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When she was only 15 years old, Casablanca born-and-bred Dalila Mosbah, got her first bike. With her now husband, who was also 15 at the time, they rode their bikes to school. Their shared passion for biking blossomed into friendship, then love and marriage.
When she became a mother, Dalila who worked at Morocco’s flag carrier, had to stop riding to take care of her children. Once her children were grown, she decided to reignite her passion for riding. And like the old days, ride with her partner.
In 2008, she passed her motorbike driving license, and decided to look for female bikers. During one of her trips to the United States, to visit one of her sons who lived there, Dalila was amazed by the number of female bikers she met during her riding trips.
«I used to spot female bikers of all colors and ages. I thought to myself why not gather all female bikers, if there is any, in Morocco and have our own little community», she told Yabiladi.
The first women only motorcycle club in Morocco
She recalls that right after that trip, she returned to Morocco with the goal of setting up an association for female bikers. And so it was, in 2011 the biker founded Miss Moto Maroc, the first non-profit organization of its kind in Morocco and the Arab World.
Dalila, who had applied for early retirement, then started spreading the word, looking for women who drove motorbikes. «It was a challenge to find female bikers and have them join my association», she admitted.
«I used to ask vendors, and shops that sold bikes to introduce me to female bikers or help me reach their female clients, or even stop female bikers in the streets and ask if they would like to join», she recalls.
Since then, Dalila’s association has been gathering women riders of all ages from all walks of life. Sharing the same love and respect for riding, together and under the guidance of Dalila, the group organizes regular trips, parades, and tours around the country.
«I organize the trips, check the roads, the accommodation, the hotels for our riders. They trust me», she proudly declared.
Dalila’s family of bikers includes moms, students, and professionals from all sectors. Together they have found a refuge, a platform for their shared love for biking, a very unusual hobby for women in Morocco and in many other countries.
Adventure and a shared passion
Among Dalila’ family of bikers, we find Aicha Ezzine, a recent member, but a longtime enthusiast of adventure and challenges. Unlike Dalila, the mother and housewife, picked up biking later in life.
After her three children decided to study abroad, she had time to focus on herself and find her passion in life. «I have a knack for adventure and love challenges. With the encouragement of my husband, I decided to finally start riding», the former swimming champion told Yabiladi.
«Riding was an old passion of mine, and the idea was in the back of my mind for years», Aicha admitted. «But I had a bigger mission, which is that of being a mom and raising my kids. Now that my kids are older, it is time for me, for Aicha».
Aicha joined Miss Moto Maroc one year ago, after following them on social media for years. As soon as she secured her motorcycle driving license, she applied to join, before even purchasing a motorbike.
But to Aicha, riding means a lot, it reminds her of her days as an athlete. «Biking is always great, you discover places, you feel free and get that adrenaline boost. It’s a great feeling», she said with a smile on her face.
In her family, riding has brought her closer to her husband, who is now sharing her passion. «We are now doing more stuff together, travelling together and even watching biking videos, films, vlogs together», she said.
A chance to discover Morocco
For Najat, a French-Moroccan, it is the other way around. Riding was her husband’s idea. One year after the couple decided to leave France for Morocco and settle down in Casablanca, they enrolled in a motorcycle driving course.
«We began the course together», the mother recalls. After obtaining her license, Najat learned from her daughter’s piano tutor about Miss Moto Maroc and she immediately joined.
«When you get your motorcycle driving license you don’t really get to ride with others, while here I have this guidance», she told Yabiladi. With Miss Moto Maroc, Najat who lived most of her life in France gets to discover her motherland.
«What I like about riding is that it enables me to travel, discover places and meet new people. It makes me see the world from a different angle», she explained. Three years since she started biking, Najat has learned a lot about herself and her country.
«It is a very interesting experience, because it pushes us, as women, to go beyond our fears and discover new horizons. It is enriching, multicultural, and fun», she joked.
Challenging norms and stereotypes
Miss Moto Maroc is also about changing preconceived ideas and stereotypes about bikers, according to Hind Mazili, the youngest member to join the association. The 31-year-old interior designer joined the association in 2012, one year after its creation.
Unlike the others, Hind's love for riding began at a very young age, when she was only 9 years old. She enjoyed driving her kid’s scooter, before her parents got her first 49-cylinder bike at the age of 13.
«I don’t know where this love for biking came from because none of my family members are into biking», she joked. When she turned 19, Hind had to convince her parents of getting her the bike of her dreams, a motorcycle.
«It was a struggle to convince my parents of getting one, especially my mom. My dad was more understanding of my passion for biking. It is particularly difficult when you are a girl, but I fought for it», recalls the young woman.
One week after getting her bike and while she was riding in the streets of Casablanca, the then 19-year-old biker was approached by Dalila. «She was driving her car and I was riding my motorcycle. Then I heard someone honking, she then waved at me to stop. To my surprise, she told me that she has a female bikers association and wants me to be part of it», she recalls.
Since then, her journey with Miss Moto Maroc started, with it another journey of discipline, patience and a sense of responsibility.
«Riding with Dalila and the girls made me mature and kept me away from recklessness», she said. «With time, you understand the risks of riding such a powerful motorbike and you understand the importance of safety and discipline», she stressed. Joining the association was also an opportunity for the young woman to help break up with prejudice associated with bikers in general, and female bikers.
«Unfortunately, some think that a female biker, is imprudent or reckless and careless. This is what I try to change within my community», she told Yabiladi.
Riding has also helped Hind be more responsible in her life. To her, «the very fact of realizing that you are responsible for this big-engined machine gives a lot of confidence», but as a biker, «one should respect their passion and the trust that people and their families put in them».
Together with her women-only bikers club, Dalila is a member of the Women’s International Motorcycle Association (WIMA) World sisterhood, representing Morocco as one of the more than 40 member countries.
