Celebrating Yennayer: The Amazigh People's New Year in 2976

Wed Jan 14 2026 18:06:59 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Amazigh community across North Africa welcomes the year 2976, rooted in rich traditions and cultural practices that highlight their historical significance as the region's original inhabitants.

As the Amazigh people usher in the year 2976, they celebrate Yennayer, their New Year, rich with traditional feasts, music, and colorful attire. These festivities reflect a deep connection to nature and cultural heritage, as well as the triumphs gained in the fight for recognition. The event marks significant advancements in the acknowledgment of Amazigh culture, particularly in Morocco and Algeria, where it is now celebrated as a public holiday.

Across North Africa, the Amazigh people have been coming together to usher in the year 2976.

They have, unfortunately, not cracked time travel. Rather, they are almost a thousand years ahead of much of the world because they follow a calendar that starts at 950 BC, when King Sheshonq ascended the throne of Egypt.

The Amazigh new year, known as Yennayer, begins between 12 and 14 January - depending on the area in which they live in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya - so over the last few days families have been laying on huge feasts, lighting bonfires and playing traditional music.

Calls of aseggas ameggaz, or happy new year, have been ringing through villages and busy city streets, while vibrant, meticulously embroidered traditional clothing have been donned for the occasion.

The Amazigh (which means free people or noble people) are a range of ethnic groups that are North Africa's original inhabitants, having occupied the region since the beginning of recorded history.

Yennayer centres on family gatherings, celebrating renewal and the deep connection the Amazigh people have traditionally had with nature.

Because the Amazigh are a diverse group, traditional Yennayer food differs from country to country and area to area. In Morocco's High Atlas region, ourkemen, a rich mixture of legumes, spices and whole grains, is a new year's favourite.

But Yennayer is not just a family thing. It can also be celebrated with the wider community - parades, concerts, and carnivals take the new year's spirit out on to the streets.

Such proud displays of Amazigh culture are particularly significant as the community has a long history of being marginalised.

Thanks to the dogged campaigning of Amazigh activists, their culture and language has seen greater recognition over the past decade. In 2011, Morocco recognised Tamazight as an official language. Both Algeria and Morocco also declared Yennayer a public holiday, in 2017 and 2023 respectively.

So Yennayer marks not just a victory for the Amazigh people but also a reminder of centuries-long fight that has got the community to where it is now - in 2976.