The Free People

Layla Hannah Rafaoui

On our gravestones, the Greeks and Romans wrote “barbarians,”
Yet we rose, resolute and egalitarian.
Our mark was etched in blood and pain,
No French, Spanish, or Italian chains could stain.

Liberation lost, then found anew—
A flame rekindled, steadfast and true.
From Rif warriors holding their ground,
To rebel cries that echoed around,
Our mountains rang with freedom’s call,
Refusing to bow, refusing to fall.

We predate borders that men have drawn,
A culture deep, unyielding, and strong.
Though nationalism may fade and fall,
Our timeless history outlasts it all.

In the Rif, Abdelkrim made his stand,
Against invaders who sought our land.
Through Atlas peaks, guerrillas fought,
For freedoms that cannot be bought.
In southern realms, our ancestors rose,
Their courage burned as history shows.

Tajines, rugs, and jewelry bright,
Tiles that shimmer in the desert light.
Weaving, metalwork, and maps of stars,
Guiding journeys from near and far.
No more special than all the rest,
Yet shaped by hands that G-d has blessed.

Tamghart—the woman, wise and bold,
Her enduring tale is proudly told.
Queen Dihya’s wisdom, fierce and grand,
Her battle cry rang across the land.
With unyielding courage, she turned the tide,
A beacon where hope and valor reside.
Her vision still lights our way,
A guiding star from a storied day.

Tin Hinan, matriarch of desert dunes,
Her wisdom echoed beneath the moons.
She shaped the Tuareg, a nation strong,
Her spirit lives on, a song of dawn.
Through desert trials, her courage led,
A queen whose heart will never be dead.
Her hands built paths through sand and strife,
A symbol of strength, the pulse of life. 

Ibn Battuta, wanderer of sea and sand,
A scholar whose journeys spanned the land.
From Africa’s deserts to distant shores,
His wisdom through the ages soars.
He sailed the currents, explored the unknown,
A legacy of curiosity brightly shown.
A bridge across time, his spirit soars,
A testament to our people’s lore.

Ibn al-Banna, scholar of great renown,
In Spain’s courts, his wisdom wore a crown.
A mathematician, his work was clear,
Mapping the stars, bringing them near.
In algebra and astronomy, he paved the way,
Turning the dark of night into the light of day.
His mind bridged cultures, from north to south,
A beacon of learning, from his brilliant mouth.

Fatima al-Fihri, with a vision so grand,
Founded Al Quaraouiyine in the desert's sand.
A university to teach and to learn,
Her commitment to knowledge continues to burn.
A woman who built from nothing but will,
Her influence still echoes, timeless and still.

Ahmed Baba, of Timbuktu's fame,
A scholar whose works still carry his name.
In the heart of Africa, knowledge thrived,
Through his pens, ancient wisdom survived.
He preserved the past, a spark in the night,
His work continues to leave a lasting light.

Now we must embrace the past as our guide,
Forging a future where tradition and freedom collide.
Beneath the vast Sahara and mountains high,
We, the free people, have spirits that never die.