Taznatit Berber in Algeria

The Taznatit Berber have only been reported in Algeria
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Islam (Sunni)
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Taznatit 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." Arab Muslims conquered the Berber homeland between 670 and 700 A.D. However, their influence was limited and the Taznatit and other Berber tribes have managed to sustain and preserve their own language, culture, customs, and social organization. To this day, the various Berber tribes in North Africa straddle their own and the dominant Arabic cultures. Berbers are generally bilingual, speaking both their Berber dialect and Arabic. The Taznatit Berbers speak a dying language; most speak Algerian Arabic instead.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Since the Sahara Desert is a harsh environment, most of the Saharan tribes occupy a number of oases. While there are many similarities between the various Berber groups, their particular lifestyles and quality of life vary according to the region in which they live. The Taznatit Berbers are often noted for their skills in various crafts. Domestic tasks such as weaving and pottery are the main work of the women. The men specialize in woodworking, metalworking, and, more surprisingly, fine needlework. In regard to labor, the men do most of the farming, while the women are responsible for milking and gathering. Taznatit Berber societies can be broken down into three basic units: the community, the district, and the tribe. The community is a political collection of clans; the district is a cluster of communities; and the tribe is a group of districts that are characterized by a common territory, name, and culture. Government at the community level is notably democratic. All authority is vested in an assembly called the jemaa. The jemaa, composed of all adult males, usually meets weekly.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Although they accepted Islam as a new religion, the Taznatit Berbers 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 Taznatit 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. The concept of baraka, or holiness, is highly developed in North Africa. The Berbers believe that many people are endowed with baraka, of which the holiest are the shurifa, or the direct descendants of Mohammed. They also have great respect for marabouts, Muslim holy men who teach and are usually scholars in the Koran.


What Are Their Needs?

Taznatit Berbers need the chance to put their identity in Jesus Christ and enjoy his blessings in this life and in the life to come. Someone needs to go to them with the life-changing gospel.


Prayer Points

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


Scripture Prayers for the Berber, Taznatit in Algeria.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Berber, Taznatit
People Name in Country Berber, Taznatit
Natural Name Taznatit Berber
Alternate Names Gourara Berber; Tuat Berber
Population this Country 13,000
Population all Countries 13,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 15609
ROP3 Code 110235
Country Algeria
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 15  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Béchar, Naama, Adrar, and El Bayadh provinces; Gourara region; Igli, Taghit, Ouakda, Beni Ounif, Boussemghoun; dying out in Touat region.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Algeria
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 15  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Béchar, Naama, Adrar, and El Bayadh provinces; Gourara region; Igli, Taghit, Ouakda, Beni Ounif, Boussemghoun; dying out in Touat region..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Islam (Sunni)
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.01 %)
0.01 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.99 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Taznatit (13,000 speakers)
Language Code grr   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Touat
Dialect Code 17278   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Taznatit (13,000 speakers)
Language Code grr   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Touat
Dialect Code 17278   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Taznatit

Primary Language:  Taznatit

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 Waran18 - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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