Assou ou-Baslam

Sherif Assou ou-Baslam
File:Basslamassou.jpg Leader Ou-Baslam
Native name	الشريف
Nickname(s)	El Sherif
Born	1890 Jbel Saghro, Morocco
Died	August 16, 1960 Tinghir, Morocco
Allegiance	Resistance against the Spanish occupation
Rank	Leader
Battles/wars	Second Melillan campaign (1909) Kert campaign (1911–1912)

Origin

The Oubasslam family is originally from the sedentary mountain Berber tribe of the Saghro of the Ait Atta ( Anti Atlas Moroccan). This family had played a decisive role against the French occupation at the beginning of the century 20th century..

Assou Oubasslam (Assou Ouaali) was born in 1890, he succeeded his father Ali Oubasslam at the head of his tribe (Amghar) "Ilemchan" in 1919, he distinguished himself from his youth for his qualities according to the customs Berbers. The French historian Henri Burdeaux had described him as "a man with a handsome grave face, a slim and muscular body, an impassive and indifferent appearance, but proud and full of dignity, and who commanded confidence." In the manner of Mouha or Hammou Zayani , he became a military leader and took up the torch of resistance amazig after the final defeat of the Zayanes, despite their victory. on the colonial troops in the famous Battle of Elhri, in November 1914. The definitive arrest of Khénifra on August 20 of 1920, made a great echo beyond the Zayan country, the Berbers felt humiliated towards the Christians' '(Iroumine)' '. The influence of ideologies maraboutiques strongly rooted in their religious thought motivated the Amazighes to compromise their warrior instincts against the French legionary troops and against other Berber confederations such as the Beni M 'Tiro' 'and the' 'Zayanes who despite the fierce resistance will eventually submit and this thanks to the intrigue of Charles Mangin and the famous column of Tadla under the command of Moinier and General Poeymirau. Assou Oubasslam is celebrated especially in the South of Morocco, among the Berber tribes, as a national hero. The Battle of Bougafer in March 1933 illustrates his qualities as a warrior. Promu caïd in 1939, after his surrender under General Giraud, kept his function until his death in 1960.

Resistance

The tribes of Ait Atta far from the confrontation with the attackers, felt the danger approaching. Assou Oubasslam and his contingent were supplied with armaments through agents hostile to the presence of France in Morocco [ref. necessary]. The strategy of the French settlers was to cut off all logistical aid to the Ait Atta tribe. As part of the pacification of Morocco, Marshal Lyautey with his pro-colonial collaborator Thami El Glaoui had tried to intimidate the Ait Atta in 1918 by military intervention in the Todgha valley. This operation did not have the expected success, given the warlike quality of the Ait Atta and the difficult geographical position of access (High Atlas). During the Battle of Bougafer, at the end of a week of negotiations, a general submission was obtained on the morning of March 25 in the presence of Generals Hure, senior commander of the troops in Morocco, Catraux and Giraud. On this battle, here is a song in Tamazight: adaptation in French by Lhoussain Azergui, sung by artist Amazigh Ayyur. "Tell me about our grandfathers,

Who had faced the fire in Bugafer,
Just remembering them makes me sick.
Tell me about the brave who fought
Braved the rain and conquered the legionaries,
Despite their modest weaponry.
The enemy, helped by the French, killed our children
Lead was raining everywhere, planes were bombing too,
They intended to exterminate us.
Children and women were not spared,
Many are the destroyed villages,
We have lost so many riders and mounts.
Oh, if our ancestors could come back for just a moment
And see those who betrayed us,
Steal and plunder our lands.
I speak to those in power
Be cursed forever
We will never forget what happened.
Misfortune overwhelms us,
My heart is aching, my brothers are still in chains
Those who escaped death are imprisoned.
My brothers,
Intensify our struggle
For our chains to break."

References

This article "Assou ou-Baslam" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Assou ou-Baslam. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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