Which group is historically recognized as the first inhabitants of North Africa?

The Berbers are historically recognized as the first inhabitants of North Africa. They are an indigenous ethnic group with a long history that predates the arrival of other groups in the region. The Berbers have maintained a distinct cultural and linguistic identity throughout the centuries, which is evident in their languages belonging to the Afro-Asiatic family and their traditional customs that vary significantly across different areas of North Africa.

While the Egyptians are known for their ancient civilization, they are primarily centered in the northeastern part of Africa, particularly along the Nile River, and arose later than the Berbers as a more structured society. The Tuaregs, a subgroup of the Berbers, inhabit areas in the Sahara and are also part of the broader Berber identity but are not the earliest inhabitants. The Bedouins are Arab nomads primarily found in the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula and the surrounding regions, thus their historical presence in North Africa is more recent in comparison to the Berbers.

Overall, the historical significance of the Berbers as the earliest and indigenous people of North Africa is well-documented, making them the correct choice in this context.