Deep in the heart of the rural Rif mountains, one boy's life is dictated by tribal tradition, superstition and religion. But Jusef dreams of more; it's a dream that will send him far from his shepherding hills to the bustle of the big city in search of education, meaning and, above all, a different way of life. From the richness of a story overflowing with tales of tragedies, courage and triumphs, Jusef 's journey reveals the complexities of Moroccan culture and the overwhelming restraints facing those on the fringes. As the country questions its identity in the fading period of colonial rule, one Berber boy must also challenge who he is and who he is meant to be - as he discovers in the fight against adversity, dreams might not be enough ... A Riffian's Tune is an autobiographical novel about forging your own path, the power of hope, and daring to step into the labyrinth of life - no matter what.

Moroccan-born Joseph M. Labaki has earned two Ph.D.s - one from University of Louvain, Belgium and one from Southampton University - as well as an Aggregation from University of Louvain and a BD from Edinburgh University in Scotland. As Professor du Chair at Rabat University, he penned an academic treatise, Inconscient et Sexualite, on phenomenological research of Merleau-Ponty. He lives in Edinburgh, Scotland with his wife and two daughters. A Riffian's Tune is his first, and largely autobiographical, novel; like Jusef, the main character, he dreamed of a better life.