Going by physical appearance. This is the reverse of the other thread I asked about Sicily and it is the only other one I was intending to ask while I am here. So anyone who is bothered by this question simply does not have to vote on the thread.
Choices are;
Spanish
Portuguese
French
Italians (peninsular)
Sicilians
South Slavs (Bulgarians, Serbs)
Greeks
My brother-in-law is of Algerian Jewish heritage; he looks like this. If I had to choose, I’d probably say Spanish (after all, he is Sephardic), but really, he just looks North African.
I’m not so much bothered by the question as I am the idea that there is a North African “type.” I can’t say as I have a set definition of such a type, even if there is one. I’d be interested in hearing just how this came to be of so much interest to you that you started two threads on the topic.
I think the question should be “Do you think any of these European populations look similar to North Africans?” because that’s pretty much the direction the sperm flew back in the day.
ETA: Yeah; which North Africans do you mean? Berbers? Moors? Something else?
North Africa is diverse.
This is true. Hence the question is more about overlap rather than perfect matches.
On average, no. None. North Africans, to me, look vaguely Middle Eastern. And while some Southern Europeans might not stand out in the Middle East, I’d be hard pressed to find an area where most of the population would not. Except, of course, those areas in Southern Europe with a lot of Middle Eastern or North African immigrants.
I voted for Sicilian. My impression of Sicilians’ resemblance to North Africans is based not only on the Berber-featured Sicilian ladies whose pictures I linked to in the other thread, but also a cast of countenance that’s specifically Libyan. Mostly around the eyes. I see it a lot in Libyans and also in my Sicilian relatives, but nowhere else, really. Libya was the earliest center of Berber culture and in ancient times Libyan was synonymous with Berber. Libyans today are the product of an Arab-Berber blend with Carthaginian in the background. Which is also true, in part, of Sicilians.
I have seen N Africans who passed for Northern European. And middle easterners who have done so. And the occasional S Asian.
Phenotypes vary a lot. Especially considering that the populations are all Caucasoid and there has been a lot of intermixing.
In Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, Berbers from Libya were represented and are on the far left of this;
OK, to be honest, none of my relatives look like that guy.
Ancient Egyptian wall portrayals probably were not that accurate.
Any other opinions on this?
Well, there have been previous discussions of a similar matter in some depth. Here’s one: are sicillians part black? - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board
Alright, I’ll look it over. Thank you 
Sorry to bump an old thread but here is some genetic data that is of some interest (pertaining to Moorish influences in Europe’s DNA).
A genetic study if anyone is interested;
I realize I should have also included Maltese on here now that I think about it. Not sure why I didn’t. Maltese are geographically close to North Africa and they even speak an Arabic dialect from Tunisia originally that had been spoken in Sicily under Arab rule (“Siculo-Arabic”). Just an interesting thing I thought I’d point out if anyone was interested.
If anyone finds it interesting, a genetic study that discusses this:
Not to bump an old thread but here is another genetic study about the populations of North Africa, for anyone who might find this interesting – those of you who like genetics and the connection to history. This suggests around a 5% genetic contribution to Iberia and Sicily from NW Africa. I would be surprised if it is not, in reality, higher than that though.
