Customer Reviews

The Berbers: The Peoples of Africa

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Very good information in this book, with comprehensive detail for the earliest times of the Berbers down to contemporary issues. Coverage of early Berber history is outstanding, showing that the Berbers are linked to indigenous Africans. For example as to the original Saharans in the BErber speaking zone, the authors note:

""the original Saharans were 'negroid' and left behind their distinctive art and iconography in rock carvings and art."

Intriguing links are noted with the tropical peoples of Upper Egypt. For example rather than simply accept older writings that allege sweeping invasions by "bearded men" from outside into Africa, or from elsewhere in the Maghreb, the authors reference hard anthropological data of actual specimens on the ground and find, Quote:

".. the skeletons seem to show closer resemblance to groups from the upper Nile Valley than to contemporary material from the Maghreb."

Blood type analyses show linkages between the Black Northern Haratin of Algeria and ancient Egyptians as detailed by the studies of Paoli 1972.

All in all a good roundup of information on the Berbers ancient and contemporary.