Amazigh people across North Africa gather to welcome the year 2976.

Unfortunately, they haven’t cracked time travel yet. Instead, they were nearly a thousand years ahead of most of the world because they followed a calendar that began in 950 B.C. When King Sheshunk ascended the throne of Egypt.

The Amazigh New Year (known as “Yennayer”) begins between January 12 and 14 (depending on where you live in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya), so over the past few days, families are hosting huge feasts, lighting bonfires, and playing traditional music.

Cries of “aseggas ameggaz” (Happy New Year) ring through villages and busy city streets as people dress up in vibrant, intricately embroidered traditional clothing to welcome the occasion.

The Amazigh (meaning “free people” or “noble people”) are the original inhabitants of North Africa and have occupied the region since recorded history.

The exact population size is unknown due to a lack of official statistics, but it is estimated that there are tens of millions of Amazigh people in North Africa. Algeria and Morocco have the largest populations, with the latter thought to be 40% Amazigh.

Centered around family gatherings, Yenaye celebrates renewal and the Amazigh’s traditionally deep connection with nature.

Because the Amazigh are a diverse group, traditional Yenaye food varies from country to country and region to region. In the High Atlas region of Morocco, “ourkemen”, a rich mixture of beans, spices and whole grains, is a New Year’s favorite.

Many families in Algeria enjoy “trèze”, a combination of sweets, dried fruits and nuts, after their main meal. Snack mix is ​​sometimes gently thrown onto the youngest children to symbolize prosperity.

But Yenaye is more than just a family matter. It can also be celebrated with the wider community – parades, concerts and carnivals bring the New Year’s spirit to the streets.

It is especially important to showcase Amazigh culture so proudly as the community has long been marginalized.

When Arab conquerors swept through North Africa in the seventh century, they brought their language and Islamic religion with them.

Both were officially adopted, but at the expense of the Amazigh language and culture.

For example, during the rule of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in Libya, the Amazigh language Tamazigh was banned from schools and parents were not even allowed to give their children Amazigh names.

However, thanks to persistent campaigning by Amazigh activists, their culture and language have gained greater recognition over the past decade.

In 2011, Morocco recognized Tamazit as an official language. Algeria and Morocco also declared Yennaye a public holiday in 2017 and 2023 respectively.

Yenaye thus not only marks a victory for the Amazigh people, but also serves as a reminder of the centuries-long struggle that brought the community to where it is today in 2976.