The Amazigh people are an ethnic group in North Africa, and many Moroccans have Amazigh heritage. Tamazight, the language of the Amazigh people, is one of Morocco's two official languages. The Amazigh people are also known as "Berbers". There is a heavy Amazigh influence in Moroccan culture, which is especially prevelant in artisanship and music.
While in Morocco, I learned about the Amazigh people's struggle for recognition. The Amazigh language was not even recognized as an official language of Morocco until recently, in 2011. In the past, the Amazigh people have faced challenges and opposition for expressing their identity.
Despite the large role Amazigh heritage plays in Morocco and in the region, the Amazigh people have struggled for recognition of their cultural identity. For many years, the Amazigh language was not recognized. As a result, this entire community was unincorporated into Moroccan society.
A lot of progress has been made towards the Amazigh people's need for cultural recognition and expression in Morocco. In 2011, Tamazight was formally named an official language of Morocco. Since this time, the government has worked to integrate the Amazigh language into schools and public services.
