rifbewoners

Rifbewoners, also known as the Rifi or Rifian people, are an Amazigh (Berber) ethnic group native to the Rif region of northern Morocco, along the Mediterranean coast. The region roughly corresponds to parts of the modern Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima administrative area, including Al Hoceima, Nador, and surrounding towns. The Rifi primarily speak Tarifit, a Berber language, and many are bilingual in Moroccan Arabic.

Geography and culture: The Rif Mountains and the coastal plains shape local communities, with traditional livelihoods in agriculture, fishing, and trade. The Rifi maintain a distinct linguistic and cultural identity within Morocco, including traditional music and crafts.

History and contemporary notes: The Rifi have inhabited the area since antiquity, with ties to Phoenician, Roman, and Islamic civilizations. The Rif War (1921–1926) led by Abd el-Krim against Spanish and French colonial rule is a defining episode in anti-colonial history. Since independence, the region has experienced economic marginalization and periodic protests; in recent years there have been efforts to promote development, tourism, and recognition of linguistic and cultural rights in the Rif.