TARIKHNA LAB | History of Morocco

In this episode, we dive into the true story of the Corsair Republic of Salé — a powerful port city built by exiled Moriscos after their expulsion from Spain in 1609. Discover how these refugees turned a ruined fortress on Morocco’s Atlantic coast into a self-governed pirate state that raided European ships, defied empires, and reshaped the history of the Mediterranean. A tale of exile, resistance, and forgotten power.SOURCES :Salé au XVIIème siècle, terre d'asile morisque sur le territoire atlantique marocain, by Laila MazianeHistoire du Maroc, by J. Brignon Histoire du Maroc, by Daniel RivetLes morisques et l'édification de la ville de Rabat, by Safaa Monqid CONTACT :Email: ayah.achoukri@gmail.comInstagram: @ayahchoukriWebsite: www.ayahchoukri.com

In this episode we explore how Morocco lost its independence in the early 1900s. Through the power struggle between 2 royal brothers , rising foreign influences and a unique political and religious pact known as the Bay’a Hafidiyya, we trace the events that led to the French protectorate in 1912. Politics, betrayal, colonial pressure, and a turning point in Morocco’s history. SOURCESHistoire du Maroc, J. BrignonHistoire du Maroc, M. Abitbol Histoire du Maroc, D. RivetCONTACT Instagram: @ayahchoukriEmail: ayah.achoukri@gmail.comWebsite : www.ayahchoukri.com

In this episode of Moroccan politics 101, the series where we break down how power works in Morocco one topic at a time, we begin a 2-part deep dive into the 2011 Constitution. In this first part we unpack how the constitution came to be, what it is made of, the rights it lays out for Moroccan citizens and the King. In part 2, we will move onto the institutions: the Parliament, the government, the judiciary, decentralisation, and the bodies meant to hold power accountable. CONTACTE-mail: ayah.achoukri@gmail.comInstagram: @ayahchoukri

In this episode we look at the strange and little known reign of Mohammed Al Burtughali : the Moroccan Wattasid sultan who spent his childhood as a Portuguese hostage and returned to rule a sultanate in shambles. Caught between Iberian expansion, Sufi-led resistance and the collapse of Wattasid authority all over the country his story raises deeper questions about what it means to lead the ruins of empire.SOURCES - Les Wattasides, une dynastie de transition by Mohamed Mezzine- Histoire du Maroc by J. Brignon, Abdelaziz Amine, Brahim Boutaleb, …- Histoire du Maroc by Daniel Rivet- Leon l’African’s “Description de l’Afrique”CONTACTE-mail: ayah.achoukri@gmail.comInstagram @ayahchoukri

In this first episode of the series “Moroccan politics 101”, we break down how Morocco works as a constitutional monarchy; at the very least on the surface. Whether you’re Moroccan or just curious, this episode gives you the essential tools to understand one of the most complex and resilient political systems in the region.Contact: Email: ayah.achoukri@gmail.comInstagram : @ayahchoukriYouTube : Ayah Choukri | History of MoroccoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayah-choukri-289724196?

In this episode, I unpack the rise and fall of Abou Mahalli—preacher, warlord, self-declared Mahdi—who nearly rewrote Morocco’s fate in the 17th century. His life is a window into a country unraveling after its golden age, torn between dynastic decay, foreign interference, and a people’s longing for salvation. This is the story of a man who tried to fill the silence left by collapsing empirewith God, with poetry, with war.Sources– Al Ifrani, Nozhet el Hadi: Chronicles of the Saadian Dynasty (d. 1743)– J. Brignon, Histoire du Maroc– A. Péretié, “Le Raïs El Khadir Ghailan,” Archives marocaines, published by the Scientific Mission of Morocco

In this episode, Idris I, the founder of the Idrisid dynasty in Morocco, takes center stage. After fleeing the Abbasid Caliphate, he established a new reign that shaped the future of Islamic North Africa. His influence marked a turning point in the region’s history, leaving a legacy that endures to this day.SOURCES:« Histoire des Berbères », by Ibn Khaldoun « Les Idrissides: L'histoire contre son histoire », by Chafik T. Benchekroun« Idrissisme et villes Idrissides », by M. Garcia-Arenal and E. Manzano Moreno«Fès et sainteté: de la fondation à lave n'arment du protectorat » by Centre Jacques-Berque« Le Maroc entre vocations et réalités » by M.Fougerouse

The series is finally coming full circle: part 3 of Bou Hmara, the man who wanted to be sultan instead of the Sultan. CONTACT:Email: ayah.achoukri@gmail.comInstagram: @ayahchoukriTikTok: @ayahchoukriYouTube: Ayah CHOUKRI | History of Morocco SOURCES:« Lords of the Atlas : the rise and fall of the House of Glaoua, 1893-1956 » by Maxwell Gavin (page 82 onward) « Bou Hmara’s European Connexion: The Commercial Relations of a Moroccan Warlord » by Ross E. Dunn« Le Maroc d’ aujourd’hui » by Eugene Aubin « Bou Hmara, faux sultan et vrai rebelle » by Mustapha Saha for La Une CED les Chroniques

CONTACT:Email: ayah.achoukri@gmail.comInstagram: @ayahchoukriTikTok: @ayahchoukriYouTube: Ayah CHOUKRI | History of Morocco SOURCES:« Lords of the Atlas : the rise and fall of the House of Glaoua, 1893-1956 » by Maxwell Gavin (page 82 onward) « Bou Hmara’s European Connexion: The Commercial Relations of a Moroccan Warlord » by Ross E. Dunn« Le Maroc d’ aujourd’hui » by Eugene Aubin « Bou Hmara, faux sultan et vrai rebelle » by Mustapha Saha for La Une CED les Chroniques

In this new 3-parts series, I take you through the story of Bou Hmara, a con artist who shook Morocco’s Alaoui dynasty in the early 20th century at the dawn of the European protectorates. Pretending to be a long lost prince, the brother of Sultan Moulay Abdelaziz, Bou Hmara used strategy, clever schemes and a good dose of lies to gain power wealth & influence over thousands of people.His rise to the top was filled with betrayal battles, & the brutal realities of colonial rule. An episode of Moroccan history you donnot CONTACT:Email: ayah.achoukri@gmail.comInstagram: @ayahchoukriTikTok: @ayahchoukriYouTube: Ayah CHOUKRI | History of Morocco SOURCES:« Lords of the Atlas : the rise and fall of the House of Glaoua, 1893-1956 » by Maxwell Gavin (page 82 onward) « Bou Hmara’s European Connexion: The Commercial Relations of a Moroccan Warlord » by Ross E. Dunn« Le Maroc d’ aujourd’hui » by Eugene Aubin « Bou Hmara, faux sultan et vrai rebelle » by Mustapha Saha for La Une CED les Chroniques

📖 SOURCES :La synthèse complète du Rapport final établi par l’Instance (royale) de Reconciliation et d’Equité (IER), 2004“Émeutes et mouvements sociaux au Maghreb” by Institut Maghreb-Europe (page 257)“Le Maroc et la crise economique” by Marcel Amphoux for the “Revue d’économie politique”“Profil de la croissance économique au Maroc : 1960 –à 2004”, by fpl.maCONTACT:Instagram: @ayahchoukriTikTok: @ayahchoukriYouTube: Ayah Choukri | History of MoroccoEmail: ayah.achoukri@gmail.com

SOURCES [for the entire series] :« La Mémoire d’un Roi », by Eric Laurent (transcripted conversations with the King) - paper « La dimension D’un Roi », by Fouad Babana El Alaoui — paper« Hassan 2 entre tradition & absolutisme » by Ignace Dall (full pdf available online)CONTACT:Instagram: @ayahchoukriTikTok: @ayahchoukriEmail: ayah.achoukri@gmail.comYouTube: Ayah Choukri || History of Morocco (@landofmankind)

In this episode, join me as I dive into the life and the historical significance of Taougrat Oult Aissa, an Amazigh poetess and ahidous singer from the Middle Atlas region of Morocco. Born in the 19th century, she is remembered for her contributions to Amazigh culture during a critical period marked by French colonialism in Morocco. Taougrat Oult Aissa’s poetry and songs despite her blindness resonated deeply with her community and beyond as it adressed themes of resilience and resistance against external forces. Her artistic legacy continues to be celebrated for its profound cultural and historical impact in North Africa.SOURCES:« Taougrat Oult Aissa et Taoukhetalt : 2 poétesses de l’époque héroïque » by Aksil AZERGUI« Femmes politiques du Maroc » by O. Glacier« The Ait Sokhman of the Moroccan central Atlas » by D. Montgomery HartCONTACT:Instagram : @ayahchoukriTikTok: @ayahchoukriEmail: ayah.achoukri@gmail.comYoutube: Ayah Choukri || History of Morocco

SOURCES [for the entire series] :« La Mémoire d’un Roi », by Eric Laurent (transcripted conversations with the King) - paper « La dimension D’un Roi », by Fouad Babana El Alaoui — paper« Hassan 2 entre tradition & absolutisme » by Ignace Dall (full pdf available online)CONTACT:Instagram: @ayahchoukriTikTok: @ayahchoukriEmail: ayah.achoukri@gmail.comYouTube: Ayah Choukri || History of Morocco (@landofmankind)

(RESOURCES BELOW) In this episode, I take you along with me as we explore the origin story of the Imazighen, the indigenous inhabitants of North Africa, also known as the Berbers. We examine a variety of historical perspectives and takes, spanning the evolution of what different historians believed to be the origin story of the Imazighen, until today. We trace their history from ancient times to the present, discussing the myths that have been diffused, the most recent archaeological findings, and scholarly debates that have contributed to our understanding of the Imazighen. RESOURCES : “Histoire du Maroc” by Michel Abitbol “Historical dictionary of the Berbers” by Hsain Ilahiane “Histoire du Maroc” by Bernard Lugan “Histoire inattendue du Maroc by Mouna Hachim

Touria Chaoui, the pioneer female aviator of the African and Arab worlds, met a tragic fate on March 1st, 1956, on the eve of Morocco’s independence. Her death remains a full mystery, as her assassination by an unknown assailant has never been officially solved… This tragedy made for an attempt to squash what the symbol she was embodying, but Touria's achievements have to pass the test of time. As the first Moroccan woman to conquer the skies, she completely shattered stereotypes and inspired generations. From her beginnings in Fes to her flying lessons in Tit Mellil, to her activism in women’s right and national liberation, Touria's journey was one of relentless determination and ambition. RESOURCES USED : « Histoire du Maroc depuis l’indépendance », Pierre Vermeren ; « Ma sœur Touria, 1ere aviatrice du monde arabe », Salaheddine Chaoui ; Institution S.A.R. La Princesse Lalla Amina website ; ثريا الشاوي : أول امرأة مغربية وعربية ومسلمة تقود طائرة (meknespress.com) ; « Touria Chaoui - Morocco - Women in Aviation & Space History » (centennialofwomenpilots.com) ; Un livre sur la 1ère aviatrice arabe, Touria Chaoui (lecourrierdelatlas.com) ; « Moi, Touria Chaoui, la première aviatrice marocain » Régis Delpeuch ; « RÉTRO-VERSO : Touria Chaoui, la première et la plus jeune pilote du monde arabe » (lopinion.ma)

On today's episode, we diall back to 1080-94, in the empire of the reigning Almoravids that stretches across the North African soil, to witness a clash between 2 rival clans. Join me as we step into the journey of Abd el Moumen, one of the main driving forces behind the Almohad dynasty's ascent to power. Born into the mountainous Zenata tribe, Abd el Moumen joined forces with the Masmudian Mohammed ibn Toumert, "al Mahdi", founding father of the Almohad movement, in their rejection of Abbasid authority. Together, they established their stronghold in Tinmel, facing down challenges from the ruling Almoravids. After Ibn Toumert's passing, Abd el Moumen led the Almohads to triumph, forging an empire that would shape the course of Moroccan history... Glad you're here. My name is Ayah. I'm a 20-year-old Moroccan storyteller with a compulsive urge to dig stories from the past and time-travel: join me as we recount tales of those who made Moroccan History, for better or for worse. CONTACT : email : ayah.achoukri@gmail.com instagram : @ayahchoukri tiktok : @ayahchoukri RESOURCES :   "Histoire des Berbères et des dynasties musulmanes de l'Afrique Septentrionale", by Ibn Khaldun (book pdf www.archive.org) مقدمة ابن خلدون : لكتاب العبر وديوان المبتدا والخبر في ايام العر (والعجم والبربر ومن عاصرهم من ذوي السلطان الاكر "Preparing the Almohad caliphate: the Almoravid", by Pascal Buresi (case study) "Histoire du Maroc", by Daniel Rivet (paper book) "Histoire du Maroc des origines à l'établissement du Protectorat", by Henri Terrasse (paper book) "Abd al-Mu'min fils de Ali, fils de Alwi, fils de Ya'la al-Kumi Abu Muḥammad", case study conducted by L. Golvin

Resources that were used for the episodes : Morocco since 1860, E. Pennell (e-book) La mémoire d’un roi, entretiens Hassan II & Eric Laurent (book) Les jardins du roi : Oufkir, Hassan 2 et nous, Fatéma Oufkir (e-book) Vérités sur l'Afrique du Nord, Pierre Boyer de Latour La monarchie marocaine et la lutte pour le pouvoir : Hassan II face à l’opposition nationale del’indépendance à l’état d’exception, Monjib Maati (book) Interview Heure de vérité de Hassan 2 (INA) (videos) Le Monde article from the 01 novembre 1972 (article) Al Jazeera article “Mohammed Oufkir (article) “Le coup d’Etat des aviateurs”, zamane.ma (article) The Oufkir s, Encycloepedia Universalis premium articles (article) The College of Azrou, for beber civil and military élite in Morocco by Mohamed Benhlal (e-book) Join me on Instagram and Tiktok ! @ayahchoukri

Le Maroc est connu depuis longtemps pour être une véritable mine d’or pour les géologues. Sa terre s’est montrée incroyablement généreuse avec la science, faisant par exemple gagné 100 000 ans sur les compteurs vitaux de l’humanité, et confirmant par le même chef son origine panafricaine. Dans cet épisode, on s’aventure ensemble, pas à pas, sur le sentier mystérieux de la Préhistoire, marchant partout où le sol marocain s’est fendu pour permettre la percée d’informations nouvelles qui ont contribué à apaiser la crise identitaire de l’homme moderne.

Merci à tous ceux qui ont réalisés les voix-off des différents personnages sur cet épisode : @dkianas @inesatif @ahtir__ @silent.semo Le coup d’état de Skhirat est le premier séisme politique qui fait réellement chanceler la couronne sur la tête de Hassan II.