The Berbers
Tunisia once belonged to the Berbers, but over 1,300 years after the Arab conquest of North Africa most of them have assimilated into Arab culture and barely 1% of the population of 10m still speaks the language or regards itself as Berber. In fact, Berber identity seems to have been almost completely erased from the collective psyche of Tunisians and cultural awareness amongst the Berbers themselves is poor. Yet these proud, independent people played a vital role in the development of democratic 21st century Tunisia.
The Berbers
Tunisia once belonged to the Berbers, but over 1,300 years after the Arab conquest of North Africa most of them have assimilated into Arab culture and barely 1% of the population of 10m still speaks the language or regards itself as Berber. In fact, Berber identity seems to have been almost completely erased from the collective psyche of Tunisians and cultural awareness amongst the Berbers themselves is poor. Yet these proud, independent people played a vital role in the development of democratic 21st century Tunisia.