List of Berber people

This is a list of famous Berber people.

In ancient times

Pharaoh

• Ramses II (Berber: Ramsis Wiss 2) , according to L. Balout, C. Roubet and C. Desroches-Noblecourt, study titled 'La Momie de Ramsès II: Contribution Scientifique à l'Égyptologie (1985).' Balout and Roubet concluded that "the anthropological study and the microscopic analysis" of the pharaoh's hair showed that Ramses II was "a fair-skinned man related to the Prehistoric and Antiquity Mediterranean peoples, or briefly, of the Berbers of Africa."

• Shoshenq I (Berber: Cicnaq), Egyptian Pharaoh of Libyan origin, founder of the Twenty-second dynasty of Egypt

Kings of Numidia

• Masinissa (Berber: Masnsen), King of Numidia, North Africa, present day Algeria and Tunisia
• Jugurtha (Berber: Yugerten), King of Numidia
• Juba II (Berber: Yuba Wiss 2), King of Numidia

Roman Emperors and Generals

• Macrinus, Roman emperor for 14 months in 217 and 218
• Clodius Albinus, governor of Britannia
• Lusius Quietus, governor of Judaea and one of the best Trajan's chief generals
• Quintus Lollius Urbicus, governor of Britannia from 138 to 144
• Septimius Severus, Roman emperor from 193 to 211

Writers

• Terence (Berber: Tirines), (Publius Terentius Afer), Roman writer
• Apuleius (Berber: Afulay), Roman writer ("half-Numidian, half-Gaetulian")
• Priscian , Latin grammarian of the 5th Century, born in modern Algeria

Christians

• Saint Augustine of Hippo, from Tagaste, was Amazigh
• Saint Monica of Hippo, Saint Augustine's mother
• Arius, who proposed the doctrine of Arianism
• Donatus Magnus, leader of the Donatist schism

Others

• Tacfarinas (Berber: Takfarin, Takfarinas), who fought the Romans in the Aures Mountains
• Firmus, who fought the Romans Between 372 and 375
• Gildo (Berber: Gildu, Gellid), who fought the Romans in 398

In medieval times

• Adrian of Canterbury, Abbot of St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury
• Dihya or al-Kahina
• Aksil or Kusayla
• Salih ibn Tarif of the Berghouata
• Tariq ibn Ziyad, one of the leaders of the Moorish conquest of Iberia in 711.
• Ibn Tumart, founder of the Almohad dynasty
• Yusuf ibn Tashfin, founder of the Almoravid dynasty
• Ibn Battuta (1304–1377), Moroccan traveller and explorer
• al-Ajurrumi (famous grammarian of Arabic)
• Fodhil al-Warthilani, traveler and religious scholar of the 18th century
• Abu Yaqub Yusuf I, who had the Giralda in Seville built.
• Abu Yaqub Yusuf II, who had the Torre del Oro in Seville built.
• Ziri ibn Manad founder of the Zirid dynasty
• Sidi Mahrez Tunisian saint
• Ibn Al jهzzar famous doctor of Kairouan, 980.
• Muhammad Awzal (ca. 1680–1749), prolific Sous Berber poet (see also Ocean of Tears)
• Muhammad al-Jazuli, author of the Dala'il al-Khairat, Sufi
• Imam Buseiri, poet and author of the famous poem Qasida Burda – lived in Alexandria

In modern times

Politicians

• Mohammed Arav Bessaoud, Described as the spiritual father of Berberism, Bessaoud was a Muhjahedin during the war of liberation 1954–62, founder of the Académie berbère in Paris during the 1960s, designer of the modern Berber flag, author of several books on the War of Independence, its aftermath and the history of the Berbers, he was one of the leading lights of Berberism during the 20th and early 21st centuries.
• Saïd Sadi, secularist politician.
• Hocine Aït Ahmed, Algerian revolutionary fighter and secularist politician.
• Sidi Said, Leader of the Algerian syndicat of workers : UGTA.
• Khalida Toumi, Algerian feminist and secularist, currently spokesperson for the Algerian government.
• Ahmed Ouyahia, Prime Minister of Algeria
• Belaïd Abrika, one of the spokesmen of the Arouch.
• Nordine Ait Hamouda, secularist politician and son of Colonel Amirouche.
• Saadeddine Othmani, deputy of Inezgane, an outer suburb of Agadir, is the leader of the Justice and Development Party (Islamist).

Figures of the Algerian resistance and revolution

• Abane Ramdane, Algerian revolutionary fighter, assassinated in 1957 in an internal purge.
• Krim Belkacem, Algerian revolutionary fighter, assassinated in 1970, allegedly by Algerian secret services.
• Colonel Amirouche, Algerian revolutionary fighter, killed by French troops in 1959.
• Lalla Fatma n Soumer, woman who led western Kabylie in battle against French troops.

Artists

Morocco

• Mohammad Albansir'Damseri' Singer, Composer & Poet
• Ammouri Mbarek Singer and Song writer (Considered to be, the john lennon- Beatles in the Berber World, singing since the early 1960s and now), from Morocco
• Fatima Tabaamrant – singer, songwriter from Morocco
• Lhaj Belaid – singer, songwriter, poet from Morocco
• Hamed Amentague singer, Poet from Morocco
• Usman (Ousmane) – Music Band 1960s and 1970s ((They are considered to be like, the beatles in the Berber World. Ammouri Mbarek, Said Bijaaden, Tarik El-maarufi, Belaid el-Akkaf, Lyazid Qorfi, Said Butrufin)) from Morocco
• Omar Boutmazought - singer
• Ali Chouhad – Singer, songwriter, Writer from Morocco
• Najat Aatabou – singer from Morocco
• Fatima Tachtoukt – singer from Morocco
• Fatima Tihihit singer from Morocco
• Hindi Zahra singer from Morocco
• Yuba – singer from Morocco
• Cherifa – singer from Morocco
• Mohamed Rouicha – singer from Morocco
• Saïda Titrit – singer from Morocco
• Cheikh Zaid Oubjna – Singer, poet from Morocco
• Khalid Izri – Singer from Rif
• Izenzaren Chamkh Band from Morocco
• Oudaden Band from Morocco
• Tislatin Onzar singer from Morocco
• Med Demsiri Singer from Morocco
• Rkya Talbensirt Singer from Morocco
• Omar Ait Ulahyan
• Amaray
• El Houcine El Baz
• Omar Wahrouch
• Mohamed Demciri
• Houicne AlMarrakchi
• Elarbi Ihihi
• Hadj Aarab Atiqui
• Khalid Ayour
• Al Assala
• Hadat Ouaaki
• Miouda
• Houssa Mansouri
• El Haddioui
• Abouzane Lahcen
• Ahouzer
• Ochtaine Lahcen
• Izenzarn Band
• Archach Band
• Laryach Band
• Oudaden Band
• Iaacheken Band
• Inzaf L`Familia

Algeria

• El Hadj M'Hamed El Anka, He was born on May 20, 1907, under the name Aît Ouarab Mohamed Idir Halo, on 4 Rue Tombouctou in the Casbah of Algiers. ( died November 23, 1978, in Algiers) also known as Hadj Muhammed Al Anka, was considered The Grand Master of Andalusian classical music and creator of Algerian chaâbi music. His family was originally from Béni Djennad (Tizi Ouzou Province); his father was Mohamed Ben HadJ Saîd, and his mother was Fatma Bent Boudjemaâ.

The popular music he promoted from 1946 became "chaâbi". In 1955 he began teaching chaâbi as a professor at the municipal Academy of Algiers. His first pupils all became sheiks in their turn, including Amar Lâachab, Hassen Said, and Rachid Souki. In total, El Hadj El Anka wrote nearly 360 songs ( qaca' id ) and produced approximately 130 records. Notable works included "Lahmam lirabitou", "ltif Sebhan ellah ya" and "Win saâdi win". He died on November 23, 1978, in Algiers, and was buried in the cemetery of El-Kettar.

• Si Mohand, Kabyle folk poet.
• Idir – Kabyle singer.
• Ait Menguellet – Kabyle singer
• Takfarinas – Kabyle singer
• Sliman Azem – singer
• Souad Massi, a young, female Kabyle singer who performs mainly in French and Maghrebin Arabic.
• Aît Ouarab Mohamed Idir Halo (Al Anka), Chaabi singer in Both Kabyle and Algerian Arabic.
• Lounes Matoub, Berberist and secularist singer assassinated in 1998.
• Karim Ziad – singer
• Taos Amrouche, (March 4, 1913 in Tunis, Tunisia – April 2, 1976 in Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire, France) Algerian writer and singer.
• Anissa Mezaguer- Singer with a tender voice: Hawzi and Kabyle since 1950 and also comedian,artist who played in movies, theaters and radio in Amazigh language . Born in Algiers.
• Rim'K, rapper
• Cheb-i-sabbah – DJ and composer in Algeria
• Bachir Bensaddek Canadian director.
• Amirouche Chaoui singer, musician, song writer, artist Chawi living in France
• Mazryah (Taziri) Soltani poet, song writer Chawi,artist living between Arris Aures Algeria and the USA

Writers

• Kateb Yacine, writer founder of the berberiste mouvement.
• Tahar Ouettar, writer defender of the arab language in Algeria
• Mouloud Feraoun, writer assassinated by the OAS.
• Tahar Djaout, writer and journalisbet assassinated by the GIA in 1993.
• Salem Chaker, Berberist, linguist, cultural and political activist, writer, and director of Berber at the Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales in Paris
• Mouloud Mammeri, writer, anthropologist and linguist. His interest and work about Tamazight is behind the popular galvanization towards the Amazigh (Berber) culture and language.
• Taos Amrouche, (March 4, 1913 in Tunis, Tunisia – April 2, 1976 in Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire, France) Algerian writer and singer.
• Jean Amrouche, (1906–1962) writer and Taos Amrouche's brother.
• Mohamed Chafik, Moroccan writer and the dean of the IRCAM.
• Ali Yahya Mua'amar, Libyan Islamic Scholar of the Abathi School of Thought, was imprisoned and persecuted under the Gaddafi regime in Libya.
• Mohamed Khir-Eddine,

Sport

• Zinedine Zidane (1972 – ), French football superstar.
• Rabah Madjer, Algerian football superstar, Winner of the European Champion's League in 1987 with Porto FC
• Mustapha Hadji (1972-), Moroccan soccer player nominated best African player of the year 1998.
• Khalid Boulahrouz (1981-),A Dutch footballer of Moroccan descent, who plays for the Netherlands and Sevilla of the La Liga
• Ibrahim Afellay ,A Barca footballer. Origine Moroccan from Al-houssaima city

Others

• Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-Karim al-Khattabi, leader of the Rif guerrillas against the Spanish and French colonizers.
• Walid Mimoun – Protest Singer from Rif
• Ali Lmrabet, Moroccan journalist.
• Kateb Yacine, Algerian Writer.
• Mohamed Choukri (famous writer)
• Liamine Zeroual, President of Algeria between 1994–1999.
• Mohamed Chafik
• Abdallah Oualline Berber Warrior & freedom fighter. Fought against the Spanish occupation in Ait Baamrane, south of Agadir.
• Didouche Mourad
• Cherif Khedam – composer
• Cheikh El Hasnaoui – singer
• Tinariwen – critically acclaimed band of Tuareg musicians
• M. Toufali – Writer and composer from the Rif (Melilla)
• Erika Sawajiri – Japanese actress. Japanese, Algerian-French mix.
• Kamel Ouali – Choreographer, Dance teacher, Teacher on the French reality TV show Star Academy France.

Famous people who were either Berber or Punic

• Septimus Severus (Roman emperor from the mainly Punic Libyan city of Lepcis Magna, founded by Phoenicians)
• Caracalla, his son
• Tertullian, an early Christian theologian (born in the highly multiethnic, Phoenician-founded city of Carthage)
• Vibia Perpetua (early Christian martyr, also born in Carthage)
• Cyprian (also born in Carthage)
• Roos, Amirouche, Famous Swedish poet.

French people who have some Berber ancestors

Nearly all North Africans – and many Andalusi Moors – fall and fell into this category, but do not in general identify themselves as Berber. For lists of them, look under the respective countries.

• Édith Piaf – one of France's most loved singers, her grandmother was Berber.
• Rachida Dati – she was named Minister of Justice on the 18th of May 2007 by Nicolas Sarkozy.
• Isabelle Adjani – actress
• Daniel Prévost – comedian
• Marcel Mouloudji – singer and actor
• Alain Bashung – singer, songwriter and actor