The first English-language analysis of Amazigh film

Amazigh Cinema: An Introduction to North African Indigenous Film examines the emergence and history of Amazigh visual media and actively contributes to decolonizing the study of Amazigh artistic expression. An exploration of film from across the Amazigh homelands produced by and about Imazighen (Indigenous peoples of North Africa historically referred to as “Berbers”), the book underscores the importance of cinema in shaping the contemporary Amazigh identity against a backdrop of historical oppression.

The chapters in this volume trace connections between oral performance, amateur video, and feature films produced for global audiences. These works expose a tension between the pull of nostalgia and push for change as filmmakers use their cameras to re-establish a sense of presence in a shifting landscape. Resisting the commodification of traditional Amazigh expression for the viewer, these filmmakers use new tools to craft narratives of Amazigh life and create a space for all audiences to witness Indigenous lives and their strategies—and celebration—of survival.

Lucy R. McNair is a literary translator of French and Professor of English at LaGuardia Community College, City University of New York. Her translations include the classic Algerian coming-of-age novel, The Poor Man’s Son, by Amazigh writer Mouloud Feraoun, the memoir To Hell and Back by Samira Bellil, plus many critical studies, creative essays, and poems by North African writers. She co-curates the New York Forum of Amazigh Film.

Lucy R. McNair's profile page

Yahya Laayouni is Associate Professor of Arabic Studies and French at the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania. He is an Amazigh native of Morocco and co-organizer of the New York Forum of Amazigh Film. His work on Amazigh Indigenous and Franco-Maghrebi cinema has appeared in the Journal of Religion and Film, The Bloomsbury Handbook of Muslim Popular Culture, and Jaddaliya.

Yahya Laayouni's profile page

“Amazigh Cinema provides a comprehensive overview of how this vibrant cinematic tradition challenges stereotypes, preserves heritage, and engages with global audiences.” —Dr. Nabil Boudraa, Oregon State University

“This work offers one of the first extensive studies of Amazigh film to be published in English. Exploring the rich traditions and culture of the Tamazight, or ‘free people,’ the editors and contributors bring to readers a fascinating and engaging filmography that reveals the complexities and tensions present in contemporary Morocco.” —Valérie K. Orlando, author of Screening Morocco: Contemporary Film in a Changing Society

“Lucy R. McNair and Yahya Laayouni’s brilliant collection provides a broad introduction to Amazigh film, video, and media along with a series of incisive and well-researched chapters that open up numerous areas for further investigation.” —Brian T. Edwards, author of After the American Century: The Ends of U.S. Culture in the Middle East

“An important contribution to Amazigh Studies and a fabulous introduction to emergent Amazigh filmmaking practices.” —Paul A. Silverstein, Professor of Anthropology, Reed College