| Intro | Moroccan writer and linguist |
| Is |
Lexicographer Linguist |
| From | Morocco |
| Type |
Literature Social science |
| Gender | male |
| Birth | 17 September 1926, Sefrou |
| Age: | 93 years |
Mohamed Chafik (Berber: ⵎⵓⵃⵎⵎⴷ ⵛⴰⴼⵉⵇ, born 17 September 1926 in Bir Tam-Tam, Aït Sadden, Province of Sefrou) is a Moroccan writer and specialist in Berber language and literature.
Career
He is the author of a Berber-Arabic dictionary (3 volumes).
Chafik is also considered as one of the major figures in the Moroccan Amazigh Movement. participated in many conferences about the Amazigh case and wrote many books. He is also known as the author and first signer of the 2000 Amazigh Manifesto in which he and thousands of Amazigh activists demanded, from the Moroccan government, the official recognition of the Amazigh language as a national and official language of the kingdom.
Since 1980 he has been a member of the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco.
In 2001, Chafik was appointed by the Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, to be the first rector of the newly created Royal Institute of the Amazigh Culture. He accepted the job but refused to receive any salary for it.
Chafik is also a member of the Moroccan advisory council on human rights.
Awards
He received the chevalier of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques in 1972.
In 2002 Chafik received the Principal Award (Laureate) from the Prince Claus Fund for his academic achievements.