TARIFIT/RIFFIAN LANGUAGE, PEOPLE, & CULTURE

Описание: Welcome to my channel! This is Andy from I love languages. Let's learn different languages/dialects together.

Special Thanks to Sal LK :D

Correction: Native speakers between 4-6 million not only 1.5 million
also, the Tarifit language is a minority language in the Northwestern part of Algeria.

Azul! Ism inu d Andy. Mamec teǧid?
Hello! My name is Andy. How are you?
Let's talk about the Tarifit language.

Tarifit is a Tamazight language spoken by about 1.5 million people, primarily in Northern Morocco and in diaspora communities across Europe. It is the native language of the Riffian people and belongs to the Zenati subgroup of the Tamazight/Berber family, closely related to Chawiya and Mzab, and somewhat intelligible with other Northern Tamazight languages like Shilha and Kabylian. Tarifit can be divided into three major groups: Western, Central, and Eastern. Western and Central dialects have experienced significant sound changes, distinguishing them from other Tamazight/Berber languages, while the Eastern dialect has not. Each tribe in the Rif region has its own distinct dialectal features.

During the European colonial era, Spain controlled the Rif region in Africa. Dissatisfied with colonial rule, the Riffian tribes, led by Abd el-Krim al Khattabi, fought for independence, resulting in the Rif Republic from 1921 to 1926, with Tarifit as its de facto official language. The Riffians, or Irifiyen, are a Tamazight ethnic group native to the Rif mountains in Northern Morocco, primarily residing in the provinces of Nador, Al Hoceima, and Driouch, with smaller communities in nearby provinces and cities like Tangier. They are organized into multiple tribes, each historically distinguished by unique clothing, accessories, and cultural practices. The largest tribes are the Ayt Waryagher in the West, Iqerɛiyen in the Central North, and Ibdarsen in the South. The Ayt Iznassen tribe in the East is sometimes considered part of the Riffians, but sometimes seen as separate. The Riffians have a long history in the region, with records dating back to the Emirate of Nekur, established in 710.

Traditional Riffian men's clothing includes a hooded tunic, a turban, and esparto grass sandals. Women traditionally wear a dress and accessorize with engagement jewelry made from silver coins, amber, and coral. Notable accessories include diadem, necklaces and silver bracelets. Music and poetry are significant in Riffian culture. Traditional sung poetry, known as izran, is performed by young women during leisure and weddings, often focusing on love, with the couplet "Ya Ralla Buya" frequently repeated. Imedyazen, traveling musicians, performed at weddings using the tambourine. Modern Riffian poetry, called tiqessisin, continues to be valued, with artists creating works about Riffian history and culture.

Please feel free to subscribe to see more of this.
I hope you have a great day! Stay happy!
Please support me on Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=16809442.
Please support me on Ko-fi
https://ko-fi.com/otipeps0124

If you are interested to see your native language/dialect be featured here.
Submit your recordings to [email protected].
Looking forward to hearing from you!