Wikipedia
List of Berber people
This is a list of famous Amazigh people. The Amazigh are a transnational North African ethnic group who speak the Amazigh languages.
Royalty and nobility
Ancient period
- Osorkon the Elder, fifth king of the twenty-first dynasty of Ancient Egypt and was the first Pharaoh of Libyan origin
- Shoshenq I, Egyptian Pharaoh of Libyan origin, founder of the Twenty-second dynasty of Egypt
- Ailymas, Numidian chieftain or King, ally of Agathocles of Syracuse.
- Gaia, King of the Massylii (East-Numidia) until 206 BC.
- Baga (also Bagas), king of Mauretania (or Maurusia, North Morocco) about 225 BC, ally of Massinissa of Numidia.
- Oezalces, King of Numidia for a short time in 206 BC, brother of King Gaia.
- Mazaetullus, member of the Massylii royal family. Led a coup to assassinate Capussa and install Lacumazes.
- Capussa, son of Oezalces, King of Numidia for a short time in 206 BC, assassinated in a coup.
- Lacumazes, youngest son of Oezalces, King of Numidia for a short time in 206 BC, puppet king installed in coup.
- Syphax, King of the Masaesyli (West-Numidia) until 203 BC.
- Masinissa, King of the Massylii, founder and King of Numidia, in present-day Algeria and Tunisia.
- Vermina or Fermina, son of Syphax, King of the Masaesyli.
- Archobarzane, son of Vermina, last King of the Masaesyli, led a failed attack against Massinissa.
- Micipsa, King of Numidia, son of Massinissa.
- Jugurtha, King of Numidia from 118 to 105 BC.
- Hiempsal I, King of Numidia, son of Micipsa, assassinated by Jugurtha.
- Adherbal, King of Numidia from 118 to 112 BC, son of Micipsa, murdered by Jugurtha.
- Bocchus, king of Mauretania about 110 BC until 80 BC.
- Volux, son of Bocchus, army leader.
- Bogud, son of Bocchus.
- Gauda, King of Numidia from 105 to 88 BC, divided the kingdom between his sons upon his death.
- Masteabar, petty king of West-Numidia.
- Hiempsal II, king of Numidia, son of Gauda, 88 to 60 BC.
- Hiarbas, usurper king of Numidia, defeated by Romans to restore Massinissa II on the throne. Died in 82 or 81 BC.
- Masinissa II, petty king of West-Numidia (81 to 46 BC), son of Masteabar.
- Mastanesosus, king of Mauretania from 80 to 49 BC, son of Bocchus.
- Juba I, king of Numidia, 60 to 46 BC, son of Hiempsal II, defeated by Julius Caesar who annexed his kingdom.
- Arabio or Arabion, last independent king of Numidia, son of Massinissa II.
- Bogud, king of West-Mauretania, son of Mastanesosus, from 49 to 38 BC.
- Bocchus II, king of East-Mauretania from 49 to 38 BC, then all of Mauretania until 33 BC. Son of Mastanesosus. Died without leaving heirs.
- Juba II, son of Juba I. king of Numidia (30 to 25 BC) and then later moved to Mauretania (25 BC to 23 AD).
- Ptolemy of Mauretania, last king of Mauretania (23 to 40 AD).
- Macrinus, Roman emperor for 14 months in 217 and 218.
- Aemilianus, Roman emperor.
- Lusius Quietus, governor of Judaea and one of Trajan's chief generals
- Quintus Lollius Urbicus, governor of Britannia from 138 to 144
- Gildo, Roman general who turned against the Romans and fought them in 398
Medieval period
- Dihya, Berber queen, religious and military leader
- Abu Yedda, 10th century Berber leader
- Aksel, Berber freedom fighter against the Arab raids and invasions who killed Uqba ibn Nafi
- Muhammad ibn Wasul, Midrarid emir of Sijilmasa.
- Safiyy al-Dawla, Fatimid governor of Aleppo between October 1022 and April 1023
- Lucius Septimius Severus
- Thu'ban ibn Muhammad, Fatimid governor of Aleppo between 27 July 1024 and 30 June 1025
- Ziri ibn Manad, founder of the Zirid dynasty
- Yusuf ibn Tashfin, founder of the Almoravid dynasty
- Zaynab an-Nafzawiyyah, Berber woman of influence in the early days of the Almoravid Berber empire
- Fannu (died April 1147), Almoravid princess, in the guise of a man, she participated in the defense of Almoravid Marrakech.
- 'Abdallah ibn Ghaniya, Amir of Majorca from c. 1187 to 1203
- Abd al-Mu'min (c. 1094–1163), first Caliph of the Almohad Empire
- Abu Yaqub Yusuf, had the Giralda in Seville built
- Yusuf II, Almohad caliph, had the Torre del Oro in Seville built
- Abu Zakariya Yahya, founder and first sultan of the Hafsid dynasty.
- Abu Said Uthman III, Marinid ruler of Morocco from 19 March 1398 to 1420
- Buluggin ibn Ziri, Zirid ruler who founded the cities of Algiers, Médéa and Miliana.
- Badis Ibn Habus, defeated the Abbadids of Seville one of the strongest taifas and also defeated the taifa of Almeria and took control of its territory.[1][2] He also defeated the Hammudids and conquered the Taifa of Malaga.[3]
Military
Antiquity
- Aedemon, led a revolt against Romans after the assassination of King Ptolemy of Mauretania in 40 AD
- Tacfarinas, fought the Romans in the Aures Mountains
- Firmus, fought the Romans Between 372 and 375
- Cutzinas (died January 563), Berber tribal leader who played a major role in the wars of the Byzantine Empire against the Berber tribes in Africa
- Antalas (born c. 500), tribal leader who played a major role in the wars of the Byzantine Empire against the Berber tribes in Africa.
- Ierna, tribal leader of the Laguatan and also high priest of the god Gurzil
- Lusius Quietus, Roman general and governor of Judaea who conquered several cities in the middle east, as well as destroying the Jewish rebels of Judaea
- Quintus Lollius Urbicus, governor of Britain and conquered Scotland, he also built the Antonine Wall
Medieval period
- Dihya, Berber queen and military leader who defeated many Arab invaders and raiders
- Aksel, Berber freedom fighter and prevented many Arab raids, he also killed the famous Arab general, Uqba ibn Nafi
- Tariq ibn Ziyad (670–720), led the Islamic Umayyad conquest of Visigothic Hispania (711–718)
- Khalid ibn Hamid al-Zanati, Berber general who led the Berber revolt against the Umayyads and killed Umayyad governor Kulthum ibn Iyadh al-Kushayri and umayyad general Habib ibn Abi Ubaida al-Fihri on the way to freeing modern day Morocco and Algeria from Arab rule.
- Ali ibn Ja'far ibn Fallah, Fatimid commander and governor who defeated Umayyad commander Abu Rakwa (who nearly conquered Egypt) he also saved many parts of the middle east from the huge Bedouin army under Mufarrij ibn Daghfal ibn al-Jarrah
- Ja'far ibn Fallah (died August 971), Berber general of the Kutama tribe in the service of the Fatimid Caliphate. Who defeated the Qarmatians from Syria
- Ziri ibn Atiyya, leader of the Zenata Maghrawa who conquered many cities in Maghreb, he also found the city of Oujda
- Mazdali ibn Tilankan, Almoravid military commander and diplomat
- Syr ibn Abi Bakr, Almoravid military commander
- Ibn Masal, military commander and official of the Fatimid Caliphate.
- Hammu ibn Abd al-Haqq, Marinid prince Commander (shaykh al-ghuzat) of the Volunteers of the Faith of Granada
- Uthman ibn Abi al-Ula, Marinid prince Commander (shaykh al-ghuzat) of the Volunteers of the Faith of Granada
Modern period
- Abd el-Krim, leader of the Rif guerrillas against the Spanish and French colonizers
- Larbi Ben M'Hidi
- Abdelhafid Boussouf, founder of the Algerian Military intelligence
- Mustapha Benboulaïd
- 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.
- Belkacem Radjef, early leading figure of the movement for independence.
- Mohammed Ameziane, leader of the Moroccan Riffian resistance against the Spanish occupation of Northern Morocco.
- Mulai Ahmed er Raisuni, leader of the Jebala tribal confederacy in Morocco
- Mouha ou Hammou Zayani, Moroccan Berber military figure and tribal leader
- Moha ou Said, Moroccan tribal leader who opposed French rule of the protectorate of Morocco.
- Abdellah Zakour, Moroccan Soussi Berber military leader who opposed the French conquest of Morocco
Art
Writers and poets
Ancient period
- Terence, (Publius Terentius Afer), Roman writer
- Apuleius, (125–170), born in Madaurus (M'Daourouch), philosopher and rhetorician; wrote the only Latin novel to survive in its entirety
- Corippus, late Berber-Roman epic poet of the 6th century
- Cresconius Africanus, Latin canon lawyer, possibly a Christian bishop in the African Church
Medieval period
- Ibn Darraj al-Qastalli (958–1030), Andalusi poet of Berber origin
- Hafsa bint al-Hajj al-Rukuniyya (born c. 1135, died AH 1190–91), one of the most celebrated Andalusian female poets of medieval Arabic literature
- Ibn Muti al-Zawawi (1168/69–1231), grammarian and poet
- Al-Busiri (1211–1294), Sufi poet
- Mohammed Awzal (ca. 1680–1749), prolific Sous Berber poet
Modern period
- Fadhma Aït Mansour, Algerian poet and folksinger. Mother of Jean Amrouche and Taos Amrouche
- Taos Amrouche (4 March 1913 – 2 April 1976), Algerian writer and singer
- Jean Amrouche (7 February 1906 – 16 April 1962), Algerian writer and Taos Amrouche's brother
- Nadia Chafik (born 1962), Moroccan novelist
- Mohamed Chafik (born 17 September 1926), Moroccan writer and the dean of the IRCAM.
- Mohamed Choukri, Moroccan writer
- Mouloud Kacem Naît Belkacem writer and defender of the Arab language in Algeria
- Mouloud Feraoun, writer assassinated by the OAS
- Assia Djebar, Algerian novelist, translator and filmmaker
- Tahar Djaout, writer and journalisbet assassinated by the GIA in 1993
- Hawad (born 1950), Tuareg poet and author
- Issouf ag Maha Nigerien Tuareg writer
- Kateb Yacine, Algerian writer
- Mohammed Khaïr-Eddine, Moroccan poet and novelist
- Ali Lmrabet, Moroccan journalist
- Ahmed Sefrioui, Moroccan novelist and pioneer of Moroccan literature in the French language
- Tahar Ouettar
- Si Mohand, Kabyle folk poet
Music
Singers
- Loreen, singer
- Dania Ben Sassi, Libyan-Serbian singer
- Amel Brahim-Djelloul, Algerian opera singer
- Ammouri Mbarek, Moroccan singer-songwriter
- Fatima Tabaamrant, Moroccan singer
- Najat Aatabou, Moroccan singer
- Hindi Zahra, Moroccan singer
- Chérifa, Algerian singer
- Mohamed Rouicha, Moroccan singer
- Lounès Matoub, Algerian Berberist and secularist singer assassinated in 1998
- Takfarinas, Algerian singer
- Idir, Algerian singer
- Katchou, Algerian singer
- Lounis Aït Menguellet, Algerian singer
- Slimane Azem, Algerian singer
- Souad Massi, Algerian singer
- El Hadj M'Hamed El Anka Algerian chaabi singer
- Rim'K, rapper
- Taos Amrouche, Algerian writer and singer
- Aïssa Djermouni, Chaoui folk poet
- Cheikh El Hasnaoui, Algerian singer
- Lhaj Belaid, Moroccan singer and poet
Composers
- Cheb i Sabbah, DJ and composer in Algeria
Bands
Performing Arts
Actors
- Erika Sawajiri, Japanese actress, Japanese, Algerian mix
- Isabelle Adjani, French actress and singer of Kabyle descent
- Saïd Taghmaoui, French-American actor and screenwriter of Moroccan descent
- Sofia Boutella, Algerian actress, model and dancer
- El Hedi ben Salem, Moroccan Berber actor known for his work with German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Film directors
- Bachir Bensaddek, Canadian director
Dancers
- Kamel Ouali, choreographer, dance teacher, teacher on the French reality TV show Star Academy France
Academic sciences
Linguistics and philology
Medieval times
- Abu Hayyan al-Gharnati, commentator on the Quran and foremost Arabic grammarian of his era
- Abu Musa al-Jazuli, philologian and grammarian
- Ibn Adjurrum, famous grammarian of Arabic
Modern times
- Saïd Cid Kaoui, Algerian berberologist and lexicographer
- Boulifa, Algerian Berberologist and teacher
- Salem Chaker, Algerian Berberologist and director of Berber at the Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales in Paris. He is recognized as the "dean" of modern Berber studies
- Mouloud Mammeri, writer, anthropologist and linguist.
- Abdellah Bounfour, Moroccan linguist and philologist
History
Medieval period
- Mohammed al-Baydhaq, chronicler of the Almohads
- Ibn Amira, historian, poet, and scholar of law from al-Andalus
- Ibn Ghazi al-Miknasi, Moroccan historian, poet, and scholar of law from al-Andalus
- Ibn Hammad, medieval Berber qadi and historian
- Abd al-Aziz ibn Shaddad, Zirid chronicler
- Abu al-Hasan Ali al-Jaznai
Modern period
- Mohammed Akensus (1797–1877)
- Ahmad Ibn al-Qadi (December 18, 1552 – December 6, 1616)
- Mohammed al-Ifrani (1670–1747)
- Abu al-Qasim al-Zayyani (1734/35–1833), Moroccan historian, geographer, poet and statesman
- Ali Azayku (1942–2004)
- Abdelaziz al-Malzuzi
- Mohammed al-Mokhtar Soussi
- Mohamed Salah Mzali
- Mohammed Arkoun, Algerian historian of Islamic thought
Science
- Abbas ibn Firnas, polymath
- Ibn al-Yasamin, Berber mathematician
- Mustapha Ishak Boushaki, Berber cosmologist
Religion
Christians
- Tertullian, early Christian author
- Pope Victor I, pope of the Roman Catholic Church (reigned 189–199)
- Saint Cyprian of Carthage, bishop of Carthage and martyr (b. 200–210, d. 258)
- Pope Miltiades, pope of the Roman Catholic Church (reigned 311–314)
- Pope Gelasius I, pope of the Roman Catholic Church (reigned 492–496)
- Saint Monica of Hippo (Thagaste/Souk Ahras), (322–387), Saint Augustine's mother
- Saint Alypius, (360–430) from Thagaste, bishop of Thagaste (394)
- Faustus of Mileve, from Milevis, bishop of Milevis (Mila) late 4th century
- Saint Augustine of Hippo, (354–430), from Thagaste (Souk Ahras), bishop of Hippo Regius (Annaba) (395)
- Arius, proposed the doctrine of Arianism
- Donatus Magnus, leader of the Donatist schism
- Adrian of Canterbury, Abbot of St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury
Muslims
- Abdallah ibn Yasin, spiritual leader of the Almoravid movement.
- Ibn Tumart, founder of the Almohad dynasty
- Muhammad al-Jazuli, author of the Dala'il al-Khairat, Sufi
- Muhammad al-Maghili, Berber 'alim from Tlemcen
Other
- Salih ibn Tarif of the Berghouata
Law
- Ahmad ibn Abi Jum'ah, Maliki scholar of Islamic law
- Mundhir ibn Sa'īd al-Ballūṭī, judge for the Caliph of Cordoba
- Ahmad al-Wansharisi, Muslim theologian and jurist of the Maliki school
- Ibn Arafa
- Abu al-Hassan Ali ibn Mohammed al-Zarwili, qadi of Taza and later qadi of Fez.
Travel
- Ibn Battuta (1304–1377), Moroccan traveller and explorer
- Leo Africanus (c. 1494 – c. 1554), Berber Andalusi diplomat and travel writer
- Estevanico (1500–1539), Moroccan explorer, who became the first North African of Berber origin to explore North America
Politics
Politicians
- Thami El Glaoui, Pasha of Marrakesh 1912–1956
- Mohand Arav Bessaoud, Algerian writer and activist. He was described as the spiritual father of Berberism.
- Saïd Sadi, secularist politician
- Belkacem Radjef (1909–1989), politician; co-founder Etoile Nord-Africaine (1933); founder of Secours National Algerien (1962).
- Hocine Aït Ahmed, Algerian revolutionary fighter and secularist politician
- Sidi Said, leader of the Algerian syndicate 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
- Saadeddine Othmani, deputy of Inezgane, an outer suburb of Agadir, is the leader of the Justice and Development Party (Islamist) and head of the Moroccan government.
- Liamine Zeroual and Houari Boumedienne, former Presidents of Algeria
- Nouri Abusahmain, President of the Libyan General National Congress
- Mohamed Seghir Boushaki
- Liamine Zéroual, President of Algeria between 1994 and 1999
- Hamid Algabid, Prime Minister of Niger 1983–1988 and Secretary General of the OIC 1989–1996
- Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President of Algeria
Sport
- Adam Ounas, French footballer of Algerian descent
- Amine Adli
- Amine Harit, Moroccan footballer
- Achraf Hakimi, Spanish footballer of Moroccan descent
- Abdelhamid Sabiri
- Aymen Abdennour
- Bouchaib El Moubarki
- Faouzi Chaouchi
- Habib Bellaïd, French footballer of Algerian descent
- Houssem Aouar, French footballer of Moroccan descent
- Ismaël Bennacer, French footballer of Moroccan descent
- Karim Ziani, French footballer of Algerian descent
- Mounir Chouiar, French footballer of Moroccan descent
- Rabah Madjer, Algerian footballer, winner of the 1986–87 European Cup with FC Porto
- Zinedine Zidane, French footballer and manager of Real Madrid
- Karim Benzema, French-Algerian footballer
- Karim Bridji, Dutch-Algerian footballer
- Madjid Bougherra, French-Algerian footballer
- Mustapha Hadji, Moroccan footballer nominated as the best African player of the year 1998
- Nadir Belhadj, French-Algerian footballer
- Younes Belhanda, Moroccan footballer
- Youssouf Hadji, Moroccan footballer
- Karim Rekik
- Karim Soltani
- Kévin Malcuit, French footballer of Moroccan descent
- Samir Malcuit, French footballer of Moroccan descent
- Khalid Boulahrouz, Dutch footballer of Moroccan descent
- Ibrahim Afellay, Dutch footballer of Moroccan origin
- Riyad Mahrez, Algerian footballer won the English Premier League with Leicester City
- Islam Slimani, Algerian footballer
- Ismaël Gharbi
- Adel Taarabt, Moroccan footballer
- Hakim Ziyech, Moroccan footballer
- Oussama Assaidi, Moroccan footballer
- Zakaria Labyad, Moroccan footballer
- Abdeslam Ouaddou, Moroccan footballer
- Youssef Mokhtari, Moroccan footballer
- Munir El Haddadi, Spanish-Moroccan footballer
- Samir Nasri, French-Algerian footballer
- Nordin Amrabat, Moroccan footballer
- Sofyan Amrabat, Moroccan footballer
- Yassine Bounou
- Yasser Larouci
- Badr Hari, Moroccan kick-boxer and K-1 legend from Souss
- Kylian Mbappé, French footballer of Algerian Kabyle descent
- Fouad Idabdelhay
- Rayan Aït-Nouri
- Simo
- Mehdy Guezoui
- Mohcine Nader
- Nabil El Zhar
- Nader Matar
- Nassim Ben Khalifa
- Omar El Kaddouri
- Saïd Benrahma
- Yacine Adli
- Yazid Mansouri
- Youssef En-Nesyri
- Yuri Berchiche, Spanish Footballer of Algerian descent
- Zinédine Machach, French-Algerian Footballer