Berber, Warain in Morocco

Introduction / History

The name Berber comes from an Arabic name for the aboriginal people west and south of Egypt. Contrary to the romantic, popular image that portrays Berbers as nomadic people who cross the desert on camels, their main activity is sedentary agriculture.

Berbers are divided by location, language, and international borders. The Warain Berbers of Morocco, for example, speak Central Atlas Tamazight.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Since the Sahara Desert is a harsh environment, most of the Saharan tribes occupy several oases. Berber economy is based on a delicate balance between farming and cattle raising. Every tribe, without exception, depends heavily on domestic animals for carrying heavy loads, milk and dairy products, meat, and hides or wool. No Berber tribe depends on farming for survival. Hunting rarely contributes to the food supply, as wild game is scarce in their part of Morocco.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Like other Berbers, the Atta are officially Muslim, but they include animistic traditions such as beliefs in the “evil eye” in their form of Islam.

What Are Their Needs?

Warain Berbers have put their identity in the Islamic religion and their nationality. They need an identity based on the King of kings who gave his life to give them eternal life.

Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to multiply the reception and influence of his word among the Warain Berbers, to lead them to love him with their whole being.
Pray that the Berbers, mainly Christian before the 7th century, will once again know and follow Christ as savior.
Since there are few, if any, believers among the Warain Berbers at present, ask God for miraculous aid to help them become believers.
Ask God to give them a hunger for Christ to dwell in their hearts through faith.

Text Source:   Joshua Project