Rif 1121972 223441234 2008-07-04T02:31:35Z 82.171.150.215 /* Tribes */ {{otheruses4|a region in Morocco||RIF (disambiguation)}} :''For the Eleventh Century Talmudist, see [[Isaac Alfasi]]'' [[Image:RifMountainsInTheChefchaouenProvince.jpg|thumb|200px|Rif mountains in the province of Ashawen]] The '''Rif''' ([[Berber language|Berber]]:[[Image:Arif tifinagh.svg]]) is a mainly mountainous region of north [[Morocco]], from [[Cape Spartel]] and [[Tangier]] in the west to [[Ras Kebdana]] and the [[Moulouya River]] 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. The region's name comes from the Berber word ''arif''. The people of the Rif are [[Berber people|Berbers]]. [[Image:Chauen.jpg|thumb|200px|A view of the Rif mountains around Ashawen]] {{Portal|Berbers|Flag of the Kabyle people.svg|35|boxsize}} Major Rif cities include [[Tangier]], [[Tetouan]], [[Chefchaouen]], [[Ceuta]], [[Melilla]], [[Nador]], [[Al Hoceima]] (Also called [[Biya]]), [[Azghenghan]], [[Selwan]], [[Ajdir]], Tawrirt, [[Taza]], and [[El Jebha]]. The region is also known for its geographic diversity: mountains, sea, rivers, hills, and the like. == History == For many centuries before Christ, the Berbers inhabited the Rif. The region was later invaded by [[Phoenicia]]ns since the 3rd century BC, founding cities such as Tetouan, Melilla, and later Tangier in the 5th century BC, which later became the capital city of the kingdom of [[Mauretania]]. The cities were later invaded by [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] and then [[Byzantines]]. [[Image:Atlas-Mountains-Labeled-2.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Map showing the location of the Rif Mountains across North Morroco.]] In 710, [[Salih I ibn Mansur]] founded the [[Kingdom of Nekor]] in the Rif and converted most Berbers to Islam. Arabs then established more cities. By the 15th century, many Spanish [[Moors]] were exiled from Spain and most of them lived in the Rif, bringing their culture, [[Andalusian music]], and even establishing Chefchaouen. Since then, the Rif had suffered a lot of battles between Morocco, Spain and Portugal. In 1415, Portugal invaded Ceuta, and in 1490 Spain invaded Melilla. There was period of peace after, but war [[Spanish-Moroccan War (1859)|between Spain and Morocco]] arose again in 1859 in Tetouan where Morocco was defeated. The Spanish-Moroccan conflicts didn't end. In the 20th century, under the leadership of [[Abd el-Krim]] El-Khattabi, the Moroccan [[guerrilla]] leader, The Riffian Berbers [[Rif War (1920)|struggled against Spanish rule]] and aimed to free Morocco from French and Spanish colonization. Abd el-Krim later established the [[Republic of the Rif]] in 1921. The region was returned to Morocco after its independence in 1956. == 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]] / Ait Shiker ** [[Aith Sidal]] ** [[Aith Bu Ifrur]] ** [[Aith Buyafar]] * [[Kebdana]], along the coast next to Oued [[Moulouya]] near the [[Algeria]]n 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, east of [[Al Hoceima]] * [[Aith Amart]], south of [[Aith Ouriaghel]] * [[Targuist]], southeast of [[Aith Ouriaghel]] * [[Bokoya]], in the west of [[Aith Ouriaghel]] at [[Al Hoceima]] * [[Aith Itteft]], east of [[Bades]] * [[Aith Bu Frah]], east of [[Aith Itteft]] * [[Mestassa]], east of [[Aith Bu Frah]] * [[Mtiwa]], between [[Mestassa]] and Oued [[Ouringa]] * [[Beni Guemil]], west of [[Aith Bu Frah]] == Environment == The Rif mountains are not part of the Atlas mountain range. The Rif mountains are home to the honeybee ''Apis mellifera major''. == See also == * [[Heads of State of Rif]] * [[Heads of Government of Rif]] * [[Nekor]] == External links == *[http://www.agraw.com/modules/Music/Rif-Music.php Rif Music] *[http://www.agraw.com/modules/xcgal/thumbnails.php?album=1 Rif Photos] *[http://c.1asphost.com/imazighen/rifains/algeria.htm 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 * [http://www.geopium.org/Photos/Maroc_Rif2005/Maroc_Rif2005.htm Photos of cannabis cultivation in Morocco (Rif) on www.geopium.org] * [http://www.geopium.org/Chouvy-JIR-NOV2005-Morocco_said_to_produce_nearly_half_of_the_worlds_hashish_supply.html Recent paper on kif cultivation and hashish production and trafficking in the Rif Mountains of Morocco] * [http://image.nadorama.com/ Pictures of Rifland] {{Berber}} {{coor title dm|35|00|N|4|00|W|region:MA_type:mountain}} [[Category:Berber]] [[Category:Mountain ranges of Morocco]] [[Category:History of Morocco]] [[Category:Rif| ]] [[af:Rif (Atlasgebergte)]] [[ar:جبال الريف]] [[ca:Rif]] [[de:Rif (Gebirgszug)]] [[es:Rif]] [[eo:Rif-montaro]] [[fr:Rif]] [[hr:Rif]] [[is:Rif]] [[it:Rif]] [[nl:Rifgebergte]] [[pl:Rif]] [[pt:Rif]] [[sv:Rifkabyler]]