Introduction to Amazigh Culture

Service Description

Introduction to Amazigh Culture of North Africa This course offers learners an engaging introduction to the rich cultural heritage of the Amazigh (Berber) diasporas and tribes of North Africa. Designed for participants with little or no prior knowledge, it explores Amazigh history, identity, traditions, languages, arts, diasporas and contemporary cultural and political developments. By the end of the course, learners will gain a deeper understanding of the diversity of North Africa and contributions of Amazigh diaspora communities to the region's cultural landscape. Sessions: Who are the Amazigh? An Introduction Amazigh History from Antiquity to the Present Amazigh Diaspora and Regions of North Africa Amazigh Languages (and the Tifinagh Script) Social Organization: Family, Tribal, and Community Life Traditional Arts, Crafts, and Architecture Music, Dance, and Oral Traditions Festivals, Rituals, and Cultural Practices Amazigh Identity in the Modern World Contemporary Amazigh Culture and Cultural Revival Dr. Malika Ouacha is an assistant professor specializing in diaspora and bicultural philanthropy, and humanitarian leadership. She is affiliated with the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, Zakat Foundation Institute, IU, and the Islamic State University, Jakarta, Indonesia. Born and raised in the Netherlands with Moroccan roots, she is of Amazigh Indigenous descent. More specifically, the Ait Atta tribe in South-East Morocco. As a cultural anthropologist, she brings both academic expertise and personal lived experience to the study and teaching of Amazigh culture and language. Dr. Ouacha has extensive experience teaching diverse international audiences about the history, culture, and contemporary realities of Amazigh diaspora communities across North Africa. She is also a native speaker of Tachelhiyt, the most widely spoken Amazigh language in the region. As Tachelhiyt has historically been transmitted primarily through oral tradition, she is deeply committed to its preservation, promotion, and transmission to new generations of learners.