Khenifra Explained

Khenifra
Native Name:Arabic: خنيفرة
Pushpin Map:Morocco#Africa
Pushpin Relief:1
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Mapsize:300
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Morocco
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Morocco
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Béni Mellal-Khénifra
Subdivision Type2:Province
Subdivision Name2:Khenifra
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population As Of:2019
Population Footnotes:[1] [2]
Population Urban:228,567
Population Rural:142,578
Population Metro:371,145
Population Density Metro Km2:55.27
Population Blank1 Title:Ethnicities
Timezone:CET
Utc Offset:+1
Coordinates:32.9394°N -5.6675°W
Website:http://www.benimellalkhenifra.ma/fr/province/kh%C3%A9nifra

Khenifra (Arabic: خنيفرة) is a city in northern central Morocco, surrounded by the Atlas Mountains and located on the Oum Er-Rbia River. National Highway 8 also goes through the town. The population, as of a 2019 census, was 228,567.[2]

History

Khenifra has been the Zayanes' central town for centuries. As such, it was an important military holding in the Zaian War. French General Paul Prosper Henrys had planned to lead the first attack on Khenifra on 10 June 1914. There would be three columns of troops, totaling up to 14,000 officers, to take Khenifra from the Zayanes control.[3] One column was under Lieutenant-Colonel Henri Claudel, one under Colonel Gaston Cros, and one under Colonel Noël Garnier-Duplessix.[4] Mouha ou Hammou Zayani led troops to attempt to stop the Khenifra campaign, but was eventually unsuccessful.[5] The French took control of the town, losing around 600 men in the process.[6] In addition to leading the Zayanes, Hammou was responsible for much of the early 20th century development of Khenifra, having overseen the development of accommodations and mosques in the town.[7]

Demography

Khenifra is inhabited by Zayanes, a Berber tribe, and the language spoken is a variety of Central Atlas Tamazight.[8] The town population at the time of the 2019 census was 228,567.[2]

Geography

Khenifra is located on the Oum Er-Rbia River[9] National Highway 8 goes through Khenifra, and can provide travel to Marrakech and Fès.[10] Jebel Bououzzal, "Iron Mountain", provides a source of iron, but its usefulness is limited due to also having a high sulphur content.[11] Khenifra National Park is east of the town, which contains forests of Atlas cedars (Cedrus atlantica) and Lake Ouiouane.

Sports

The best known sport was soccer; the team was created in 1943 under the name: "Khenifra Union Club", Then Chabab Atlas Khénifra. In addition to a men's team, the club established a women's squad on 30 November 1998.[12]

Notable people

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: GeoHive - Morocco population statistics. www.geohive.com. 19 October 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160701213300/http://www.geohive.com/cntry/morocco.aspx. 1 July 2016.
  2. Web site: Ministry of Equipment, Transport, Logistics and Water . Kingdom of Morocco . 12 June 2020 . 24 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200624091730/http://www.equipement.gov.ma/Carte-Region/RegionBeniMellal/Presentation-de-la-region/Monographie/Pages/Monographie-Khenifra.aspx . dead .
  3. .
  4. .
  5. .
  6. Book: Daniel Jacobs. The Rough Guide to Morocco. 1 April 2010. Rough Guides. 978-1-4053-8732-3. 522.
  7. Book: Maverick Guide to Morocco. Pelican Publishing. 978-1-4556-0864-5. 215.
  8. Web site: Dialecte Berberes Des Zaian. 19 October 2016. 24 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151224052649/http://bnm.bnrm.ma:86/ClientBin%5Cimages%5Cbook737885%5Cdoc.pdf. dead.
  9. Web site: Map. 19 October 2016.
  10. Web site: Moyen Atlas Mediterranean Crafts Archive. www.mediterraneancraftsarchive.it. 19 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222074154/http://www.mediterraneancraftsarchive.it/it/node/1650. 22 December 2015. dead.
  11. Web site: texte. Société de l'industrie minérale (France) Auteur du. Revue de l'industrie minérale / publiée par la Société de l'industrie minérale.... Gallica. 19 October 2016. 1 July 1933.
  12. Web site: Coupe du Trône : le CAK conserve son sacre : Un exploit historique pour l’équipe féminine de la capitale des Zayanes. Libération. 19 October 2016.