The women potter's of Ain Bouchrik are more than artisans- they are storytellers, historians and custodians of their heritage .Their work,shaped by the mountains and memories of those who came before them,carries the essence of a timeless tradition. Documenting their craft not only preserving their legacy but also reminds of the beauty and resilience that emerge when art is deeply rooted in the land and its people .Tucked away in the Rif mountains, Ainbouchrik is a village where a time seems to move at its own its own rhythm , shaped by the hands of its people.Among the village 's most cherished traditions is pottery , a craft that women here have preserved for generations . Their work is not about crafting functional items , but it is an expression of culture, history and identity . I wanted to go back to the source of my ancestors even though I never have lived there and tell their stories, techniques and the life of these remarkable women shedding light on a craft that holds a deep significance in Ainbouchrik, potter's begins with the earth itself . Women gather clay from surrounding land , often trekking long distances to find the right type . The clay is carefully mixed with natural materials to create a workable texture then shaped by using hand built techniques like coiling , pinching and slab building.Each piece is built slowly layer by layer without the aid of a potter's wheel. Lala Zhour then cleans and lets it rest before going through mixing it with gravels.

The process is deeply tactile.fingers smooth the coils, forming the vessels that seem to carry the fingerprint of their makers into elernity.Once shaped , the pieces are left to dry in the sun , coated and painted with locally sourced pigments then fire in the open pits- a method lends each piece its distinctive , rustic finish .I am grateful and thankful to Lala Zhour Potter master who received me , cooked for me and taught me the art of the women of the Rif and big thank you to Dar Lala Zhour _ the owner and his family who hosted me in their house for 4 nights and guided every day through mountains in the rain to take to the potter's village to learn everyday , he can also arrange a taxi to pick you up and hotels in Fez