Yennayer, the Amazigh New Year, is an ancestral celebration deeply rooted in the cultures of North Africa. Although this celebration is shared by Morocco and Algeria, it illustrates marked contrasts in the way these two nations approach the Amazigh question, whether on a historical, political, ideological, cultural or social level.
In Morocco, Yennayer is part of a dynamic of cultural promotion and national unity. Officially recognized as a national holiday in 2023, this Amazigh New Year reflects the royal vision of a nation which considers diversity as a basis of mutual enrichment and cohesion.
Historically, Morocco has been able to integrate the Amazigh dimension as a natural component of its identity. The process of formalizing the Amazigh language in 2011, followed by the inclusion of Yennayer in national festivities, testifies to this inclusive approach. The royal power, a legitimate and centralizing authority, represents all the cultural and regional sensitivities of the Kingdom, which makes it possible to weave a pact of unity transcending ethnic and linguistic differences.
In Amazigh-speaking regions as in Arabic-speaking regions, Yennayer is celebrated with fervor. Often associated with agricultural practices and local festivities, it transcends regional distinctions, thus reinforcing the feeling of common belonging. This festival symbolizes the attachment of Moroccans to their cultural heritage while highlighting the Amazigh contribution to the history of the country.
A celebration at the crossroads of identity and political tensions
In Algeria, Yennayer is much more than a cultural celebration; it constitutes a real political and identity issue. Its official recognition in 2018 as a national holiday is seen as a concession to Berberist demands, particularly in Kabylia. Unlike Morocco, where Amazigh diversity is integrated into national construction, Algeria has long adopted a suspicious and centralizing approach towards this issue.
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Since independence in 1962, the Algerian regime, dominated by an Islamo-Baathist ideology, has sought to standardize national identity around an Arab-Islamic model. This has led to the marginalization of Amazigh cultural expressions, perceived as a threat to national unity. This distrust has been exacerbated by historical tensions, notably the ouster, incarceration, and even assassination of Kabyle figures in the struggle for independence, such as Hocine Aït Ahmed, Abane Ramdane and Krim Belkacem, and the repression of cultural demands.
In Kabylia, Yennayer has become a symbol of resistance against a centralized power often perceived as oppressive. This region, which has historically carried the Amazigh claim, sees in this festival an opportunity to reaffirm its identity in the face of a State which has long denied its cultural specificities.
Two conceptions of power and national identity
One of the main differences between Morocco and Algeria lies in their conception of power and their management of cultural diversity. In Morocco, the monarchy is a legitimate pivot, guaranteeing a balance between the various identity components. This unifying role is reinforced by a centuries-old political and religious pact, which ensures institutional continuity and rare stability in the region.
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In Algeria, on the other hand, power rests with the National People’s Army (ANP), which exercises authoritarian and centralizing domination. This model, criticized for its rigid Jacobinism, rejects decentralization and perceives regional diversity as a threat to national unity. This distrust explains why the ANP focuses a large part of its efforts on internal control, particularly in Amazigh-speaking regions such as Kabylia.
Symbol of cohesion or demand for resistance?
In Morocco, Yennayer exemplifies unity through diversity. The festival is an opportunity to celebrate a common identity enriched by the multiple cultures that make up the Kingdom. This proactive approach promotes the Amazigh dimension as a pillar of national cohesion, strengthening citizens’ attachment to their shared heritage.
In Algeria, Yennayer carries a demanding charge. The historical marginalization of Amazigh culture by the regime has led part of the population to retreat into its regional identity. In Kabylia, in particular, the festival has become an act of cultural resistance against a State perceived as disconnected and oppressive.
The striking contrasts of Yennayer in 2975
The Moroccan people celebrate Yennayer as a cultural and national holiday, integrated into an inclusive institutional framework. The monarchy acts as a bridge between the different components of society, transforming diversity into wealth.
The Algerian people, divided by identity struggles, see in Yennayer an opportunity to claim cultural and political recognition. Central power, in a crisis of legitimacy, continues to see diversity as a threat.
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In Morocco, the Amazigh dimension is carried by a diversity of actors, transcending ethnic or political divisions. In Algeria, it remains concentrated in the Kabylia region, fueling tensions with a suspicious central power which fears Kabyle separatism under the leadership of the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylia – MAK.
A celebration with divergent meanings
Yennayer, a thousand-year-old celebration, highlights profound contrasts in the way Morocco and Algeria manage their cultural diversity. While Morocco sees this celebration as an opportunity to promote wealth through differences and diversity, the Algerian government perceives it as an identity challenge to be contained.
This opposition illustrates the impact of institutions on the management of identity issues: inclusive power can transform diversity into an asset, while authoritarian power risks crystallizing it into division. In this year 2975 of the Amazigh calendar, these contrasts continue to shape perceptions and policies around Yennayer, reflecting the distinct historical trajectories of Morocco and Algeria.
