Answers To Berber Questions.

Q: Are all Berber houses Small?

A: Not necessarily. There may be rich berbers who can afford larger houses but most berbers are poor and can only afford small houses.

Q: Why do the weddings last one week?

A: Not all weddings last a week. Some may last one day or three days. I believe that the length of the weddings depends on the activities or traditions they preform during the wedding. Also Maybe they may schedule the events like they will do this on one day then this on another. After all the traditions have been preformed then they get married.

Q: Why do you think Berbers keep the houses that are made with mud, wood and bricks when their is the chance that it falls apart in the rainy season?The could just get the more modern houses, or?

A: Well I think that the berbers keep their houses made of mud, wood, and bricks because maybe they can't afford any other form of building material. Also their parents may have taught them how to make houses out of these materials and so they wouldn't know how to make the house any other way. If it falls down in the rainy season. I don't think it will be to much of an issue because most houses they build are strong and sturdy. But good question.

Q: Why do they do the same thing over and over again?

A: Well It's like us or our parents. Why do we go to school or work. We both do it over and over. Also because it may be their only way to make money or they are doing what their parents have passed on.

Q: Why do you think Berber marriages are arranged before?

A: I think they are arranged before because usually when their is an arranged marriage the bride or the groom are still very young and won't be able to chose a wife on their own. So the parents look for a family with a daughter and the parents are willing to let the both the son and the daughter to get married. They then arrange a marriage for when they are older.

Berber Daily Life

The Berbers are the first inhabitants of Morocco and they are spread across Northern Africa from Egypt to the Atlantic Coast. The Berbers date back to around 3000 b.c.e. The Berbers culture and traditions are part of Morocco’s heritage.

In Morocco, the Berbers live in the Rif Mountains, the Atlas Mountains, and the Sahara Desert. In the Mountains, they experience extreme cold weather because of the high altitude. Their lands are fertile due to constant rainfall. However, In the desert, the climate is dry and extremely hot with little rainfall so the berbers are constantly moving in search for water.

Berbers are known for their excellent craftsmanship. They make pottery, weave colorful rugs, and make large chunky jewelry. When the tourists visit Morocco, they are drawn by the beautiful colors they use for their rugs or their pottery as well as their silver and amber jewelry. Berbers continue to wear their traditional cloths. Women wear “Djeleba” with a head scarf but usually the cloth is very colorful. Men on the other hand wear turbans and “Djeleba” in white, blue and sometimes orange.

Berber cuisine varies from one region to an other. Couscous and Tagines are considered Morocco’s national dishes. Couscous is eaten during lunch and typically after the Friday prayer. The couscous is served with vegetables shaped like a pyramid. Underneath is rather chicken or meat. Another dish is the “Tajine”. The tajines are served with variety of toppings like prunes, potatoes or carrots. The Tagine could be served with meat or chicken. For breakfast or afternoon snack, “beghrir” or “msmen” is served with butter, honey or jam. They are similar to pancakes. For drinks, the berbers are experts at making mint tea.

Most Berbers don’t live in large houses but rather on small ones. Berbers live in houses that are made of wood, mud, or stone. Inside the house is one large room that serves many purposes such as a kitchen, living room, and a sleeping area. A small barn is usually on the side of the house where they keep chickens and sheep.

Berber wedding ceremonies last for several days. They are mostly arranged by the parents. Both sides of the family gather for these festivities. There is music and dancing for long hours. The bride has a Henna party where both her hands and feet are painted with Henna. Large dishes of food and sweets are served to guests. Most times, the groom has never met his bride and will only see on the day of the wedding.

Education in berber villages is not like in the cities. Most children attend very small schools, sometimes only one classroom. They attend elementary school and receive basic education. After they finish their elementary school, most families do not send their children to secondary school because it is far from the village where they live. Some berber children continue their schooling beyond elementary and some may attend schools where they learn trades like mechanic or wood work. Because of the lack of schools and sometimes the harsh weather, less then 50% of Berbers can read or write. Arabic is taught at schools but they speak berber dialect in their daily life.

The Berbers have embraced Islam since around the 700’s. After the death of the prophet “Muhammad”, the Arabs set out on a conquest to spread Islam. This converted berbers to the Islamic faith and the trust in the Qur’an and belief in Allah. Most Berbers are Muslims.

Berbers were the first inhabitants of Morocco and they are entitled to keep their customs and traditions. Their heritage is part of the Moroccan history and should be preserved.

The Berbers are a group of people who live in the Atlas Mountain ranges that are spread out through all of Morocco. Know one knows were they originally came from but they have been in Africa since about 3000 b.c.e. They have many traditions, cultural foods, and a different life style from other people. The Berbers are probably the most interesting group of people to study about.