On May 11, Gulf Coast Diplomacy welcomed Jamal Benhamou to speak at a Small World Cafe on the Amazigh people of his native country, Morocco. Over the course of the hour, Benhamou shared everything from basic aspects of culture, such as food and fashion, to modern challenges that the Amazigh people face in Morocco.
Spread across North Africa, from Egypt to Morocco to Mali, the Amazigh people make up a significant portion of the population. Despite this, the region has become more and more Arabized over the years, resulting in the marginalization of this indigenous group. Until 2011, their language, Tamazight, was never recognized as an official language, though many spoke it as a first language. Similarly, traditional Amazigh names were banned until 2013. As a consequence, many Amazigh children were given Arab names, effectively erasing an entire part of their culture.
Even now, Amazigh culture is exploited and used for the benefit of others without respect and appreciation. Much of it is used as folklore for tourism. Additionally, the Amazigh people are frequently called Berbers, despite them being two different cultures. In effect, though the name ban may have been lifted, many acts are still taken to cover Amazigh culture with another or only use it to another’s advantage.
Today, activists around the world work to counteract the misrepresentation and marginalization of Amazigh culture. In North Africa, nonprofits spotlight the issues and support further action to equalize cultures, such as recognizing Tamazight as an official language of Morocco in addition to Arabic. In other areas of the world, activists educate and raise awareness for the Amazigh people and the challenges they face. As Benhamou described, even simple meetings like Small World Cafe allow people to share personal perspectives and culture, which can make profound impacts in unforeseen ways.
Opportunities to share culture are indispensable in helping to preserve and protect those such as the Amazigh culture. Hearing from Benhamou brought to life a people and place I had never before heard of. Overall, it was a wonderful experience to learn about the Amazigh people and watch Small World Cafe connect people from different backgrounds, achieving the goal of this nonprofit in connecting people all around the world.
– Gulf Coast Diplomacy Intern Katherine McCrackin
