The Berber people are native to Morocco and all of North Africa. If you ask them, they will tell you their ancestors have always been there, and their roots can be traced to the Stone Age. They are a unique subculture of the country, with their own language and way of life.
Berber people populate most of the small towns and villages in the interior portions of Morocco, but of course many now live in its larger cities as well. Most are part of the routine culture and flow of the society, living in traditional homes, attending the local mosque, sending their children to public schools, etc.
(Berber child trying to sell us some handmade souvenirs)
There are some Berbers who choose a nomadic existence as had their ancestors, generally in the desert like the people featured in this blog. They want a simple life, living in rudimentary dwellings, but always near a government-built well, and moving on when the well goes dry or personal circumstances dictate. The women are extremely shy, dressed in full burkas, and didn’t want to be photographed. The men use camels to buy or trade goods and bring them to their homes.
(Government built well close to the Berber encampments)
The government is trying to encourage the nomads to settle into a more stable life in permanent dwellings. We’ll see how this plays out.
The handsome gentlemen below are our guides. They are also Berbers but live in permanent homes in towns near the desert.
