The Vanishing Traditions Of Berber Society Analysis

Margaret Courtney-Clarke is really well known for being one of those individuals who don’t just stop at thinking about life, what it means and what treasure it holds in store. With her photo-journalism, she illuminates the human spirit and gives life a whole other meaning. As she has in her previous books, “Ndebele: The art of an African Tribe and African Canvas: The Art of West African Women”, Courntey-Clark turns her attention in her new book “Imazighen: The Vanishing Traditions of Berber Women” to women whose lives have seldom been observed, Women who never had it the easy way, brave women who we don’t know much about. Indeed, in a part of North Africa where the backdrop can change drastically from snow-blasted mountains to wind-scoured
I was shocked to see that in the past, the difficulties of Berber women’s lives began soon after birth. The birth of a baby girl was mourned by the entire family, and fathers saw their baby girls as another man’s future property that they had to nourish, nurture and raise in the meantime before handing her over later on. As of early childhood, Berber girls were expected to atone for the disgrace that they had “supposedly” caused their family by being totally obedient and submissive to the male members of the family. Giving birth to a boy was considered as every Mother’s duty, and were therefore eager to keep trying, even if they had to have ten pregnancies and more. Mothers who failed to accomplish their duty transferred their bitterness directly to a new daughter, and blamed her for just not being a boy, like if it was her
With her photo-journalism, she illuminates the human spirit and gives life a whole other meaning. As she has in her previous books, “Ndebele: The art of an African Tribe and African Canvas: The Art of West African Women”, Courntey-Clark turns her attention in her new book “Imazighen: The Vanishing Traditions of Berber Women” to women whose lives have seldom been observed, Women who never had it the easy way, brave women who we don’t know much about. Indeed, in a part of North Africa where the backdrop can change drastically from snow-blasted mountains to wind-scoured dunes, the World renowned photojournalist managed to capture the spirit of these women successfully by experiencing their world from season to season. It’s book that I am not ready to forget anytime soon., Courtney-Clarke knew exactly how to catch my attention towards to a certain part of society I’m ashamed to say I knew nothing