Orality and Cultural Preservation: A Study of Imuhaɣ (Tuareg) Oral Literature and Its Enduring Legacy

Abstract

This article explores the rich literary heritage of the Amazigh people of North Africa, emphasizing its deep roots in oral tradition. Despite historical challenges such as colonization, cultural assimilation, and language shifts, Amazigh literature has endured thanks to its integration into daily life, rituals, and social structures. From poetry and folktales to myths and sacred chants, literary expression was not limited to elite but was shared by entire communities. The article also highlights the early contributions of Amazigh figures such as Apuleius and the influence of Mediterranean and Arab cultures. While primarily oral, the Amazigh literary tradition has also been preserved through the use of the Tifinagh script and continues to play a key role in cultural identity. The discussion calls for greater recognition of Amazigh literature in global literary discourse.