In the rugged Kabyle mountains of Algeria live some two and a half million Berbers: the Kabyles. Traditionally they have lived in small villages, governed by an assembly of males. Women have few rights, being ruled by brothers, fathers, or husbands throughout their lives.
The Berbers were the original inhabitants of North Africa, invaded in the seventh century by the Arabs. Kabyles still consider themselves different from the predominantly Arab culture of the rest of Algeria, which is expressed in the emphasis on the use of the Kabyle language and script.
Aprroximately 98% of Kabyle peoples are Muslim. The practice of Islam is mixed with animistic practices centered around springs, grottoes and sacred trees. A small group have rejected Islam for secularism, others accepted Christianity. Although the church is growing, the number of Christians is still small. Quite some Kabyle moved to Europe, especially to France.
Identity/Location
People Name: Kabyle
Primary Language: Kabyle
Ethnologue Code: KYL
Other Names: Kabyle Berber
Location: Northern Algeria, mountains east of Algeria
Population
Total People: 5 million (1990)
Urban Percent: 40% (1996)
Adult literacy: 50% (1995)
General Description
The Kabyles were the original inhabitants of Algeria and remain fiercely independent. The people seem much more open to Christianity than most Algerians. Recent mass conversion of one village proves this. Belonging to the Caucasian race, they have fair skin, light hair and sometimes blue eyes.
Language/Literacy Information
Adult literacy: 50%
Primary language: Kabyle (100% speakers)
Second language: French (50% speakers)
Third language: Arabic (40% speakers)
Economics
Occupations: Farming, seeking employment in the major cities and in France.
Income sources: Farming. Major crops are olives and figs. Handcrafts.
Products: Famous for their jewelry.
Trade Partners: Peoples of the plains.
Modernisation/Utilities: Because of the many men working in Algiers and France, the villages will be influenced by this.
Living Conditions/Community Development Status
Food: Olives, figs, various fruit, pomegranates, peaches, apricots, pears, plums. Cereal products are usually imported.
Shelter: In the countryside they live in stone houses in small villages. They are living in overcrowding in the suburbs of Algiers.
Clothing: Traditional dress is especially bright with colorful, striped robes, dresses and handscarfs and heavy silver jewelry ornamented with coral.
Health care: Recently more hospitals have been opened in Kabylia, as part of a government effort to break down Kabyle independence and make them more content.
Water: Rainfall is adequate. Kabyle land is now overpopulated and suffers from severe soil erosion.
Energy/Fuel: In general gas bottles are used in Algeria. In remote areas wood is used.
Society
Family structures: Kabyles are strongly patriarchal. Women have few rights and are subject to the rule of brothers, fathers, or husbands throughout their entire life. Their authority is confined to the domestic sphere. Senior men of the extended families exercise control over family resources and decisions affecting the family and members of the family.
Neighbour relations: Some villages have formed alliances and friendships with others in the past. Therefore some neighbouring villages have positive relations and others are at enmity. Kabyles are tired of Arab domination and a definite rift has occurred between the Kabyle and Arabs.
Rule/Authority/Selection: Traditionally Kabyles have lived in small villages which were largely independent of one another. At a local level, decisions are democratically made by an assembly of male heads of extended families. An agent of this assembly or djemaa carries out the decisions and administers justice. The Algerian government has other authority structures: prefects, mayors, and counselors play roles alongside the Kabyle assemblies.
Social habits: Live in small villages for the most part. However, now there are many people moving into the suburbs of Algiers. Kabyles are strongly patrilineal. Women have few rights. Villages are many times at odds with each other. Area markets are centers from information and communication.
Judicial system/Trial punishment: An agent of the extended family assembly or djemaa administers justice according to the customary laws of the village. National government sometimes does things in this area as well.
Crisis/Conflicts - History/Status: The Kabyles see themselves as very independent and do not like Arab control. Many of the Kabyles even have nationalist sentiments. They strongly resent the present governmental policy of suppressing the Kabyle language.
Celebrations/Recreation: Prominent and typical Muslim celebrations.
Art Forms: Woven Draga carpets fuse Berber and oriental motives. Basketwork from Kabylia in shades of green and yellow. Jewelrt from Kabylia is often worked in silver and coral.
Media (Radio/TV/Newspapers/Films/Videos/Recordings): Many people have radios and tape recorders, TV and video recorders.
Children/Youth
Population under 18 years: 50%
Education/Type of Schooling: Compulsory to age of 16. Attendance 94% primary (1988 - Figures for Algeria in general).
Labour/Tasks: Especially in agricultural areas help will be required from the children.
Problems (Morality/Family/Insurrections/Etc.): Infant mortality rate is 82.4 per 1000 (1986).
Religion
99% Muslim
Religious practices/ceremonies: Ramadan, Aid-al-Fitr, Aid-al-Kebir, Prohpet's Birthday, weddings
Redemptive Analogies/Bridges: It is possible one could use the redemptive analogy of the Aid-al-Kebir with its commemoration of Abraham's sacrifice of his son. A sheep is usually slaughtered in each family during the feast.
Spiritual Climate/Openness: There has been a recent large scale conversion of a Kabyle village as a result of dreams. Also public showings of the Jesus film in cafes and in at least one university setting has been reported. Response has been encouraging.
Statistics