On January 1, most of us ushered in 2026 as the new year. But not everyone. In North Africa, the Amazigh people rang in 2976 as the new year, nearly 1,000 years ahead of much of the world.
The Amazigh (which means "free people" or "noble people") are a range of ethnic groups that are North Africa's original inhabitants. Their presence stretches across Libya, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt's Siwa Oasis, and the Sahara. Since 950 BCE, they've celebrated new year as Yennayer, a special occasion that serves to uphold Amazigh cultural identity and tradition. But why is 950 BCE such an important date, and how exactly does this Indigenous North African community mark their own new year?
Click on and find out why the Amazigh people have made such a significant step forward.