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Asegwass Amaynu Imazighen 2958 |
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Mustapha ABAJI - AlJazeeraTalk - Morocco
 On the 13th o January, the native people of North Africa( (well-known as Berbers) and Amazigh community living in France, Spain, Holland and Belgium celebrated the Id Yennayr 2958, it s actually the New Amazigh Year .It is worth mentioning that the Amazigh calendar began in 950 Before Christ. As a result the Amazigh calendar precede the Gregorian calendar by around 59 years.
The origin of the "Id Yennayer" goes back to 200 years ago,it refers to the founding by the Amazigh Pharaoh Sheshonq I OF THE 22nd pharoanic dynasty in 958 B.C, followed by the 23rd and 24 the Amazigh pharaonic dynasty over 200 years of the Amazigh role in ancient Egypt.
According to Egyptologists and archaeological records, there was a significant civilisation interaction between Amazigh and pharaohs. That is to say, the Amazigh culture contributes tremendously to the glorious Egyptian civilisation. The date of 13 january refers in the collective Amazigh imaginary to the triumph of Amazigh king Sheshonk I over the Egyptian pharaoh Ramsus the First.In this occasion, the Amazigh poeple people in North Africa in general and in Morocco and Algeria to be more precise get accustomed to organise special parties." It is a good opportunity for parents for parents to transmit the amazigh culture to the future generation and make them feel proud of their identity as the ancient masters and rulers of North Africa.
as per the latest unofficial statistics, Amazigh constitute 60 percent of Moroccans. Besides, the late king Hassan II had two wives, one is an Arab and the other is Amazigh and the current king Mohamed VI 's mother is of Amazigh origin. In fact, it was a strategy adopted by the late king to keep control over the ethno- political equation in Morocco.
 The greeting of Id Yennayer differs from one region to an other, some said "Asegwass Amaynu" , whereas others prefer "Assougas najdid", but all means Happy new year in Amazigh language.
Yet, Id Innayer kept it charm over centuries specially in Berber villages in Tizi wizu in Algeria and in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, where people don’t understand a single word of Arabic. In these Berber Villages, Id Iyennayer calibrations are much authentic .According to Amazigh traditions during such a day, people wake up very early to receive the sunrise. First, girls goes out, then followed by children and men to welcome the sunshine. Woman is much revered in the Amazigh culture, it is beleived that women are as sunshine bringing happiness into men lives.
 After the ritual of welcoming the sunrise, wemen prepares sepeial dishes peculiar to this ceremony such as "Asida"(milk soup) and Couscous made of chiken and seven legumes. Meanwhile, men passes by their neighbours so as to greet them saying "Asegas Iyenayer", it is an offence in the amazigh customs if somebody drop in his neighbour' s house and could not have dinner with him.
In the afternoon, the whole neighbouring villages gathered in the river strip to celebrate "Tiselit n Wasif", during which most beautiful girls cross the river for five times.It is believed that such a processus would satisfy the river and protect the villages from the inundations. At the end people goes back home to eat the "Gasaa of the Year".the lunch table should necessarily contain Coscos , a date must be hided in the Gasaa and whoever finds it, would be declared "Asegwas n Flan" .That is to say, the year would be referred to by the name of the person who finds the blessing date.
Id Innayer is typically a wonderful holiday that brings about the sectarian and ethno-cultural diversity of the Moroccan fabric, where Arabs, Amazigh(Berbers), Muslims and jews coexist for centuries.
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Celebrating the annual anniversay should encourage us to work more, and should not make of us extremists in our ideas.
Thanks for the update!