The Berber peoples are the original peoples of North Africa. When the Romans conquered them, they called them Berbers, which means, "barbarian." Berbers have always craved independence. They made things difficult for all people who conquered them, from the Romans, to the Vandals, to the Arabs, to the European colonialists.
One of the Berber peoples, the Imazighen, are from the Maghreb Region of Northwestern Africa, specifically Morocco. In recent decades, the opportunity to migrate to western Europe offered a solution to Morocco's population explosion. By the early 1980s, over half a million workers, including many Berbers, had established themselves in Europe. In the latter 1980s, the European labor market closed to new workers.
Most Imazighen Berbers are in Morocco, and some have migrated to France. A few live in the UK.
There are not many Berber people in the UK, since it was the Spanish and the French who colonized the Maghreb, not the British. Most likely, the few who live in the UK blend in with other Muslim peoples, especially the Arab populations.
There are some who are making an active effort to achieve recognition of the Moroccan Imazighen identity, but other are happy to live and mix with Arabs.
The Imazighen Berbers are virtually all Muslim; however, their religious practices are based more on traditions than on the Koran. Their societies are organized around two main systems: Islam and the tribe. However, there are many differences between urban and rural societies. In urban areas, orthodox Islam prevails; whereas, in rural societies, ancient beliefs and customs are intermingled with their Muslim faith.
Most of the Imazighen Berbers have continued in their traditional worship of saints. One group of spiritual leaders called marabouts is considered "living saints." They are believed to possess healing abilities and supernatural powers. Each of the villages reveres one or more of these "saints."
The Imazighen Berbers, be they in Morocco, France, or England, desperately need to understand that they need Jesus Christ in their lives. There is no other name by which they can be saved.
Scripture Prayers for the Berber, Imazighen in United Kingdom.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3509799.stm
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/12217/MO
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/12217/FR
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Berber
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
People Name General | Berber, Imazighen |
People Name in Country | Berber, Imazighen |
Natural Name | Imazighen Berber |
Pronunciation |
ee-MAH-zah-yen BUR-bur
|
Alternate Names | Amazigh; Bekhti; Beraber; Berber; Berraber; Blue Berber; Central Shilha; Imazighen; Middle Atlas Berber; Shilha; Tamazight |
Population this Country | 3,200 |
Population all Countries | 4,781,000 |
Total Countries | 6 |
Indigenous | No |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 12217 |
ROP3 Code | 104002 |
Country | United Kingdom | ||
Region | Europe, Western | ||
Continent | Europe | ||
10/40 Window | No | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Country | United Kingdom |
Region | Europe, Western |
Continent | Europe |
10/40 Window | No |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Primary Religion: | Islam |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.10 %) |
0.60 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
94.40 %
|
Non-Religious |
5.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Tamazight, Central Atlas (3,200 speakers) |
Language Code | tzm Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Tamazight, Central Atlas (3,200 speakers) |
Language Code | tzm Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Tamazight, Central Atlas |
Primary Language: Tamazight, Central Atlas
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1919-2020) |
Bible-New Testament | No |
Bible-Complete | No |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | God's Story video | God's Story |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation | Create International |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Tamazight, Central Atlas | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels | Bible Media Group/LUMO |
Film / Video | Magdalena video | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | World Christian Videos | World Christian Videos |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
Photo Source | Tussna - Wikimedia Creative Commons |
Profile Source | Keith Carey |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |