{"id":21878,"date":"2026-01-14T01:22:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T01:22:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/21878\/"},"modified":"2026-01-14T01:22:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T01:22:09","slug":"welcome-to-2976-north-africas-amazigh-people-ring-in-the-new-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/21878\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Welcome to 2976’ – North Africa’s Amazigh people ring in the new year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Across North Africa, the Amazigh people have been coming together to usher in the year 2976.<\/p>\n

They have, unfortunately, not cracked time travel. Rather, they are almost a thousand years ahead of much of the world because they follow a calendar that starts at 950 BC, when King Sheshonq ascended the throne of Egypt<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Amazigh new year, known as Yennayer, begins between 12 and 14 January – depending on the area in which they live in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya – so over the last few days families have been laying on huge feasts, lighting bonfires and playing traditional music.<\/p>\n

Calls of “aseggas ameggaz”, or happy new year, have been ringing through villages and busy city streets, while vibrant, meticulously embroidered traditional clothing have been donned for the occasion.<\/p>\n

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Amazigh culture and language has gained greater recognition over the past decade [APP\/NurPhoto via Getty Images]<\/p>\n

The Amazigh (which means “free people” or “noble people”) are a range of ethnic groups that are North Africa’s original inhabitants, having occupied the region since the beginning of recorded history.<\/p>\n

The exact size of the population is not known because of a dearth of official statistics, but according to estimates there are tens of millions of Amazigh people living across North Africa. Algeria and Morocco have the biggest populations – the latter is thought to be 40% Amazigh.<\/p>\n

Yennayer centres on family gatherings, celebrating renewal and the deep connection the Amazigh people have traditionally had with nature.<\/p>\n

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These days Yennayer is marked with parades, concerts and carnivals [APP\/NurPhoto via Getty Images]<\/p>\n

Because the Amazigh are a diverse group, traditional Yennayer food differs from country to country and area to area. In Morocco’s High Atlas region, “ourkemen”, a rich mixture of legumes, spices and whole grains, is a new year’s favourite.<\/p>\n

Many families in Algeria enjoy “tr\u00e8ze”, a combination of sweets, dried fruit and nuts, after the main meal. The snack mix is sometimes gently thrown over the youngest child in a symbol of prosperity.<\/p>\n

But Yennayer is not just a family thing. It can also be celebrated with the wider community – parades, concerts and carnivals take the new year’s spirit out on to the streets.<\/p>\n

Such proud displays of Amazigh culture are particularly significant as the community has a long history of being marginalised.<\/p>\n

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Food, including couscous, is an important aspect of the new year celebrations [APP\/NurPhoto via Getty Images]<\/p>\n

In the 7th Century, as Arab conquerors swept across North Africa, they brought with them their language and the Islamic religion.<\/p>\n

Both of these were adopted officially, at the expense of Amazigh languages and culture.<\/p>\n

For instance, during Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s rule of Libya, the Amazigh language Tamazight was banned in schools and parents were not even allowed to give their children Amazigh names.<\/p>\n

However, thanks to the dogged campaigning of Amazigh activists, their culture and language has seen greater recognition over the past decade.<\/p>\n

In 2011, Morocco recognised Tamazight as an official language. Both Algeria and Morocco also declared Yennayer a public holiday, in 2017 and 2023 respectively.<\/p>\n

So Yennayer marks not just a victory for the Amazigh people, but also a reminder of centuries-long fight that has got the community to where it is now – in 2976.<\/p>\n

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Yennayer is now a public holiday in Algeria and Morocco [APP\/NurPhoto via Getty Images]<\/p>\n

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[Getty Images\/BBC]<\/p>\n

Go to BBCAfrica.com<\/a> for more news from the African continent.<\/p>\n

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