The postcolonial condition of refashioning national identity in the Riffian
Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Morocco, Fez.
Review Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2024, 21(03), 2218–2226
Publication history:
Received on 13 February 2024; revised on 20 March 2024; accepted on 22 March 2024
Abstract:
Novels transcend mere aesthetic creations, embodying potent instruments of both oppression and emancipation. This study analyzes the post-colonial dimensions of The Riffian, authored by the American anthropologist Carleton Stevens Coon in 1933, amidst the colonial period of Morocco. Contrary to the prevalent Western narratives about Morocco during the colonial era, which predominantly echoed colonial discourses, The Riffian markedly deviates from such trends. It critically undermines the colonial French narrative through its protagonist, Ali, thereby presenting a divergent perspective. Additionally, the novel explores the evolution of its central character, portrayed through the fictional autobiography of Coon's companion and guide in Morocco, Mohammed Limnibhy. This narrative arc follows Ali’s transformation from harboring disdain for all ethnic groups outside the Riffians, to adopting a more inclusive stance towards other Moroccan ethnicities in his resistance against French colonial rule. This analysis underscores the novel's contribution to challenging and reshaping historical and cultural perceptions during a pivotal period in Moroccan history.
Keywords:
French Colonialism Morocco; Postcolonialism; Literary Analysis; Ethnic Diversity in Morocco; Literary Forms of Resistance.
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Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0