Rif
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This is about a region in Morocco: RIF is also an acronym/initialism.
The Rif (
/Arif in Berber, er-Rif الريف in Arabic) is a mainly mountainous region of north Morocco, from Cape Spartel and Tangier in the west to Cape Tres Forcas (Ras Tleta Madari) and Melilla in the east, and from the Mediterranean Sea in the north to the river of Ouargha in the south. It is part of the Cordillera Bética that also includes the mountains of Southern Spain. The Rif mountains are not part of the Atlas Mountains but belong to the Gibraltar Arc or Alborán Sea geological region. Rif might have its origin in Arif, a Berber word or from Arabic language meaning countryside.
The people of the Rif are Berbers of north Morocco who call themselves Imazighen.
Major Rif cities include Nador and Al Hoceima (Also called Biya), Azghenghan, Selwan, Ajdir, Tangier, Tetouan (originally, was called Tittawin), Tawrirt, Taza, and El Jebha while Melilla and Ceuta though in Spanish hands, are geographically and liguistically parts of it. chaouen or Chefchaouen is worth visiting, but Ketama (also known as Issaguen) is known as the center of the hashish trade and is likely not an ideal destination however it possesses great panoramic landscapes. The term "reefer", for marijuana, is derived from Rif.
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[edit] History
In the Middle Ages, it was the home of the Kingdom of Nekor. In the 20th century, under the leadership of Abd el-Krim El-Khattabi, the Moroccan guerrilla leader, it struggled against Spanish rule and aimed to free Morocco from French colonization too.
Neighboring groups include Ghomara to the east, Senhaja to the southeast, and Aith Iznacen to the southwest, and Algeria to the east. The principal language of the region is Tarifit.
[edit] Tribes
Traditionally, the principal Rif tribes of the region are:
- Aith Ouriaghel near Ajdir, around Oued Ghis (Abd el-Krim's tribe)
- Gzennaya, near the source of Oued Bayu, east of the Metalsa
- Galiya, in the region of Melilla
- Mazuza
- Aith Shisher
- Aith Sidel
- Aith Bu Ifrur
- Aith Buyafar
- Kebdana, along the coast next to Oued Moulouya near the Algerian border
- Aith Said, west of Oued Kert
- Oulad Stut, an originally Arab tribe, south of the Kebdana
- Aith Bu Yahi, along Oued Moulouya south of the Oulad Stut
- Metalsa, east of the Aith Bu Yahi
- Aith Ulishk, southwest of Temsaman
- Tafersit, southwest of Temsaman
- Aith Tuzin, south of Temsaman
- Temsaman, around the town of that name, west of Al Hoceima
- Aith Amart, south of Aith Ouriaghel
- Targuist, southeast of Aith Ouriaghel
- Bokoya, between Ajdir and Bades
- Aith Itteft, east of Bades
- Aith Bu Frah, east of Aith Itteft
- Mestassa, east of Aith Bu Frah
- Mtiwa, between Mestassa and Oued Ouringa
[edit] Environment
The Rif mountains are not part of the Atlas mountain range. The Rif mountains are home to the honeybee Apis mellifera major.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Pictures Of Rifains
- http://www.let.leidenuniv.nl/talengids/rifijns2.htm
- http://www.gosahara.org/rb.html
- http://weecheng.com/morocco/chef/map-rif.gif
- Photos of cannabis cultivation in Morocco (Rif) on www.geopium.org
- Recent paper on kif cultivation and hashish production and trafficking in the Rif Mountains of Morocco
- Pictures of Rifland
| Berber Ethnic groups |
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Chaouis | Chenouas | Chleuhs | Kabyles | Mozabites | Rifains | Siwis | Tuareg |
