud and detained him liberated cities and Tamazight was finally heard on ….
incommunicado for eight days in connection Al Jezeera. The first acts of freedom were to set up
with his online writing on Amazigh rights. informal classrooms to teach Tamazight and radio
They released him without charge.” stations (Nalut, Yefren) in order to broadcast
programming in the language that Qadhafi declared to
In the same way Libya’s Imazighen were noticed for be a poison. Within a month an Amazigh publishing
their fierce resistance against the Italian occupation, house was created and published 4 books (National Post
they were also at the forefront of the uprising against the 11/7/11). As early as August 2011, Amazigh
Qadhafi regime that began mid-February. They associations and organizations vehemently requested
suddenly emerged on the national and international that Tamazight becomes an official language in Libya
scene as from a vacuum. Like a palimpsest on the page and since then contested the new Libyan constitution
of Libya’s contemporary history, Libyan Imazighen which though it acknowledges the country’s diversity,
surfaced, and “were among the first to join the uprising, states that Arabic is Libya’s only official language. If
raising the rebel flag on the first day of the this is not an Amazigh spring, then what is?
revolt” (NYT, 04/24/11). Indeed, the Libyan Imazighen
have been the revelation of the Libyan revolution and
one could say of the “Arab Spring” as a whole since the Bibliography
so-called “Arab” regimes that recently fell (Tunisia and
Egypt) possess an Amazigh population even though this Al-Rumi, Aisha. “Libyan Berbers struggle to assert their
dimension has been successful suppressed after decades identity online” in Arab Media & Society. Spring 2009.

of pan-Arab ideology made of vigorous arabization and
Human Rights Watch. Libya. January 2011. (Rights of the
anti-Amazigh policies. In 2010, Qadhafi declared to
Amazigh Minority)
Moroccan journalists that there were no more Imazighen

in Libya that they had all disappeared. And this
John, Ronald Bruce St. “Redefining the Libyan revolution:
sentiment was shared by many.
the changing ideology of Muammar al-Qaddafi.” The Journal
of North African Studies. Vol 13, number 1, March 2008.
An Amazigh Renaissance
Maddy-Weitzman, Bruce. “Libya’s Berbers: The New
On August 22, the Los Angeles Times ran an article on Factor in Post-Gaddafi Politics.” http://
its front page titled “Mountain fighters pull off a kabylia.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/libya%E2%80%99s-
berbers-the-new-factor-in-post-gaddafi-politics/ (01/09/2011)
surprise.” The newspaper claimed that the push by

guerilla fighters from Libya’s isolated Berber highlands,
Naylor, Phillip C. North Africa A History from Antiquity to
the rugged Nafusa Mountains, might prove decisive in
the Present. Austin: University of Texas Press. 2009.
bringing an end to Qadhafi’s reign. From that moment
Volume 19, Issue 1
The Amazigh Voice Page 6
Isteqsiyen i Fetḥḥḥḥi n Xlifa

Interview October 2011
by
Fazia Aïtel
1. Deg tazwara, ini yaγ d kra n 3. Ansi i d usan

wawalen γef Fatḥḥḥḥi. Anida i d ilmeẓyen enni i
tekkreḍ, anida teγriḍ, amek i nwala ? Llan yakan
tkecmeḍ γer CNT ?…[Before di Trables, neγ usan d
we start, could you please intro- si temdint n Zwiṛa?
duce yourself and tell us a bit neγ udren d seg-
about you, where did you grow w d r a r n
up, and what brought you to Nfusa ? Myussanen
the CNT?] garasen si zik neγ ar-
mi d-tanekra ya ta-
My name is Fathin Khalifa, and neggarut i myagga-
I was born in 1965 in the Libyan ren ? [Where did this
Amazigh city of Zwara. I grew youth we saw come
up in Tripoli where I did my from? Were they
primary and secondary educa- Fethi n Xlifa already in Tripoli or
tion. I left Libya in 1984 and did they come from the
returned in 1991 with a degree in Engineering. I did not city of Zwira or from
settle in Libya because of political problems and instead the Nfusa mountains? Did they know each other befo-
moved to Morocco in 1992. I lived there until 2008, re or did they meet and come together during this upri-
when the Moroccan government, under Gaddafi’s pres- sing?]
sure, asked me to leave because of my political and hu-
man rights related activities. I then went to Holland as a They are from all the places you named, from Zwara
political refugee. With the launching of the Libyan revo- and Nefousa, and from Touaregs cities in Southern
lution, I helped the CNT with internal affairs and helped Libya. And you know what? More than 50 percent of
make connections with foreign countries. the population of Tripoli, non-Trabulsian is Amazigh.

2. Nwala ilmeẓyen imaziγen n Libya kec- 4. Ass a tettikiḍ deg CNT. Amek iteddu CNT, ma
men γer Ṭrables d imezwura. Amaḍal akw iẓṛa taa- llan dges Imazighen enniḍen, neγ iman ik kan i
lamt imaziγen tettṛeeeeffffṛiffff deg-ygenni n Ṭrables. Ula di telliḍ din? Acu n ikabaraen yeţţikin deg CNT, anwi
targit ur neḍmiɛɛɛɛ a s nidir i wannect a ! Amek i yeggwten? [Today you are part of the CNT. How does
it function? Are they other Imazighen in it or are you
tɛɛɛɛaceḍ ussan nni ? [We saw the Amazigh youth of Li-
the only one? Which parties are represented at the
bya enter first the city of Tripoli. The entire world saw
CNT, which ones are the more representative?]
the Amazigh flag float in the sky of Tripoli. Even in

our wildest dreams, we would not have hoped for such
I am not a member of CNT, I am a collaborator and I
a sight. How did it happen?]
was part of the official delegations of the CNT, but after

the liberation of Tripoli and now the rest of Libya, elec-
The position of the Libyan Imazighen vis-à-vis Gaddafi
tions should designate who will represent the Libyan
has been clear for years, and their role in this revolution
people. There is a group representing the Imazighen cit-
was influential in general while it was decisive in the
ies of Zwara Nalut, Jado, Yefren, Obari, Oujla, Kabaw,
liberation of the cities of Tripoli and Western Libya.
etc. It represents cities but there are no parties. We have
The mountains of Nefoussa embraced all the revolution-
no political parties yet. We get together as groups and
aries of Libya in the harshest conditions for months. The
try to work together. We are strong and we are together.
Libyan Imazighen have defended Libya throughout its
We understand that.
history and will continue to do so because it is our land.
5. Medden akw γilen imaziγen n Libya am-wid n
Page 7 The Amazigh Voice Volume 19, Issue 1
Tunes. Acu yegan tamaziγt teṭṭef di Libya? Di Lez- of who we are. This question will take serious effort
from all Libyans; we cannot build a new Libya with the
zayer, di Lmeṛṛuk nγil tnegrem akw. [Everybody
ideology of Arab nationalists. For decades, Libya has
thought that Libya’s Imazighen had been successfully
been hijacked by Arab nationalists and must be put back
suppressed like those of Tunisia. What kept Tamazight
on track. The identity of Libya and of Libyans is a Lib-
alive in Libya? In Algeria and Morocco, we thought
yan identity, not an identity that comes from the east or
you had disappeared.]
from the west. We know it will be not easy, but we will

We are here. We have been here as long as Libya has fight for it.
existed. To make Tamazight disappear in Libya, you
would have to make Imazighen disappear, and to make 9. A nuγal γer CNT. Teţheggim Tamenḍawt n Libya.
Imazighen disappear, you would have to make all of Ayen i yeffγen degs ur issefṛaḥḥḥḥ ara. Llant dges snat n
Tamazgha disappear. temsal d iri tent: Tamezwarut : Azref n Libya, llsas
ines d ccariɛɛɛɛa. Tis snat: Tameslayt tunṣibt d-taɛɛɛɛṛabt,
6-Ur numin imi neẓṛa Ǧazira TV tessawal γef ma d-Imaziγen neγ Iṭergiyen, izerfan nnsen ḍemnen.
Imaziγen n Libya. Amek tedder tmaziγt ar ass a di Nugad abrid agi tuγem, d winna tuγ Lezzayer: Asmi
Libya n Kadhafi? Anida, tessawalem tamaziγt deg d amennuγ, d idamen iccawwiyen yakw d wid n Leq-
ixxamen, deg-yberdan deg temdinin? Ma yella lxuf bayel i-yuzzlen. Asmi tefra, taɛɛɛɛrabt teṭṭef talemmast,
γef-win issawalen neγ yeṭṭarun tamazit? [We were
tamaziγt γezzan as aẓekka. [Let’s come back to the
surprised to see on Al jazeera people speaking
CNT. A new constitution is in store for Libya. What
Tamazight in Libya. How did the language survive
emerges from it is not reassuring. There are especially
Kadhafi’s reign?]
two points that are problematic: first, the law of the

land of Libya is the Chari’a and second, its official
Those who were surprised to see Imazighen speak
language is Arabic--the right of the Imazighen, Tubus
Tamazight in Libya do not know the reality of Libya
and Targuis being merely guaranteed. We are con-
and do not know the Libyan people. They do not know
cerned that this unbalanced start will have bad conse-
our history and our struggle against the Arab dictatorial
quences for you, the same way it happened in Algeria.
regime, they do not know our heroes and our martyrs.
What are your thoughts on that?]
Qadhafi’s biggest problem in the 42 years of his regime

has been Tamazight. You cannot imagine how much
To put it simply, we will not recognize any constitution
money and effort was spent to eradicate Tamazight from
that does not give us equal rights. We paid our duties to
Libya. Yet, Tamazight in Libya is stronger than ever.
Libya and we will only accept a constitution that pro-

vides us with full rights. There will be no bargaining, no
7. Ma tzemreḍ a γ tefkeḍ isem neγ sin imedyazen
negotiation, no vote, no referendum, and no fragmenta-
nnwen n zik neγ n tura. Efk aγ id yiwen usefru i k
tion of our rights.
yaaǧben. [Could you give us the name of one or two of

your poets (contemporary or from the past).]
10. Acuγef i ferqen Iṭergiyen akw d Imaziγen wiyad
Sure. There is of course Saaid Sifaw Elmahhrok from
di Libya ? Teqblem aya kwenwi ? Teţmyeggarem
Libya, and Ali Sedqi Azayko from Morocco. They are
kwenwi d Iṭergiyen ? [Why are the Targuis and the
my heroes.
Imazighen divided? Do you come together at all? ]

8. Ass a Kadhafi yeγli. I Yelibyen nniḍen, wid issa-
We are together. Libya’s political future will confirm it.
walen taaṛabt, amek i kwen id ẓeṛṛen ? Ẓṛan belli ula

d nutini iẓuṛan nnsen d Imaziγen neγ ḥḥḥḥesben iman
11. Acu twalaḍ γer zdat? [How do you see the fu-
nnsen d Aaṛaben, ddan d ibbaɛɛɛɛtiyen? [Today, Kad-
ture?]
hafi is gone. How are you perceived by your Libyan
compatriots who speak Arabic? Do they acknowledge This revolution created the possibility to fix Libya’s
their Amazigh roots or do they consider themselves situation. However, to fix Libya’s situation, we have to
Arabs, or do they want to join the baathists?] rethink the ideas and principles on which it was
founded. The reality of our land is Tamazight, so our
I think, there are many challenges ahead of us. One of future is Tamazight with openness to the world and to
the most important questions Libya will have to face is all languages, religions, and identities.
that of identity. We need to ask ourselves the question
Page 8 The Amazigh Voice Volume 19, Issue 1
Names of Inhabited Locations in Kabylia (Compound Names)
by
Ramdane Lasheb1

Translated from French by Mokrane Bouakiz

races of human activity in Kabylia date back to pre- which is formed to resist any potential invader.
historic times as testified by several archeological
discoveries such as the lithic industry, rock Other fractions are formed in the same manner and when
paintings, and engravings. They attest of combined, they form a village. In ascending order, one
activity and permanent human presence. The first obtains: “axxam” (House or Household) —> “Taxarubt”
contact with the outside world dates back to the Phoeni- —> “Adrum” —> “Taddart” —>“lεarc” —>“Taqbilt”
cian period (Carthaginians) where, thanks to the many (Remark: There exist small villages whose inhabitants
commercial outposts along Kabylia’s Mediterranean have the same ancestor. In this case, “taxarubt” (fraction)
coast, the Carthaginians established commercial connec- is collapsed with “adrum.”
tions with Kabylia.
To distinguish the inhabitants of one village from another,
The Romans, the Byzantines, the Arabs, and the Turks it was necessary to give a name to every village. There-
(Ottoman Empire) consecutively invaded North Africa, fore, “the place identifies the man that inhabits it and the
but the mountainous region of Kabylia remained almost man identifies himself to the inhabited land.”4 Thus, the
inaccessible to them. The Kabylia of the Djurdjura moun- name of the village carries the history of its inhabitants.
tains2 (as opposed to the other lower parts of Kabylia) M. Ahmed Zayed wrote: “The toponymy is a fossil form
stayed independent and autonomous. In 1857, it was the which contains a number of linguistic, historic, social and
French who, for the first time in history, were able to oc- geographical facts.”5 The landscaping of the region, its
cupy the mountains of Kabylia, located 80 miles east of myths, its legends and its social organization were the
Algiers. This happened after they defeated the Kabyle foundation of the “toponymy” of the inhabited lands.
resistance, 27 years after the conquest of Algiers. The However, the names of the places may have been modi-
French had to mobilize an army of 25,000 men equipped fied through the course of history due to the colonializa-
with the most sophisticated weapons of the time, under tion undergone by the country.
the command of General Randon and Field Marshall Mac
Mahon who practiced a scorched earth policy in order to Villages names in Kabylia are generally composed of two
achieve the rendition of the villages and tribes which they or three components. For example: “Tawrirt Musa” (the
were unable to defeat.”3 Because of the scarcity of the hill of Musa), “At Yidir” (those of “Idir”, similar to
land and for defense purposes, the inhabitants built their
“those of the Smiths”), “Iγil n Wemmas” (the middle
dwellings on mountain passes, hilltops, and narrow
mountain pass).
gorges that were unsuitable for any agriculture. They set

aside the slopes for cemeteries and the flat land areas for
Such compounds are usually made of two parts: the base
agriculture. Thus, all of the villages resemble one another
or first component and the second component. For exam-
in their structure and geographical location. The study of
ple: “Tawrirt Mimum”. “Tawrirt” and “Mimum” are the
a single village helps explain the social organization of
first and second components, respectively. The second
the Kabyles (inhabitants of Kabylia).
component is necessary to distinguish when the base is a

common noun, such as Tawrirt Musa, Tawrirt Mu-
The word “taddart”, in the Tamazight language, comes
qran, Tawrirt Aden, Tawrirt Mimun. These four
from the word “dder” which means “to live”, so “taddart”
names possess the same base (Taourirt), the second
means village (place of life). The village is made up of
blood-related groups called “taxarubt” (fraction), and then component is therefore necessary to distinguish one
other families outside of “taxarubt” will attach to it to name from the other.
form “adrum” (neighborhood). Two or more
“idarmen” (plural of “adrum”) make up the village. Two 1-Nouns whose first (base) component relates to
or more villages constitute “lεarc.” Finally, a number of mountains or hills:
these “lεaruc” constitute a confederation called “taqbilt”,
Page 9 The Amazigh Voice Volume 19, Issue 1
“Adrar” (mountain) to “Adrar ufarnu”
“Tazṛutt” (diminutive of “azṛu”, small rock) to

“Awrir” (hill) to “Awrir uzemmur” “Tazṛutt n Awda”

“Tawrirt” (diminutive of “awrir”, small hill) to
“Tizṛa” (plural of “tazrutt”) to “Tizṛa Aysa”
“Tawrirt Musa”

4- Nouns whose first component relates to water:
“Agemun” (small round hill) to “Agemun n

izem”
“Tala” (fountain) to “Tala n lluḥ”

“Iγil” (crest or ridge) to “Iγil n Wemmas”
“Iγzer” (canyon) to “Iγzer amuqran”

“Tiγilt” (diminutive of iγil, small crest/ridge) to
“Asif” (river) to “Asif n lḥemmam”
“Tiγilt lḥağ Ali”

“Tamda” (lake) to “Tamda n wezwig”
“Tizi” (mountain pass) to “Tizi –wezzu”

“Taεwint” (spring or fountain) to “Taεwint n
“Agni” (flat land that is followed by an upward
lexrif”
slope) to “Agni Gegran.”

“Tiεwinin” (plural of “taεwint, springs) to:
2- Nouns whose first component relates to fields:
“Tiεwinin ufella”

“Alma” (prairie) to “Alma n waman”
5- Nouns whose first component relates to dwellings:

“Iger” (field of wheat) to “Iger n Wedmim”
“Taddart” (village) to”Taddart ufella”

“Tigert” (smaller filed of wheat) to”Tigert n
“Laεzib (farm) to “Lazεib Ḥmed”
weglis”

“Lḥara” (courtyard) to “Lḥara ufella”
“Tamazirt” (garden) to “Tamazirt urabaḥ”

“Timizar” (gardens) to “Timizar leγbar” “Taxamt” (room) to “Taxamt lğir”

“Aɛeṛqub” (plains) to “Aɛeṛqub n tbarda”
“Axxam” (House/Home) to “Axxam n Ḥmed”

“Urti” (plains or fields) to “Urti weqqac”

“Tasga” (natural spring) to “Tasga Mellul” 6- Nouns whose first component relates to plants and

“Azaγar” (plains or low lands) to “Azaγar uker- vegetation:
ruc”
“Tadekkart” (fig tree) to “Taddekkart uzeggig”

3- Nouns whose first component relates to rocks:
“Taẓebbujt” (wild olive tree) to “Taẓebbujt tizi”

“Adγaγ” (rock) to “Adγaγ acebḥan “Tasaft” (oak tree) to “Tasaft ugemun”

“Azṛu” (stone) to “Azṛu uqellal” “Tamadaγt” (shrubs) to “Tamadaγt n Ḥemmuc”

“Azzemmur” (olive tree) to “Azzemur Aysa”
Page 10 The Amazigh Voice Volume 19, Issue 1

7- Nouns whose first component relates to the days of
the week BIBILOGRAPHY

ADLI YOUNES, 2004. La Kabylie à l’épreuve des inva-
“Lğemεa” (Friday) to Lğemεa n Sariğ
sions, Éditions Zyriabes Algérie.

AHMED ZAYED MALIKA ; 1999 « Toponymie villa-
“Laṛbεa” (Wednesday) to “Laṛbεa n At wasif” geoise Kabyle » in Revue Tiziri n°17 Bulletin de
l’association culturelle n Imazighen de Belgique

BOULIFA SI AMAR ; 1925 Le Djurdjura à travers
8- Nouns whose first component relates to man
l’histoire, Bringau. Alger.
At + Anthroponym
CHERIGGUEN FODIL ; 1993. Toponymie algérienne
des lieus habités. Les noms composés, Épigraphe,
“At” (those of) to “At yidir” Alger.
DAHMANI MOHAMMED ; 1987 Économie et société
“Sidi” (nobleman) to Sidi Smaεil en grande Kabylie, O.P.U, Alger.
HANOTEAU A et LETOURNEUX A; 1893 La Kaby-
“Abid” (servant) to “Abid Camlal” lie et les coutumes Kabyles, Challamel, Paris.
MAHE ALAIN ; 2001 Histoire de la Grande Kabylie,

Éditions Bouchène, Paris.

MAHE ALAIN ; 2001 Présentation la grande Kabylie
FOOTNOTES
sous le régime Turc(1874), de JOSEPH .Nil Robin,

Éditions Bouchène, Paris.
1-Teacher of Tamazight, in the region of At Dwala,
MAHE ALAIN ; 2001 Notes historiques sur la grande
in Kabylia.
Kabylie de 1830 à 1838, présentation de JO-
2-Récit de Emile Carre: Résistance du montagnard
SEPH .Nil Robin(1876), Éditions Bouchéne, Paris.
(A story from Emile Carre: Resistance of a
PELLIGRIN ; 1949 Essai sur les noms des lieus d’Algé-
mountain man)
rie, de Tunisie, étymologie et interprétation, Édition
3-A. Mahe, présentation de J. Nil Robin: Notes his-
S.A.P.I, Tunis.
toriques sur la grande Kabylie de 1830.
DIRECTION DE LA PLANIFICATION ET DE L’A-
4-F. Cheriguen, Toponymie algérienne des lieux
MENAGEMENT DU TERRITOIRE « listes des villa-
habités. Les noms composés épigraphe, 1993
ges par commune. » 1996.
5-Ahmed Yazid Malika; 1999 “ Toponomie villa-

geoise Kabyle” in Revue Tiziri no.17 Bulletin de

l’association culturelle n Imazighen de Belgi-
que.

NOTES FROM THE TRANSLATOR

The name of the second largest city in Kabylia is
Bgayet (the Amazigh name), officially it is called
Bedjaia (the name was arabized), in the past, it was
called Bougie by the French until the independence.

The Aarch of At Aissi is composed of the villages of
Aguemoun, Ighil Bouzerou, Tigzirt and Tamaright.
In the past, the aarch of At Aissi and that of At Iraten
formed a confederation to resist the French coloniza-
tion. These confederations are only temporary
formed to resist invasions. Nowadays, most of the
“aarch” have no alliance with each other and live
rather independently. Beyond the occasional consti-
tution of a confederation (Taqbilt), there is no other
permanent organizational structure beyond the
Aarch, which makes Kabyle society decentralized
and resistant to centralized government, be it French
or Algerian.