05/12/2022
The legend of Isli and Tislit
Once upon a time, in the heart of the Atlas Mountains, there lived a young girl named Tislit. Tislit was stunningly beautiful, full of life and always had a smile on her face. One day her whole world turned upside down. While taking out the family's sheep, she met a young shepherd. They talked and laughed with each other, but then they asked each other what tribe they belonged to, and they found that their tribes were sworn enemies. Isli was a son of the Aït Yazza tribe, and Tislit was a daughter of the Aït Brahim tribe.
But they continued to meet in secret, because since the first time they met, all they could think about was each other. One day, Tislit revealed her love for Isli to the only person she could trust, her mother. Her mother said she would discuss it with her father, but told her not to hold her breath, it was an impossible mission. Later the same day, in the neighboring village, Isli explained to his father that he wanted to propose to Tislit, a girl from the other tribe. But neither Tislit's nor Islis' parents accepted this union, it would lead to war and destruction.
Heartbroken, they knew it would be impossible to live apart. On a moonlit night, they secretly met on a hill between the two villages. Tislit arrived before him and when Isli arrived he saw her crying desperately. He knew there was nothing that would change their parents' decision, so he suddenly burst into tears too. Their flood of tears was said to create two lakes beneath the hills of the mountains, and it was there that the young lovers exchanged vows and finally drowned to be spared a separate life and heartbreak.
Their belligerent families would explode with guilt, and the tribal elders, deciding it would never happen again, gave their youth the right to choose their own life partner. The two lakes, named Isli and Tislit, are located just north of the town of Imilchil. And because of this legend, the Aït Hdiddou (Aït Yazza and Aït Brahim are branches of that greater tribe) to this day celebrate a moussem engagement festival, where young men and women can meet and engage on the spot. This moussem is one of the most beautiful and original popular gatherings in Morocco ❤️
