Spain decided to establish a protectorate in Morocco in 1912, and the government used the Spanish military to administer their new territory. After Spain's evolvement in Morocco, Africanism evolved into a military mentality found within the army that occupied the Moroccan territories. Much of the army, especially the officer class, developed an interest in Spanish occupation because it was easier for both officers and infantry to get promoted as promotion was based on merit and military accomplishments. Many of the officers in the army desired a distinguished military career which led to a growth of support of the movement.^[7]

There was a growing rivalry within the Spanish military between the soldiers stationed in Africa, the Africanists, and the soldiers stationed on the Iberian Peninsula, the Junteros. Another difference between the two groups was that the Africanists were composed of infantry and cavalry, while the Junteros were composed of artillery units and the majority of the officers in the military. The rivalry began when a conflict of interest arose. After the Spanish-Moroccan wars, the government began to reward the army stationed in Morocco higher pay and quicker promotion. Many Junteros felt envy that they were paid less and lost prestige. The Junteros blocked any support directed to help the soldiers stationed in Africa as an attempt to weaken the Africanists. This rivalry also took different sides in the Spanish Civil War, with Junteros supporting the Republicans, while the Africanists supported the rebels. Francisco Franco was an important figure in the Africanist movement.^[8]

Many Africanists supported the concept of empire due to a sense of nationalism. One of the justifications for Spanish imperialism in Africa was Hispanidad. This was the idea of racial superiority of the Spanish linguistic-cultural people over those of non-Europeans. The other justification that Africanists used to justify imperialism, specifically in Morocco, was Parentesco. This was the idea that claimed that the Spanish and Moroccans were racially similar, and thus they should be unified.^[9]

The general Spanish public had no interest in imperialistic actions such as the administration of Spanish Morocco.^[10] The public also felt resentment not only toward the Africanists, but the military in its entirety. This was due to the military's role to put down populist revolts. The growing alienation from the Spanish mainland pushed Africanists to adopt many Berber traditions found in Morocco, and they respected the Berber's military might and bravery.^[11]

• Alfonso XIII – King of Spain from 1886 to 1931
• Prince Fernando de Baviera – Infante of Spain^{[citation needed]}
• Alfonso de Orleans – Infante of Spain^{[citation needed]}
• Manuel Fernández Silvestre – a Spanish general^{[citation needed]}
• Damaso Berenguer – a Spanish general^{[citation needed]}
• Alfredo Kindelán – founder of the Spanish Air Force^{[citation needed]}
• José Sanjurjo^[12]
• Francisco Franco^[12]
• Emilio Mola^[12]
• José Millán-Astray^[12]
• Juan Yagüe^[12]
• Emilio Blanco Izaga^[12]
• José Marina^[12]
• Francisco Gómez Jordana [es]^[12]