As part of our experiment and collection of data, we decided to use Chatgpt to test its knowledge regarding the existence of black Kabyles in northern Algeria. Though we were not surprised, Chatgpt is still programmed to erase populations.

Our first initiative was to write this prompt :

“I didn’t know there were “black Kabyles” in Algeria. I thought all Kabyles were white with blonde hair and blue eyes.” (1/15/2016)

To which Chatgpt responded:

“It’s understandable that there might be some confusion about the Kabyle people, especially since the term “Kabyle” is often associated with a particular ethnic group in Algeria. However, it’s important to clarify a few points about the Kabyle identity, history, and ethnicity, particularly regarding their appearance, as these factors can vary widely due to the long history of genetic diversity in the region.

Who Are the Kabyles?

The Kabyles are an ethnolinguistic group that primarily lives in the Kabylie region of northern Algeria, which is part of the Maghreb (North Africa). They speak Tamazight, a Berber language, and have their own distinct culture and traditions that have been preserved over millennia.

Historical and Genetic Diversity of the Kabyles

The Kabyles are descendants of the Berbers, the indigenous people of North Africa. The Berber people, including the Kabyles, have historically had interactions with various populations throughout history. These interactions have created significant genetic and cultural diversity. Some of the main influences on the Kabyle people’s genetic makeup include:

1. Indigenous Berber Heritage: The Berbers are considered to be the indigenous population of North Africa, and their physical appearance is highly diverse, with some individuals having lighter features (such as blonde or light brown hair, blue or green eyes) and others having darker features, such as dark skin, brown eyes, and black or dark brown hair.
2. Phoenician and Punic Influence: North Africa, including Algeria, was heavily influenced by the Phoenicians, who established colonies such as Carthage. This influence brought a Middle Eastern and Canaanite genetic component to the local populations.
3. Roman, Arab, and Ottoman Influence: Over the centuries, the Kabyle people and other North African groups were impacted by Roman, Arab, and Ottoman invasions and occupations, which further mixed the gene pool. The Arab expansion in the 7th century brought Arab genetic material to North Africa, including to the Kabyle region.
4. African Influence: Algeria and the Kabylie region, being on the Mediterranean coast, have historically been a crossroads of trade and migration, meaning that there has also been influence from Sub-Saharan Africa and other regions of Africa. This African influence could contribute to the darker skin tones or other African physical characteristics in certain Kabyle individuals.

Appearance of the Kabyles

The appearance of Kabyles can vary widely, just as it does among other Berber populations across North Africa. The idea that all Kabyles have blonde hair and blue eyes is a stereotype that probably comes from the image of certain Kabyle individuals who may indeed have lighter features, a trait more common in some Northern Berber populations, but it is far from universal.

• Light Features (Blonde Hair, Blue Eyes): Some Kabyles, especially those with lighter European or Mediterranean ancestry, may have features like blonde hair, blue eyes, or fair skin. This is not unusual in North Africa, where there have been multiple waves of migrations and intermarriage over thousands of years.
• Dark Features (Dark Hair, Dark Skin): However, many Kabyles, like other Berber groups, have dark brown hair, brown eyes, and olive to darker skin tones. This reflects the indigenous Berber and African influences in the region.
• Ethnographic Diversity: The Kabyle people are not homogenous in terms of appearance. They come in many skin tones, hair types, and eye colors, which speaks to the diversity and complexity of their historical and cultural background.

Why the Stereotype Exists

The image of blonde-haired, blue-eyed Kabyles probably became more popular in the 19th and 20th centuries due to Western colonialism and the fascination with “exotic” features. During the colonial era, European explorers, writers, and artists sometimes depicted the Kabyle people in a way that highlighted their European-like features, reinforcing the image of the “noble savage” or the “northern, European-looking Berber.”

This idealization might also be linked to the perception that Kabyles were more European than other Algerian ethnic groups, in part because of their resistance to Arabization and their relatively isolated mountainous region. However, this image was and is still one-sided, failing to represent the full diversity of the Kabyle people.

The Concept of “Black” Kabyles

As for “Black” Kabyles, this is absolutely possible, especially when considering the historical influence of Sub-Saharan African populations on North Africa. Many North African regions, including Algeria, have sub-Saharan African genetic contributions, especially due to the trans-Saharan slave trade, migrations, and trade routes connecting the Mediterranean to West Africa.

• African Diaspora: Sub-Saharan African people were brought to the region during various historical periods, particularly during the slave trade and Islamic expansion, which led to a diverse range of people living alongside or integrating with Berber and Arab populations. As a result, some Kabyle individuals have African features (darker skin, tightly curled hair, etc.), which is part of the broader genetic diversity of the region.
• Mixed Ancestry: The Kabyles, like many other Maghrebi groups, have mixed ancestry from various peoples throughout history, making their appearance variable. The ethnic makeup of a Kabyle person could include Berber, Arab, African, Phoenician, and even European components.

Summary:

• Kabyles are a Berber ethnic group from northern Algeria with a diverse genetic heritage due to millennia of interaction with various civilizations, including the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Ottomans, and Sub-Saharan Africans.
• The idea that all Kabyles are blonde-haired and blue-eyed is an oversimplified stereotype; in reality, Kabyle people come in a wide range of appearances, from light features to darker skin and hair.
• The presence of “Black” Kabyles is not unusual. Sub-Saharan African influences are part of the region’s long history, and people with darker features can be found within the Kabyle community.
• Kabyles are highly diverse in both appearance and culture, and their identity should be seen in a broader, more inclusive light that reflects the complex history of North Africa.

If you have more questions about the Kabyle people, their culture, or their history, feel free to ask!”

How to interpret this response

Chatgpt is said to be one of the most clever tools ever created regarding artificial intelligence, however, we notice a problem. Chatgpt is still Eurocentric, and it was not programmed by the right people to include groups that have been deeply erased. First, one notices the nuance. The program does not want to be offensive. Yet, the existence of Black Kabyles is reduced to a “possibility”. The program was not trained at all to recognize a reality when it comes to the existence of black Kabyles in Northern Algeria. Then, the program explains the presence of Black Kabyles in a very Eurocentric way. Chatgpt still uses colonial language as it refers to North Africa, and to Sub-Saharan Africa as two distinct spaces. Its language is implicit and carries the fraudulent idea that North Africa is home to white people, while Sub-Saharan Africa would be the space of the Blacks. It is problematic, false, and it contributes to erasure, as blackness in the Northern part of the continent, is either perceived as an anomaly, or as a consequence of slavery.

However, when looking for old data and photographs from the French colonial era, one finds old photos of black and mixed race Kabyles, thus suggesting that the Kabyles were always mixed, plural, with a branch of them being also black and mixed race. The response posted by Chatgpt also furthers the idea that North Africa does not deserve to be more studied, and that its populations should remain perceived through a Eurocentric lens. This is problematic as it perpetuates the thought that the recognition of black groups within North African spaces is not worthy.

Though AI acknowledges the Western heritage in the “white Kabyle myth”, Chatgpt should be trained to include spaces, faces, and change its discourse as it carries colonial narratives that remain hurtful. Black groups in the Berber and Arab worlds are not an anomaly, they do exist, and they deserve not to be overlooked.

What One Needs

In order to fill in the gap about the black Kabyle presence in Algeria, one should highlight the presence of historical photographs that showcase black and mixed race Kabyles.

The intervention of more Algerian historians is needed.

The oral intervention of actual black Kabyles is necessary.

We should also gain more access to bibliography related to Kabyle history, including books written by either Algerian, Moroccan or Tunisian historians on the matter.

BlackArabsInAI, 01/15/2026

Data to illustrate black Kabyle presence :

https://granger.com/0610555-algeria-a-young-kabyle-woman-photographed-by-j-geiser-algie-image.html

Berber woman dressed in ethnic costume of Kabylie in the northeast of Algeria, ca. 1903

https://www.alamy.com/852-kabyle-women-and-child-image213459408.html?imageid=D41AF5CE-FFA5-4F35-A4F4-B679A3483734&pn=1&searchId=6bfc336715e3efae5df1b3628778c3d0&searchtype=0