For thousands of years the whole of North Africa has been inhabited by Berber tribes, also known as the Imazighen, meaning "free people." During the seventh century, Arab armies stormed through this entire region, and for hundreds of years, there has been a blending of Arabic and Berber cultures and languages. The Arabic spoken in this region includes loan words from Berber languages. In sum, this region is much like a cultural "ecotone" where there is a blend of two different types of communities. To make matters even more complicated, there are Bedouin tribes who blend in with this mix, and there are various degrees of "Arabization." For this reason, the terms "Arab" and "Berber" need to be taken loosely.
There are Algerian Arabs in Algeria and Algerian Arabs in 20 other countries. One of these is Tunisia, another North African country.
Algerian Arabs in Mauritania must learn a different, though similar, dialect of Arabic to communicate with Mauritanians. Throughout the Arabic-speaking world people communicate in Egyptian Arabic since that is the language of the media.
The Algerian Arabs are almost entirely Sunni Muslims. The few Algerians who have accepted the salvation of Christ are almost all from the Berber tribes. A central part of the Algerian Arab's identity is in being Muslim, even though they are known to seek other spiritual answers when grappling with a practical need like illness.
Algerian Arabs in Tunisia need to accept the abundant life that only Jesus Christ can offer.
Pray for a movement to Christ among Algerian Arabs everywhere.
Pray for them to seek and find answers in Christ.
Pray for Christ's ambassadors to go to Mauritania to seek and find the lost.
Ask God to give Christians better ways to take Christ to Algerian Arabs.
Scripture Prayers for the Algerian, Arabic-speaking in Mauritania.
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
