The symbol or sign in Amazigh (Berber) for the Amazigh themselves – Atlas Mtns. above Marrakesh (Photo P. Hunt 2026)

By Youssef Hanha –

The word Amazigh is most often defined as meaning “The Free People”, which is self-referential as their name for themselves. It is likely Amazigh DNA can be traced back into the early Neolithic in North Africa for around 10,000 years. Amazigh people are the indigenous population of North Africa (Maghreb). They inhabit a vast region extending from the Canary Islands to the city of Siwa in Egypt. The name Amazigh is preferred to Berber, a name given by Europeans and too often associated with the word “barbarian”. Because I am Amazigh, I prefer that name to Berber. In Morocco our Amazigh language has been revived officially and can be seen on signs everywhere around the country. The word “Amazigh” usually n ow means “free people,” and it is also associated with nomadic life, reflecting a history of mobility in search of resources before the development of agriculture during the Neolithic period. However, not all Amazigh communities became sedentary, particularly in Morocco, which is largely a semi-arid region. 

Sahara landscape with Berber-Amazigh villages around Ourzazate (Photo P. Hunt 2026)

Morocco has the highest Amazigh (Berber) population with 14-20 million people out of a total Moroccan population of around 38 million, so around 40-50% of the total Moroccan ethnicity or cultural identity. Algeria has the next highest population of Amazigh with about 7-13 million out of 48 million therefore 15-25% of total Algerian ethnicity or cultural identity. The bulk of the Amazigh population in North Africa live in either non-urban montane zones like the Atlas or the Sahara as well as the Rif montane area along the Mediterranean.  

This semi-arid environment has encouraged many groups to maintain a nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyle, moving in search of pasture and water for their livestock. My own Amazigh village,Tiatfroute, is also part of this brief excursion into the Amazigh.

Ziz Oasis – over 80 miles long – descending out of Atlas Mtns. into the Sahara (Photo P. Hunt 2026)

I focus on the Amazigh tribe of Ait Merged and their strong connection to the land. The Ait Merghad are part of the Ait Yaflman federation, one of the oldest Amazigh tribal confederations in southeastern Morocco. Living in a harsh mountainous environment, their traditional way of life is based on nomadic livestock herding. They are of Sanhaja origin, one of the major Amazigh groups in North Africa. Historically, their ancestors settled in regions such as Dades, Gheris, and the High Ziz. The Ziz is one of the largest river systems and oasis complexes in North Africa, flowing south from the Atlas Mountains into the northern Sahara.

The name “Ait Merghad” can be broken down into two parts: “Ait,” meaning “people of” or “sons of,” and “Merghad,” which likely refers to fertile or lush land. The tribe is divided into several main groups. The largest groups include Ait Messri and Ait Ouahi. Within Ait Messri, there are subgroups such as Ait Ayoub and Irbibne. Ait Messri itself is further divided into Ait Mhamed and Ait Amer Oumnsour, which includes groups like Ait Boulmane, Ait Hrou, Ait Hami, and Ait Taleb. Another main group is Ait Chrad, which includes Ait Amer Ougahi, Ait Issa Izem, and Ait Oulghhem. These divisions reflect a complex tribal structure rooted in lineage and territory.

I also share about my village, Taltfraoute. There are three main accounts regarding the origin of its name. The first, and most widely accepted, suggests that the area was a flat land with ravines. It was historically a neutral ground where tribes such as Ait Atta, Igrouane, and Ait Yaflman (including Ait Merghad, Ait Haddidou, and Ait Izdeg) would come to establish truces and peace agreements. In Amazigh, “Afra” refers to reconciliation or peace, so the name “Tlat n Afra” could mean “a place of reconciliation.” Over time, this evolved into “Taltfraoute,” a place where anyone entering was safe.

The second account suggests that the area was used for horse races, known as “Tlat n Taltfraoute.” This idea is supported by the nearby place called “Tizin n Imnain,” meaning “the pass of the riders,” now known as Goulmima. The third account relates the name to water management. “Taltfraoute” may refer to a cistern (Tanoudfi) used to collect rainwater. There is also a place called “Tafroin,” which still exists today in the Souss region. According to this narrative, water collection systems played an important role in the naming of the area.

Historically, the region was inhabited by other nomadic tribes before the arrival of the Ait Merghad, particularly the Imghrane and Igrouane. Evidence of their presence can still be found in place names in the surrounding mountains, such as “Ketlat n Aboush n Talmkit,” “Akni,” and “Izri n Toujilt.” These tribes had conflicts with Ait Merghad during the nomadic period, before eventually migrating toward regions such as Rich, Midelt, and later Meknes.

The Igrouane were Amazigh tribes who once settled in areas like Aqa Wazou and Daou Ikhendji before migrating due to drought and harsh conditions. Their presence is still remembered through ancient burial sites. The Imghrane, on the other hand, are known for their nomadic lifestyle between southeastern Morocco and the Souss region, and today they are mainly found around Ouarzazate and El Kelaat Mgouna.

Bronze Early 1st c. CE Sculpture bust of King Juba II in Rabat Archaeology Museum (Photo P. Hunt 2026)

Perhaps the most famous Amazigh king in antiquity was Juba II (ca. 48 BCE-23 CE) who ruled as a client king of the Numidians from his city Volubilis (Morocco) under the Romans in the Augustan Age. H was said by both Cicero and Pliny to be one of the most brilliant minds in the Roman World. As a botanist, he was the first scholar to study the semi-arid plants of the Euphorbia family. ironically, he claimed to be descended partly from the Barcid clan and even Hannibal himself. 

The resilient Amazigh have been increasingly enabled and empowered by the King of Morocco Mohammed VI (reigning since 1999) and the Moroccan government to be equal to those who arrived in North Africa from Arabian culture, ethnicity and language in the 8th century CE, so much so that the Amazigh-berber language is now on equal footing with Arabic and French.