The Amazigh Struggle: Indigenous Identity and Marginalization in Post-Revolutionary Tunisia
The Amazigh people in Tunisia continue to face systematic marginalization and underdevelopment despite the promises of the post-revolutionary government that emerged after the 2011 Arab Spring. This documentary photography project captures the ongoing struggle of North Africa's indigenous Berber communities as they navigate cultural preservation, political exclusion, and economic neglect in contemporary Tunisia.
The Amazigh community, concentrated primarily in Tunisia's southeastern regions including Matmata, Tataouine, and Medenine governorates, represents one of North Africa's oldest indigenous populations. Despite their ancient presence predating Arab conquest, the Amazigh people struggle to preserve their distinct Tamazight language, traditional customs, and cultural identity amid centuries of historical neglect and systematic political exclusion from Tunisia's national narrative.
This photojournalism project documents how post-Arab Spring political changes promised greater inclusion for marginalized communities but delivered limited tangible improvements for Tunisia's Amazigh population. Through documentary photography, this work captures both the resilience of communities maintaining their cultural identity despite marginalization and the ongoing activism seeking meaningful recognition and development in post-revolutionary Tunisia.
Matmata, Tunisia. 2021.
