Ghomara Berber in Morocco

The Ghomara Berber have only been reported in Morocco
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Ghomara Berbers are one of many groups of Berbers. The Berbers are a North African people group who were conquered by Muslim invaders in the seventh century. The name Berber, which is derived from the Latin word "barbarian," was given to them by the Romans in the third century A.D. Today, the term 'Berber' refers to any native speaker of one of the Berber languages. Today, most Berbers refer to themselves as the Imazighen, which means "men of noble origin." Berbers are generally bilingual, speaking both their Berber dialect and Arabic. The Ghomara Berber speak a unique dialect known as Ghomara. Arab Muslims conquered the Berber homeland between 670 and 700 A.D. However, their influence was limited and the Ghomaras and other Berber tribes have managed to sustain and preserve their own language, culture, customs, and social organization. There are three main subgroups of Berbers in Morocco, each containing several smaller tribes. The Ghomara is one of the smallest tribes. They live in the Moroccan Rif, in the northeastern region of the country, north of the town of Fez, near the Mediterranean coast.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Although the number of cities is increasing in the Rif area, many of the Berbers still live in homes made of mud brick and stone. Mountain village homes are quite similar. They are usually flat-roofed houses made of stone that has been reinforced with dried mud. Due to their location in the Rif, the Ghomara Berbers are farmers. They produce and consume large amounts of barley, corn, millet, wheat, and rye. In areas where water is plentiful, vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, squash, peppers, and potatoes are grown. They raise chickens, goats, and sheep. This supplemental food source provides milk, eggs, butter, and meat. The men work in the fields, herd the animals, and hunt, while the women do the housework and care for the children. The women only help the men in the fields during harvest time, when they take the newly cut grain to the threshing floor. Berber dress is very similar to that of the Arabian community. The men wear the traditional djellaba cloak, which is made of cotton with wide sleeves and a hood. They also wear cotton turbans or caps. For the Berber, life revolves around important ceremonies such as births, marriages and deaths. Many rites of passage are important parts of their culture as well, such as the first haircut and circumcision for boys. The most elaborate of all is the marriage ceremony. The Ghomara, like other Berbers, live in a society that is male-dominated. The line of descent is traced through the fathers and all inheritances are passed down through the males. Also, as a means of preserving themselves as a people, the Ghomara are not permitted to marry outside of their own group.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Although they accepted Islam as a new religion, the Berber also maintained their pre-Islamic cultural and ritual traditions. The acceptance of Islam and the adoption of Arabic ways never completely erased Berber culture. Although they are nominally Sunni Muslims, most Ghomara have little knowledge of the practices of the Koran and other dimensions of Orthodox Islam. For example, Berber men often use verses from the Koran as part of their protective amulets. For historical reasons, Berbers are more likely to accept Christ than Arabs, who hold Islam as a central part of their identity.


What Are Their Needs?

Ghomara Berbers need the chance to put their identity in Jesus Christ and enjoy his blessings in this life and in the life to come.


Prayer Points

Pray for Ghomara Berbers to put their faith and hope in Christ, paving the way for a Disciple Making Movement. Pray for a spiritual hunger among Ghomara Berbers that will lead them to the cross and the empty grave. Pray for workers to go to the Ghomara and find persons of people who will welcome them into their communities with the gospel of peace.


Scripture Prayers for the Berber, Ghomara in Morocco.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Berber, Ghomara
People Name in Country Berber, Ghomara
Natural Name Ghomara Berber
Alternate Names Ghomara Berber
Population this Country 12,000
Population all Countries 12,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 11882
ROP3 Code 103344
Country Morocco
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 24  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Tangier-Tetouan region: Chechaouen province, 60 km southeast of Tétouan, Rif Mountains coast.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Morocco
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 24  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Tangier-Tetouan region: Chechaouen province, 60 km southeast of Tétouan, Rif Mountains coast..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Ghomara
Language Code gho   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Arabic, Moroccan
Primary Language Ghomara
Language Code gho   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Arabic, Moroccan
People Groups Speaking Ghomara

Primary Language:  Ghomara

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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