Berbers and their traditions endure in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains

The National
  • Amazigh villages among the foothills of the High Atlas mountains, near Ouarzazate, central Morocco. Deep in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, the ancient Berbers live on, defying a harsh environment and remiaing loyal to their traditions and way of life in some of the most hard-to-reach parts of the African continent.
    Amazigh villages among the foothills of the High Atlas mountains, near Ouarzazate, central Morocco. Deep in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, the ancient Berbers live on, defying a harsh environment and remiaing loyal to their traditions and way of life in some of the most hard-to-reach parts of the African continent.
  • Fatima, 36, prepares a traditional Amazigh meal of couscous on February 5, 2016, at her home in a town near Tounfit in the Middle Atlas, central Morocco.
    Fatima, 36, prepares a traditional Amazigh meal of couscous on February 5, 2016, at her home in a town near Tounfit in the Middle Atlas, central Morocco.
  • Amazigh boys watch a football game on February 3, 2016, photo, from a hill in a locally organised tournament between tribes in Kelaat M’Gouna town, southern Morocco.
    Amazigh boys watch a football game on February 3, 2016, photo, from a hill in a locally organised tournament between tribes in Kelaat M’Gouna town, southern Morocco.
  • A shepherd watches over his cattle on February 3, 2016, in the desert of the High Atlas mountains, next to Ouarzazate, central Morocco. The Amazigh — which is believed to mean “free people” or “noble men” — trace their origins as an indigenous people in western North Africa to at least 10,000 B.C.
    A shepherd watches over his cattle on February 3, 2016, in the desert of the High Atlas mountains, next to Ouarzazate, central Morocco. The Amazigh — which is believed to mean “free people” or “noble men” — trace their origins as an indigenous people in western North Africa to at least 10,000 B.C.
  • An Amazigh boy pauses to look at the camera on February 3, 2016, during a locally-organised football tournament between different tribes, in Kelaat M’Gouna town, southern Morocco.
    An Amazigh boy pauses to look at the camera on February 3, 2016, during a locally-organised football tournament between different tribes, in Kelaat M’Gouna town, southern Morocco.
  • Amazigh villagers shop for fruits and vegetables on February 3, 2016, at a weekly local market in Kalaat M’Gouna, in Ouarzazate, Morocco.
    Amazigh villagers shop for fruits and vegetables on February 3, 2016, at a weekly local market in Kalaat M’Gouna, in Ouarzazate, Morocco.
  • Amazigh villagers rest as the sun sets on February 4, 2016, in a village near Midelt, a town in central Morocco, between the Middle and High Atlas mountains.
    Amazigh villagers rest as the sun sets on February 4, 2016, in a village near Midelt, a town in central Morocco, between the Middle and High Atlas mountains.
  • Amazigh houses nestled in the foothills of cedar tree forests in Azrou, a town south of Fez, Morocco.
    Amazigh houses nestled in the foothills of cedar tree forests in Azrou, a town south of Fez, Morocco.
  • Aesha, 45, and her family live in this cave in the desert of the Anti-Atlas mountains, east of Ourazazate, Morocco.
    Aesha, 45, and her family live in this cave in the desert of the Anti-Atlas mountains, east of Ourazazate, Morocco.
  • Hajj Saeed, 56, pours tea for guests on February 5, 2016, at his home in the Middle Atlas town of Tounfit, near the province of Midelt, central Morocco.
    Hajj Saeed, 56, pours tea for guests on February 5, 2016, at his home in the Middle Atlas town of Tounfit, near the province of Midelt, central Morocco.
  • Amazigh villagers dig a canal on February 2, 2016, in search of underground water to irrigate their crops, in the village of Douar Timneit, next to Ouarzazate, central Morocco.
    Amazigh villagers dig a canal on February 2, 2016, in search of underground water to irrigate their crops, in the village of Douar Timneit, next to Ouarzazate, central Morocco.
  • Mohammed Tamejout, 26, works among the almond trees on February 2, 2016, at his farm in the town of Kasbah Ellouze, near Kalaat M’Gouna, Morocco.
    Mohammed Tamejout, 26, works among the almond trees on February 2, 2016, at his farm in the town of Kasbah Ellouze, near Kalaat M’Gouna, Morocco.
  • Villager Mohammed Tamejout, 26, works on his farm in the town of Kasbah Ellouze, near Ouarzazate, Morocco, on February 2, 2016.
    Villager Mohammed Tamejout, 26, works on his farm in the town of Kasbah Ellouze, near Ouarzazate, Morocco, on February 2, 2016.
  • A tourist shop in Kalaat M’Gouna, in Ouarzazate, Morocco, displays scarves with the Amazigh symbol.
    A tourist shop in Kalaat M’Gouna, in Ouarzazate, Morocco, displays scarves with the Amazigh symbol.
  • Amazigh girls play outside their homes on February 4, 2016, in a village near Midelt, a town in central Morocco between the Middle and High Atlas mountains.
    Amazigh girls play outside their homes on February 4, 2016, in a village near Midelt, a town in central Morocco between the Middle and High Atlas mountains.
  • Amazigh women wash laundry by the Oum Rabia water springs in Khénifra, Morocco, on February 6, 2016.
    Amazigh women wash laundry by the Oum Rabia water springs in Khénifra, Morocco, on February 6, 2016.