Riffians

Early and medieval history

The earliest written reference that may possibly refer to the Riffians is found in an inscription from a tomb of the Eighteenth Dynasty of ancient Egypt. It reports an invasion of Egypt by a Libyan group called the Mashausha. Before this, the Mashausha had subjugated the Tehenu, until then the only Libyan population group known to the Egyptians, and had incorporated them into the campaign against Egypt. The Mashausha are described as coming from the west. This account may be connected with the name of the Mazuza, a subgroup of the present-day Iqer'iyen, who are counted among the Riffians. However, it cannot be ruled out that several groups bore the name Mazuza at that time.^{[11][better source needed]}

In the 1526 Cosmographia et geographia de Affrica Leo Africanus, lists 'er Rif' as one of the regions of the Kingdom of Fez.^[12]

Ripublik

Ripublik is a term of European origin denoting the period of Riffian history preceding the establishment of the Rif Republic.^[13]

Rif War and Rif Republic

Riffians have fought in numerous wars throughout their history. During the Rif War (1921–1926), Riffian forces inflicted heavy losses on the Royal Spanish army, while also sustaining severe casualties, particularly after the French intervention and Spain's use of chemical weapons, among the first such uses in modern warfare.^[14][15]

Post-independence

During the 1960s, poverty rates and infant mortality rates among Riffians were high.^[16] This was largely a consequence of the 1958 Rif riots, which led to the region being subjected to military rule for several years, as well as its official neglect and marginalization by Moroccan authorities for decades, pressuring its population to emigrate to Europe.^[17] The Rif remains one of the poorest areas in Morocco.^[18]

In the decades following the 1958 riots, the Rif region has witnessed popular demonstrations demanding better education, healthcare and job opportunities, most notably in the 1984 Bread Uprising. A resurgent Riffian popular movement in 2010, protests in 2013 and protests in 2017 against hogra – a humiliating treatment by an abusive state – have drawn public attention, as well as claims of brutal suppression by Moroccan authorities.^[3][19][20]

Clothing

Historically, the djellaba of the Riffians differed from that of the Jebala and the Ghomara. Although similarly short, it had narrower sleeves and hoods and was unlined. Today, Riffian men wear a white cotton turban (ariziṯ) that is tightly wrapped around the head covering all of it.^[21]

Up until the end of the nineteenth century, the main garment worn by Riffian women was the haik. The haiks of the Rif were plain or had a few simple cotton stripes at the end. They were worn with belts that were often decorated with tie-dye designs.^[22]

Language

Riffians speak Tarifit, which belongs to the Zenati group of Berber languages.^[3] Many Riffians additionally speak Moroccan Arabic and Spanish. Nineteen Riffian social units are known: five in the west along the Mediterranean coast which speak Riffian and Moroccan Arabic; in the central area, seven groups exist, of which one speaks mainly Moroccan Arabic and the rest speak Riffian; five in the east and two in the southeastern desert area also speak Riffian.^{[2][clarification needed]}