Vol. 1 No. 02 (2024): Les symboles berbères : Un patrimoine entre perdition, transition et valorisation

This issue of the Ussnan magazine is largely devoted to the exploration of the rich and plural Amazigh symbolic universe, a subject which was the subject of a national conference. Symbols, in their diversity and evocative power, have always occupied a central place in human experience. As expressions of collective consciousness, beliefs, fears and aspirations, they embody the deep dynamics that shape societies throughout history. Whether they are tattoos, ornamental patterns on pottery, textiles or jewelry, or even symbols engraved on walls and everyday objects, these signs testify to a deep relationship between the individual and their environment, between the past and the present, the spiritual and the material. Since prehistoric times, man has used these symbols to inscribe his presence in the world, structure his beliefs, rituals and practices, and mark his territory, whether physical, social or spiritual. Through them, societies have woven a visual language that goes well beyond simple representation: it is a means of giving meaning to the invisible, of structuring human relationships and of understanding the world. Through the six contributions that follow, this issue seeks to highlight contemporary research on Amazigh symbols, at the crossroads of memory and renewal. The authors of the various articles explored symbols, their uses and their resilience within cultural practices which oscillate between perdition, transition and valorization.

Pr. Hayat Guenfissi, president of the conference “Berber symbols: A heritage between perdition, transition and valorization”