Rif war: 100 years after

 “Dear Comrades, you came to me to learn about the liberation wars. But in your recent History there is Abdelkrim El Khattabi, who is the principal source from whom I learned what the liberation wars were about.” Mao Tse Toung, 1971.

It all started with a legend. Some children hear about Ulysses, others about Don Quixote or Richard the Lionheart. I heard about Abdelkrim. Often. At lunch, when watching a war movie, when I was afraid of a spider.. I imagined him as a giant, with a long beard, thick eyebrows and a huge saber in his hand.

Slowly I got to know more about him, and one day he was mentioned during my history class. I remember that all my classmates turned to look at me. But instead of feeling proud, I felt ashamed. Ashamed of not being him, not being strong, not being charismatic. I was only a teenager in love of maths, dreaming of a normal peaceful life.

And later it came to me that I was blessed for having these normal, simple dreams. And if I could afford not having to be strong or charismatic, it was thanks to all those who sacrificed their dreams and serenity and life to allow us having ours.

So I first wrote a book about him, and all those who fought courageously for our freedom. Not a history, detailed book, but a novel. To give life to them, give them names, and feelings and dreams, not just numbers that add-up to the outcome of the war. That’s how “Les fantômes de l’Histoire”, Editions Bouregreg, 2021 emerged from my imagination and at least 7 History books that I went through during the first lockdown.

But it was not enough, I also wanted to follow his path. Their path. See the land they have been fighting for, inhale the air they have been breathing, and feel the warm breeze that gave them strength.

And there we go!

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Note: This blog is meant to live and evolve. You might have a version of the story of your own, a different legend, different heroes. Please share respectfully. I have my own historical references, but compiling the different versions will help us get closer to what really happened. You can share in english, français, español, عربي.