Faces: People, Places, and Cultures articles from February 2000

Faces: People, Places, and Cultures archives from February 2000

Berbers at a Glance.
February 1, 2000... Location: Berbers live throughout North Africa, including the Sahara, and the Sahel (southern edge of Sahara). The largest numbers live in Morocco and Algeria. Berbers also live in the countries of Libya, Tunisia, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, and...

Only In ... the Sahara Desert.(scorpions)
February 1, 2000... About 200 million years before the very first dinosaur was born on Earth, a nasty little creature was already honing its hunting skills. This attacker would lie silently hidden under a rock or in a hole in the sand until some unsuspecting...

Imazighen.(Berbers)
February 1, 2000... The Free Men The Berbers are the earliest known inhabitants of the western Mediterranean coast of Africa, living in the area since 3000 B.C. However, "Berber" is the name given to them by outsiders: some Berbers call themselves Imazighen...

"Imazighen" or "Amazigh".(Berbers)
February 1, 2000... The Legend of Kahina Some Berbers call themselves "Imazighen," or "men of freedom." Some historians argue that the correct spelling is "Amazigh," taken from the famous Libyan Amazon warrior-queens. Who is right? No one knows for sure,...

The Berbers and the Sahara Through Time.
February 1, 2000... 4 Million B.C. The earliest humans live in Africa. 3000 B.C. Indigenous groups, who hunt and herd cattle, settle in Morocco, Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia. 3rd century B.C. Sanhadja Berbers move into the western Sahara region. 2nd...

Women in Berber Society.
February 1, 2000... Modern Berber women are not veiled, blackrobed figures of mystery kept behind closed doors. Although their lives still revolve around home and family, customs have changed. A 21st-century Berber woman enjoys many freedoms not granted to her...

Matmata.(Berber group that lives in underground homes)
February 1, 2000... A Town Underground Imagine living in a home deep underground. The walls, ceilings, and floors of your house are all made of rock. A group of Berbers known as the Matmata (mat-MOT-ah) lives in homes like these. Sometime known as...

Rural Festivals and Marriages.(Berber festivals)
February 1, 2000... Rural Berbers love to dress up and celebrate. In late fall, one such celebration is the Cure Salee Festival in northern Niger. It celebrates the salt rising to the surface of the Earth after the rainy season. For hours, men and women sing,...

On the Other Hand ...(hand decoration)
February 1, 2000... You will need: pencil one sheet of construction paper (color similar to your skin tone) reddish-orange marker, colored pencil, or crayon 1. Trace the outline of your hand onto the construction paper. 2. Study the images of henna...

At Home with the Berbers.
February 1, 2000... Many Berber men live in two cultures, two worlds. By day, wearing suits and ties, they work in city offices; at night, they are transformed into country dwellers. Wearing cotton turbans on their heads, a burnoose (hooded cloak), and babouches...

The Marathon des Sables.(footrace in Morocco)
February 1, 2000... Each year in the land of the Berbers, runners from all over the world gather to compete in the Marathon des Sables, the Marathon of the Sands. Swirling sands, scorching temperatures, and starry nights set the scene for what has been called...

Gifts of the Earth.(Berber traditions and handicrafts)
February 1, 2000... In all aspects of their lives, the Berbers believe in using what the earth gives them. The earth provides them with wool, clay, and natural dyes. Weaving, in particular, plays an important role in Berber culture, symbolizing or representing...

Brothers in Arms.(Short Story)
February 1, 2000... An evil ruler, who was traveling through the desert, came to rest at the home of the Berber people. "Make my camel kneel and let me down!" he ordered. "Prepare me a tent with your softest cushions! And fill my table with your finest foods!" ...

Letters.(Poem)
February 1, 2000... Little Garter Snake I found a slithery, slinky, snake, Sliding under the garden gate. A rough-skinned critter that leaves one track, Looking for a tasty snack. With a red-forked tongue and beady black eyes, Catching him was quite a...

Books.(Review)
February 1, 2000... Ali: Child of the Desert by Jonathan London In this simple tale, Ali becomes separated from his father and his camel herd after a sudden Sahara sandstorm. At a small oasis, he meets a Berber goatherder and his grandson, who feed him and...

On-Line.(Sahara Expedition Web site)
February 1, 2000... Global On-Line Adventure Learning Site (GOALS) Sahara Expedition Adventure-lovers Helen and Bill Thayer chronicle their 1,400-mile trek across the Sahara, which includes a stop in a Berber village. A teacher's guide is provided. ...

Audio.(recordings of traditional music of North Africa)
February 1, 2000... The following recordings feature the traditional music and instruments of North Africans, including the Berbers. Africa North Hearts of Space (877) HOS-MUSIC (toll-free) Music of North Africa (Secret Museum of Mankind series) ...