Moroccans tend to have lighter skin tones primarily due to their diverse genetic heritage, including significant Mediterranean, Iberian, and Amazigh ancestry. Northern regions of Morocco have more European (Iberian) genetic influence, contributing to lighter skin coloration, while southern areas show more Sub-Saharan African influences. This diversity is shaped by thousands of years of migrations, trade, and historical interactions with various civilizations; “Amazigh” is the preferred endonym for the indigenous Berber peoples of North Africa, meaning “free people,” while “Berber” is an exonym derived from ancient terms like Greek “barbarus”.
