Marrakech - The Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture (IRCAM) celebrated the 13th anniversary of the Ajdir speech of King Mohammed VI on Friday.
During the event, the organizing committee, led by Saad Eddine Othmani, former Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, and head of the National Council for Justice and Development party (PJD), presented 13 awards for contributions to Amazigh culture.
The awards were given to the winners in the field of art, media, and education and training. Saad Eddine Othmani underlined the importance of the event for its contribution to the development of Amazigh language, culture, and arts. He noted that the award promotes Amazigh writers and actors and contributes to the development and creation of a new reality for Tamazight.
Othmani said that IRCAM demonstrated a clear and general view of supporting Amazigh culture by organizing the event. He mentioned that Morocco is the first country that has recognized Tamazight in its Constitution and given it the reputation it deserves.
The Director of this year’s awards also insisted on the fact that Tamazight is an issue of all Moroccans, not only of the Amazigh themselves. Additionally, he called for the implementation of the dispositions of the constitution with regard to Tamazight. He called also for the enactment of Tamazight regulatory laws, and the activation of the National Council for Languages ??and Moroccan culture.
The first discretionary award of the event was given to professor and researcher Mohammed Almnewer. The second went to Mohammed Alilosh in the category of inspectors in the field of education and training. Hassan Bouzayt, a trainer in the regional centers of education, won the award in the category of training. Additionally, Ait Si H'mad won the award for primary education teachers, while Mohammed Afiqir won the award for professors of research in Amazigh studies.
Mohammed Odmin, head of the department for Amazigh News Radio (Radio plus), won the Radio programming award, while Youssef Sheree, a journalist for Channel 8 (Tamazight), won the television programming award. The award for best journalistic article was given to Ibrahim Ouhamou and the award for traditional Amazigh song went to Edder Lachker.