![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EDLAAJDAPJYEXKPIMREXFHPHNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=eae4ece945de35421fb9d6ab77d088574dd23f7d52c4eacc23fa2b74581871d5&width=400&height=225)
Houda Oumal and her mother Fatima Harama work on pottery near Ourtzagh. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WTIDU5FCQ4DGJFA62NMOBRTPDY.jpg?smart=true&auth=4932401610d694deccf9957179280f153db1b09de98aa1cab92481cc1d5032a3&width=400&height=225)
Moroccan potter Fatima Harama from the M'tioua tribe works on pottery near the village of Ourtzagh, Morocco. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/25AO2C25XAAIKMW4G562E5EV6A.jpg?smart=true&auth=19217734d9ae5ade695ff1eda280b3f4817191f65d86a8ec7b694df93198911f&width=400&height=225)
Moroccan potter Aicha Tabiz, left, also known as Mama Aicha, sits next to British apprentice Kim West during a pottery workshop near the village of Ourtzagh in the foothills of the Rif mountains. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DNCKMJXLQQ4EYLPCQUAGVYYTZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=f182f4d5c86f0002f47e4594a21b04e6a892e12a068f7d02e58ed5bae62619f2&width=400&height=225)
Mama Aicha's beautiful handcrafted pottery rarely sells in Morocco any more, but thanks to social media her ancient techniques are drawing students from around the world. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NAVH5V62ZBZRI7EB6AFHDHMOBY.jpg?smart=true&auth=cfb85f4b19fd843263600d2ee385b93569e22224125d9a70fd0ca8801bb8fbae&width=400&height=225)
The Sumano association, which promotes Moroccan tribal women's handicrafts, places orders with the potters, buys the works, transports them to Spain and sells them at 20 times the local price on its website. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/55T2B6Q25X6TWLAUYDRAY4VRGI.jpg?smart=true&auth=5eb4b22a0997ac97f588ec3647b8ff6103b960ff415fb7ba591148f58d8a2bc6&width=400&height=225)
A neighbour watches as Moroccan potter Houda Oumal, sitting next to her mother Fatima Harama, paints with natural pigments on one of her pieces of pottery. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H6NYO7D23BWV3PUPZNOWKTSTFE.jpg?smart=true&auth=822d75051ad64837a3c1b7ddc7e4b0bab5df9b2eb066a8dded6a5f395996afde&width=400&height=225)
Houda Oumal paints with natural pigments on one of her pieces of pottery as her mother Fatima Harama looks on. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VIO4C7Y6NEPO5HSTV4SYCP2JNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=7bd2b3d22422810afe6d7d2e566f7da7aad22a67a5e959a6902c3ef246dd68e5&width=400&height=225)
It is thanks to Instagram that Mama Aicha's work has gained a global reputation. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OFVQ7HXRUC2YPQ3D6MATRGG7LY.jpg?smart=true&auth=26545075a6cff31df14152a446850e71fc0fe1dced906cd3dc26ec89a0fc45a3&width=400&height=225)
Houda Oumal, from the M'tioua tribe, is one of the few to want to "follow in the footsteps of her mother". AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LXZOVPCLJ5G6DV3HN2HTHLJ3PQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=743c210d0e254dfcfcb96b31d14f5cb941002032e40346cf9587bfbdcf81caab&width=400&height=225)
Like everywhere in the Rif mountains, women potters from the Sless tribe, to which Aicha Tabiz's family belongs, are vanishing. The tribe counted around 90 potters at the end of 1990s. Now, only a half-dozen remain. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EDLAAJDAPJYEXKPIMREXFHPHNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=eae4ece945de35421fb9d6ab77d088574dd23f7d52c4eacc23fa2b74581871d5&width=400&height=225)
Houda Oumal and her mother Fatima Harama work on pottery near Ourtzagh. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WTIDU5FCQ4DGJFA62NMOBRTPDY.jpg?smart=true&auth=4932401610d694deccf9957179280f153db1b09de98aa1cab92481cc1d5032a3&width=400&height=225)
Moroccan potter Fatima Harama from the M'tioua tribe works on pottery near the village of Ourtzagh, Morocco. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/25AO2C25XAAIKMW4G562E5EV6A.jpg?smart=true&auth=19217734d9ae5ade695ff1eda280b3f4817191f65d86a8ec7b694df93198911f&width=400&height=225)
Moroccan potter Aicha Tabiz, left, also known as Mama Aicha, sits next to British apprentice Kim West during a pottery workshop near the village of Ourtzagh in the foothills of the Rif mountains. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DNCKMJXLQQ4EYLPCQUAGVYYTZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=f182f4d5c86f0002f47e4594a21b04e6a892e12a068f7d02e58ed5bae62619f2&width=400&height=225)
Mama Aicha's beautiful handcrafted pottery rarely sells in Morocco any more, but thanks to social media her ancient techniques are drawing students from around the world. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NAVH5V62ZBZRI7EB6AFHDHMOBY.jpg?smart=true&auth=cfb85f4b19fd843263600d2ee385b93569e22224125d9a70fd0ca8801bb8fbae&width=400&height=225)
The Sumano association, which promotes Moroccan tribal women's handicrafts, places orders with the potters, buys the works, transports them to Spain and sells them at 20 times the local price on its website. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/55T2B6Q25X6TWLAUYDRAY4VRGI.jpg?smart=true&auth=5eb4b22a0997ac97f588ec3647b8ff6103b960ff415fb7ba591148f58d8a2bc6&width=400&height=225)
A neighbour watches as Moroccan potter Houda Oumal, sitting next to her mother Fatima Harama, paints with natural pigments on one of her pieces of pottery. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H6NYO7D23BWV3PUPZNOWKTSTFE.jpg?smart=true&auth=822d75051ad64837a3c1b7ddc7e4b0bab5df9b2eb066a8dded6a5f395996afde&width=400&height=225)
Houda Oumal paints with natural pigments on one of her pieces of pottery as her mother Fatima Harama looks on. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VIO4C7Y6NEPO5HSTV4SYCP2JNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=7bd2b3d22422810afe6d7d2e566f7da7aad22a67a5e959a6902c3ef246dd68e5&width=400&height=225)
It is thanks to Instagram that Mama Aicha's work has gained a global reputation. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OFVQ7HXRUC2YPQ3D6MATRGG7LY.jpg?smart=true&auth=26545075a6cff31df14152a446850e71fc0fe1dced906cd3dc26ec89a0fc45a3&width=400&height=225)
Houda Oumal, from the M'tioua tribe, is one of the few to want to "follow in the footsteps of her mother". AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LXZOVPCLJ5G6DV3HN2HTHLJ3PQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=743c210d0e254dfcfcb96b31d14f5cb941002032e40346cf9587bfbdcf81caab&width=400&height=225)
Like everywhere in the Rif mountains, women potters from the Sless tribe, to which Aicha Tabiz's family belongs, are vanishing. The tribe counted around 90 potters at the end of 1990s. Now, only a half-dozen remain. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EDLAAJDAPJYEXKPIMREXFHPHNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=eae4ece945de35421fb9d6ab77d088574dd23f7d52c4eacc23fa2b74581871d5&width=400&height=225)
Houda Oumal and her mother Fatima Harama work on pottery near Ourtzagh. AFP
How social media is helping to keep the craft of Morocco's last female potters alive
Enthusiasts from around the world are journeying to the Rif mountains to learn the disappearing practice – and it's all thanks to Instagram
AFP
11 July, 2019
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