A colloquium organized by the Berber Cultural Movement (MCB) concluded recently in Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria. During the event, Youcef Hebib, a longtime militant for the Berber cause, discussed the history of the Berber Academy in Paris. The academy was founded by Bessaoud Mohand Arab, Taos Amrouche, and other activists. Hebib recounted the academy's role in raising awareness about Berber identity and culture in North Africa.
Hebib described the events of the Berber Spring in 1980, which began with the cancellation of a conference by writer Mouloud Mammeri at the University of Tizi-Ouzou. The activist recalled that he and his fellow militants organized a protest in front of the Algerian embassy in Paris. Mustapha Aouchiche, a fellow activist, used a megaphone to chant slogans against the government's repression in Kabylie and Algiers.
Throughout the Berber Spring, protests and initiatives continued in Paris, according to Hebib. He cited a demonstration on April 25, attended by hundreds of Berber activists and ordinary citizens, in support of those arrested and repressed in Kabylie. The events of the Berber Spring had a profound impact on the Berber movement, leading to increased awareness and mobilization.
The Berber Academy played a crucial role in promoting Berber language and culture. Hebib explained that the academy offered courses in the Berber language, using the Tifinagh alphabet. The academy's founders, including Bessaoud Mohand Arab, worked to promote a greater understanding of Berber identity and history.
Hebib credited his own awareness of Berber identity to his friends Salem Chaker, Rachid Chaker, and Rachid Bellil, whom he met while attending high school in Algiers. He also praised M'bark Redjala, who taught the first courses in Berber at the University of Vincennes. Other teachers, such as Ramdane Achab and Hacène Hirèche, continued to promote the Berber language and culture.
The choice of the Tifinagh alphabet for Berber language courses was made on the advice of the Moroccan activist Mahdjoubi Aherdane. Hebib noted that Smain Bellache, another activist, created two new characters to harmonize the transcription of Berber words. The development of the Berber flag, which is now widely used, was also the subject of much debate.
The Berber flag was first publicly displayed at the funeral of activist Ali Mecili in Paris, according to Hebib. The flag's design was the result of much discussion and debate among Berber activists. The event highlighted the ongoing struggle for Berber rights and recognition in Algeria and beyond.
Key points
- The Berber Academy played a significant role in promoting Berber language and culture in North Africa.
- The Berber Spring of 1980 was a pivotal moment in the Berber movement, leading to increased awareness and mobilization.
- The development of the Berber flag was a key moment in the movement's history, symbolizing Berber identity and unity.
