The majority of Algerians are Arabic-speakers of Arab or mixed
Arab/Berber origin. Ethnic Berbers (who were the earliest known
inhabitants of North Africa) form a minority of around 17 per
cent. In parts of Algeria, Berbers maintain a strongly separate
identity, speaking their own languages rather than Arabic. The
Berber language of northern Algeria is called Tamazight or
Amazigh. Many Saharan Berbers speak a related language called
Zenete. There are two main Berber groups: the Kabylie Berbers
from the Kabylie Mountains, and the Chaouia Berbers from the
Aures Mountains both in northern Algeria. Berbers refer to
themselves as Amazigh (meaning the people and culture as a
whole) and Imazighen (the plural name). This translates roughly
as free or pure. Many rural Berbers live by cultivating crops
and raising livestock, while others have a nomadic or semi-
nomadic life as travelling herders and traders. Tuaregs, another
Berber sub-group, are traditionally more nomadic. They mainly
come from the Ahaggar (or Hoggar)