Gzenaya or Igzenayen is the name of a tribe in the mountainous

Rif The Rif or Riff (, ), also called Rif Mountains, is a geographic region in northern Morocco. This mountainous and fertile area is bordered by Cape Spartel and Tangier to the west, by Berkane and the Moulouya River to the east, by the Mediterrane ...

region in northern

Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria t ...

Etymology

The word Gzenaya comes from the Berber word "Igzenayen". Originally the tribe was known by the land of "Gzenaya" which means the land of beauty the area is well known by its high mountains (

Rif Mountains The Rif or Riff (, ), also called Rif Mountains, is a geographic region in northern Morocco. This mountainous and fertile area is bordered by Cape Spartel and Tangier to the west, by Berkane and the Moulouya River to the east, by the Mediterrane ...

), huge valleys and rivers, green woods, and its healing water of Ain Hamra. Gzenaya has an important place in the history of Morocco. it is the birthplace of many heroes ; as well as being the birth tribe of ''Jaich ittahrir,'' the army of independence.

War with France

During the protectorate, the Gzenaya tribe defeated

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

in the “Triangle of Death” (Aknoul, Boured, Tizi Ousli), in October 1921, for the country's independence and the end of the protectorate.

Geography

Geographically, the Igzenayen historical region extends over the modern Moroccan provinces of Taza,

Al-Hoceima Al Hoceima ( ber, translit=Lḥusima, label=Berber languages, Riffian-Berber, ⵍⵃⵓⵙⵉⵎⴰ; ar, الحسيمة; '' es, Alhucemas'') is a Riffians, Riffian city in the north of Morocco, on the northern edge of the Rif Mountains and on the ...

Taounate :''This article refers to the city of Taounate; for the province see Taounate Province.'' ar, تاونات , nickname = , settlement_type = , motto = , image_skyline = , imagesize ...

, and possibly a portion of the Nador province. The geography is characterized by its high mountains, some small fertile plains, and by a fresh

Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate (also called a dry summer temperate climate ''Cs'') is a temperate climate sub-type, generally characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, fairly wet winters; these weather conditions are typically experienced in the ...

Some notable towns and village of Gzennaya include: * Tisliouine * Tarra Tazegwaght * Ait aissam * Ait Mhend * Ajdir * Aknul (Icawiyen) * Braret * Buisri * Burd * Buankud * Branda * Dcar Azrou * Taghirast * Duaya * Aarkub * Kassita * Ibakriyen * Inehecen * Ixewanen * Ighbaben * Iharkliyen * Iharcliene * Iharesen * Ihdayen (Hadria) * Ihrucen * Ikabunen * Ikarwan * Inehnahen * Ibuakbathen (sidi ali bourkba) * Izarwalen * Jbarna * Tastit * Tarmest * Tbadiwien * Tegzratin * Tizi w-Asri * Tizi n Dra * Tizi ousli * Asht Aissa * Yarwahdud * Douar Ifzarene (Ifzan) * Douar tighza

References

Berber peoples and tribes Rif {{Morocco-geo-stub