The Moroccan Amazigh community is collectively holding its breath ahead of the upcoming “Idh Yennayer 2972,” the indigenous new year, which will fall this January 13.
Amazigh citizens and activists are still awaiting official recognition from the newly elected Moroccan government, to announce the holiday as an official celebration.
The Moroccan Amazigh community’s plea for official recognition of language, holidays, and heritage has been ongoing for decades, as calls multiply with each new executive administration.
Activists have directed petitions to King Mohammed VI, hoping for a favorable, constitutional manifestation of repeated promises in a country where they represent more than 26.7% of the population.
Indeed, the 2011 constitution recognized Tamazight as an official language in the country, igniting hope in Amazigh communities across Morocco, seemingly ending long-standing feelings of “marginalization.”
Yet another hopeful development for the Amazigh movement has been the recent election of Aziz Akhannouch as head of government. Akhannouch has built his political identity on voicing the Amazigh community’s demands, and his campaign heavily relied on and benefitted from the Amazigh electorate in the country.
However, the newly appointed prime minister has so far failed in delivering on his promise of providing real-time Amazigh translation during the parliamentary sessions.
Abdullah Badou, an Amazigh activist, spoke to Hespress AR about the frustration his community is experiencing as the new year approaches, saying that “the head of government must be frank, if the decision is in the hands of the king, then he must say so, and if he is facing constraints, he must disclose them to the public.”
Morocco’s previous government, under the leadership of the Justice and Development Party (PJD) has repeatedly stated that recognizing the Amazigh new year is up to the King.
Badou reminded that “ Akhennouch’s party, the National Rally of Independents (RNI) had used the Amazigh cause to pressure the PJD while in power,” but that today, the RNI “has yet to demonstrate the real political will to answer the community’s demands.”
Activists have also highlighted “the strategic” facet of official recognition of the Amazigh language and calendar, with activist Abdullah Bushart saying that the long-overdue recognition will “enrich the Moroccan state and its cultural and historical extension.”
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.