On Tuesday, January 14, Morocco celebrates the Amazigh New Year, a deeply meaningful occasion that underscores the nation’s commitment to honoring and preserving Amazigh heritage. Designated an official national holiday in 2023, this event reflects Morocco’s vibrant cultural diversity under the leadership of King Mohammed VI.
The decision to formalize this holiday builds on decades of progress beginning with Ajdir's historic royal speech in 2001. Ahmed Boukous, head of the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture (IRCAM), sees in this milestone a key moment in Morocco’s journey to strengthen its collective memory and cultural identity.
Boukous highlighted that celebrations for the Amazigh New Year extend beyond Morocco’s borders, resonating with Moroccan communities and institutions worldwide. He stressed, in this respect, the importance of further integrating the Amazigh language into public administration and education to ensure its enduring presence in daily life.
Since Amazigh was constitutionally officialized in 2011, IRCAM has driven numerous initiatives, such as forming partnerships and training public servants in the language. These efforts aim to embed Amazigh into state functions and make it accessible to citizens across the country.
For her part, Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, the minister in charge of administrative reform, emphasized that supporting the Amazigh language is a collective effort, outlining, in this regard, various steps taken by her department. These include assigning over 450 Amazigh-speaking staff to various public offices and adding Amazigh to public signage and government websites.
Looking ahead, the minister revealed plans to recruit over 1,600 additional Amazigh-speaking personnel by 2025 and to roll out pilot programs in 40 municipalities, in order to enhance language use in local governance and community services.
