Profile
Mohammed Chafik is a intellectual and advocate for Amazigh (Berber) culture and language, based in Morocco. His career has spanned various roles, including educator, civil servant, and writer, significantly impacting Moroccan society and beyond. Chafik's work focuses on the promotion and preservation of Amazigh culture, advocating for its recognition alongside Morocco's Arab-Islamic identity.He co-founded the Amazigh Culture Association in 1980, advocating for the term "Amazigh" to replace "Berber," signifying 'the free people'. Despite challenges, his advocacy continued through his involvement with the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco and extensive writing. A significant milestone was his authorship of the Amazigh Manifesto in 2000, which catalyzed the establishment of the Royal Institute of the Amazigh Culture (IRCAM) by King Mohammed VI in 2001, with Chafik as its inaugural rector. This institute has been central to standardizing the Amazigh script and integrating Amazigh culture into the national fabric, overcoming controversies around its teaching in schools.
