'The Sahara: Crucible of Amazigh Civilisations' Algiers – Hocine Bousalah The southern Algerian province of Adrar is playing host to an international conference on Amazigh culture entitled "The Sahara: Crucible of Amazigh Civilisations" which was inaugurated on Monday. The contents of the conference fall into three segments: the Sahara as a crossing and a habitat, the Sahara as a linguistic melting pot and the Sahara as the crucible of cultural interaction. Overseen by the High Commission for Amazigh Languages, the forum is attended by researchers on anthropology and linguistics from various Algerian provinces, as well as France and Lebanon. The forum, which is being held in the area for the first time, explores the identity of Amazigh regions, beginning with the Zenati-speaking Gourara and ending with the recognition of the Sahara as the birthplace of the most prominent Amazigh civilisations. Organisers have revealed that the celebration of the Amazigh new year, known as Yennayer, will be launched in tourist hotspot Timimoun. The High Commission for Amazigh Languages has also said it would continue to work toward developing Amazigh languages and other local dialects within the bounds of the essence of Algeria and the identity of its people.