Anzar and the First Rain
Anzar, the god of rain and thunder in Berber mythology, fell in love with a beautiful mortal woman who refused his love. In his grief, Anzar withheld the rain from the earth, causing a terrible drought that parched the land. The woman eventually relented and agreed to marry him. When she finally accepted his hand, Anzar brought the rain back to the earth, ending the drought and making the land fertile once more. This story still underpins rain-calling rituals in Kabyle and other Berber communities, where women sing to Anzar during times of drought, coaxing clouds with ritual and song. The Tale