Amazigh

Old Fine Berber Ring – Essaouira, Morocco

Mid 20th century. Silver. Cm. 2,2 high (0.87") ; cm. 2,0 width (0.79”); the dove si cm. 3,0 high (118"). Inner diameter cm. 1,8 (0.71”); US size 8.00. Grams 5,9 (0.21 oz). Berbers are the indigenous ethnic group of North Africa. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic...

Berber Tribes – The Ait Atta: History, Social Structure, and Cultural Traditions

The Ait Atta (Tamazight: ⴰⵢⵜ ⵄⴻⵟⵟⴰ) are a major Berber tribal confederation from southeastern Morocco. Traditionally, they are divided into “five fifths” (khams khmas), said to descend from the forty sons of their common ancestor, Dadda Atta. In the Tamazight language, “Aït” means “people of.” These five groups are the...

Old Pair Fibulae – TIZERZAI – Tiznit Region, South Morocco

Mid 20th century. Tribal metal, glass, paint. The piece is cm 88,0 in lenght (34.65"); each fibulae is cm 15,0 x cm. 4,5 (5.91" x 1.77"). Gr. 187,8 (6.62 oz.). Essential feminine embellishment, the tizerzai are taken in pairs to close the coat. For more information and similar examples: pages 251-252 of “Splendeurs du Maroc”, Africa Museum Tervuren pages 28-29 of “Bijoux du Maroc”,...

Amazigh – Berber

The Imazighen (singular Amazigh) also known as the Berbers are among the original peoples of North Africa. Their myths, legends and history span 9,000 years, back to the Proto-Mediterraneans. They have achieved unity by keeping up their unique language and culture which are, like their land, both African and...