Berbers welcome Amazigh New Year

By Oumnia Rais

In Morocco, Yennayer is celebrated by both Arab and Berber communities [Reuters]

Berbers in North Africa are heralding in the Amazigh New Year, with festivities showcasing traditional food, music and dance planned throughout the region.

Friday marks the first day of the year 2968 for North Africa's indigenous inhabitants, who are also known as Amazigh.

The Amazigh New Year - or Yennayer, as it is locally called - is the first day of the agricultural calendar used by Berbers for millenia

Ahmed Assid, an Amazigh activist, told Al Jazeera the event has a "significant historical connotation" for Berbers: "It dates back to ancient times when the Amazigh king Shoshenq I was enthroned in Egypt, after defeating Ramses III."

In Morocco, where Yennayer is celebrated by both Arab and Berber communities, some Arabs refer to the event as "Aam Alfilahi" or "Haguza", which mean the "agrarian year".

Berbers, on the other hand, refer to the event as "Id Suggas", meaning the "night of the year".

North Africans mark the occasion with activities such as Amazigh dance performances called "Ahwach" and "Ahidous".

Celebrations also feature performances by Berber artists, along with educational activities.

To mark the occasion, Berbers prepare traditional dishes, such as tagola - a meal comprising corn kernels mixed with butter, accompanied by ghee, and with the seed of a date hidden inside.

"The person who finds the seed of date inside the tagola plate is believed to be blessed throughout the whole year," said Hafida Id Abbou, a Moroccan Amazigh who celebrates every year.

Another dish, known as orkimen, is made using wheat and dry fava beans. It is served as a soup.

As with most North African meals, couscous is also served.

From Al Jazeera