Morocco promotes Amazigh (Berber) language in media

The communication department and the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture (IRCAM) on Friday signed a convention to promote Amazigh (Berber - spoken by over 65% of Morocco's population) in the field of information and communication.

Under the agreement, the two parties will seek to apply joint audiovisual projects, hold encounters and training session, promote the public audiovisual sector's role in preserving the Amazigh heritage and involve other partners in the scheme.

The convention, which coincides with Morocco's adoption of the new audiovisual liberalization law, was signed by Benabdellah and IRCAM chief, Ahmed Boukous, in the presence of MAP news agency director general, Mohamed Khabbachi, director of the High Institute of Information and Communication (ISIC), Latifa Akherbach, and head of the national radio, Mohamed Boukili.

While efforts are being made to promote Amazigh and give it the status it deserves in the Moroccan society, we thought it was our duty to dedicate a new era of cooperation with IRCAM, so as we work together on a promotion strategy, Benabdellah told MAP following the signing ceremony.

"We will be focusing on audiovisual, written communication, training, as well as set up a joint commission to work out an action strategy for us," he said, adding that "one our options is to work on the creation of a TV channel where Amazigh would have greater importance."

For Boukous, the convention will give Amazigh momentum while preserving it. "It will also enable Amazigh advocates to be known and recognized," he said.

"We expect a lot from this convention for this is the first time the Amazigh language and culture are fully established in the media."