MOROCCO - Info4Migrants · 2017. 1. 22. · National Flag National emblem Rabat WESTERN SAHARA ALGERIA SPAIN ... in Arab flags, and the pentacle represents the five pillars ... Allegiance

Info4Migrants

MOROCCOCountry profile

Project number: UK/13/LLP-LdV/TOI-615

446 550 km2

33,848 mlnPOPULATION

GDP per capita

CURRENCY

$3,291

Languages ARABIC, BERBER

Moroccan dirham (MAD)

2 Country profile MOROCCOLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

COUNTRY BACKGROUND

Official name: Al Mamlakah al Magribiyah, the Kingdom of Morocco.

Location: the Maghreb region of North Africa, bordering Alge-ria, Western Sahara and Spain

Climate: Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the in-terior. Geographically, Morocco is characterized by a rugged mountainous interior and large portions of desert. It is one of only three countries (with Spain and France) to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines.

Capital: Rabat

Largest city: Casablanca

Ethnic Make-up: Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%

Religions: Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%

Government: constitutional monarchy

National Flag

National emblem

Rabat

WESTERN SAHARA

ALGERIA

SPAIN

Morocco


MOROCCO FACTS

The nameThe name The English name “Morocco” originates from the Spanish and Portuguese names “Marruecos” and “Marro-cos”. These, in turn, derived from “Marrakesh”, the medie-val Latin name for the former Almoravid dynasty and Almo-had Caliphate capital of ancient Morocco.

“Marrakesh” remains the name for Morocco in Persian, as it was, until the late 20th century, in Middle Eastern Arabic. In Turkish, Morocco is known as “Fas”, a name derived from its ancient capital Fes. The word “Marrakesh” is made of the Berber word-combination Mur N’Akush, meaning “the Land of God”.

ClimateThe climate is Mediterranean in the North and in some of the mountains (West of Atlas), and it which becomes more extreme towards the interior regions. The terrain is such that the coastal plains are rich, and accordingly, they comprise the backbone for agriculture, especially in the North. Forests cover about 12% of the land while arable land accounts for 18%; 5% is irrigated. In the Atlas (Middle Atlas), there are several different climates: Mediterranean (with some more humid and fresher variants), Maritime Temperate (with some humid and fresher variants too) that allow different species of oaks, moss carpets, junipers, Atlantic cedars and many oth-er plants, to form extensive and very rich humid cloud forests. The climate changes when moving east of the Atlas mountains due to the barrier, or shelter, effect of the mountain system, becoming very dry and extremely warm during the long summer, especially on the low-lands and on the valleys facing the Sahara.


MOROCCO FACTS

Argan OilMoroccan oil, which is also known as argon oil or argane oil, is a derivative from the Argania Spinoza tree home-grown in Morocco. There are two purpos-es for this miracle oil: cosmetic and culinary. Argan oil has been used in Moroccan cuisine for centuries and is still used now. It is believed to have remarkable nutritional benefits and to be an effective source to lower cholesterol. Recently, Moroccan oil has gained an international reputation as nature’s anti-aging skin care product.

FlagMorocco’s flag is red with a green pentacle (five-pointed linear star) known as Sulayman’s (Solomon’s) seal in the centre of the flag. Red and green are traditional colours in Arab flags, and the pentacle represents the five pillars of Islam and signifies the association between God and the nation. Its design dates to 1912.

HennaMoroccan Henna is a plant that can reach up to one me-ter in height. The leaves produce yellow or red dye. The henna is often used for body painting. There are several types of henna plants depending on the country of origin, and in Iran, Western India, China, North Africa and the West henna is used for temporary tattoos.


MOROCCO FACTS

Family valuesThe family is the most significant unit of Moroccan life and plays an important role in all social relations. The individual is always subordinate to the family or group. Nepotism is viewed positively, since it indicates patron-age of one’s family. The family consists of both the nu-clear and the extended family. The elderly are revered and respected and often exert a great influence on the rest of the family.

LanguagesClassical Arabic is Morocco’s official language, but the country’s distinctive Arabic dialect is the most widely spo-ken language in Morocco. In addition, about 10 million Moroccans, mostly in rural areas, speak Berber - which exists in Morocco in three different dialects - either as a first language or bilingually with the spoken Arabic dia-lect. French, which remains Morocco’s unofficial third lan-guage, is taught universally and still serves as Morocco’s primary language of commerce and economics; it also is widely used in education and government. Many Moroc-cans in the northern part of the country speak Spanish. English is rapidly becoming the foreign language of choice among educated youth.

DesertificationMorocco faces a problem with desertification. Desertifi-cation is the process where fertile land becomes barren and desert-like. Desertification may be caused by forces of nature, such as lack of rainfall or drought. Humans contribute to desertification when they clear away all the trees or allow their livestock to graze too much so that they eat away all the plants. These practices leave no plants to hold the soil in place, so wind and rain can carry away the fertile topsoil.


January 1, Ras l’âm, New Year’s DayThere is no religious signif-icance attached to this day, but it is recognized in Moroc-co as a holiday in line with the rest of the world.

Moveable day during winter, Eid El-Mawlid The celebration of the birth of the Prophet Mohammed takes place on the twelfth day of the third Islamic cal-endar month of Rabi’ al-aw-wal.

May 11, Yaûm Al-Âmal, La-bor DayOtherwise known as May Day and International Work-er’s Day, this celebration takes place all around the world in recognition of work-ers’ rights and their contribu-tion to society.

Moveable day during sum-mer, Eid ul-FitrThis holiday marks the end of Ramadan, a period of fasting and intense worship for ad-herents of the Muslim faith.

August 14, Zikra Oued Ed-Dahab, Allegiance DayKnown locally as Zikra Oued

Ed-Dahab, this is the com-memoration of the return of the Oued Eddahab region to Morocco by Mauritania.

August 20, Thaourat al-ma-lik wa shâab, Revolution of the King and the PeopleThis day is celebrated in re-membrance of the return of King Mohammed V to Mo-rocco after a period of exile in Madagascar. His return set in motion negotiations that would later lead to Moroc-can independence.

21 August, Eid Al Milad, Birthday of King Moham-med VIThis day is set aside for the citizens of Morocco, and particularly the youth, to celebrate the birthday of the Kingdom of Morocco’s cur-rent reigning king.

Moveable day during au-tumn or winter, Eid ul-AdhaThis festival is a reminder of Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael in obedience to a command from God.

November 6, Eid Al Massira Al Khadra, Anniversary of

the Green MarchThis day commemorates the event on 6 November 1975 when around 350,000 un-armed Moroccans along with 27,000 soldiers marched to the border of Western Saha-ra calling for the territory to be returned to Morocco. The color green was chosen to identify with Islam.

Moveable day during au-tumn or winter, Fatih Mu-harram, Islamic New Year Known as Fatih Muharram, this religious holiday is cel-ebrated on the first day of the first month of the Islamic calendar, which is lunar and therefore takes place on a different date than in the Gregorian calendar. Mus-lims take time on this day to reflect on the significance of this month as well as the Hijra the prophet Mohamed made to the city of Medina.

November 18, Eid Al Istiqu-lal, Independence DayThis is Morocco’s National Day in recognition of the country’s independence. Var-ious celebrations take place throughout the country.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS


Early daysMorocco has been the home of the Berbers since the second millennium B.C. In A.D. 46, Morocco was annexed by Rome as part of the province of Mauritania until the Vandals overran this portion of the declining empire in the 5th century. The Arabs invaded cir-ca 685, bringing Islam. The Berbers joined them in invading Spain in 711, but then they revolted against the Arabs, resenting their secondary status. In 1086, Berbers took control of large areas of Moorish Spain until they were expelled in the 13th century.

The land was rarely unified and was usu-ally ruled by small tribal states. Conflicts between Berbers and Arabs were chronic. Portugal and Spain began invading Morocco, which helped to unify the land in defence. In 1660, Morocco came under the rule of the Alawite dynasty. It is a sherif dynasty—descended from the prophet Mohammad—and rules Morocco to this day.

French and Spanish ColonizationDuring the 17th and 18th centuries, Mo-rocco was one of the Barbary States, the headquarters of pirates who pillaged Mediterranean traders. European powers showed interest in colonizing the country beginning in 1840, and there were frequent clashes with the French and Spanish. Final-ly, in 1904, France and Spain concluded a secret agreement that divided Morocco into zones of French and Spanish influence, with France controlling almost all of Morocco and Spain controlling the small southwest portion, which became known as Spanish

Sahara. Morocco grew into an even greater object of European rivalry by the turn of the century, nearly leading to a European war in 1905 when Germany attempted to gain a foothold in the mineral-rich country.

By the terms of the Algeciras Conference (1906), the sultan of Morocco maintained control of his lands and the privileges ob-tained by France were curtailed. The con-ference was an indication of what was to come in World War I, with Germany and Austria-Hungary lining up on one side of the territorial dispute, and France, Britain, and the United States on the other.

Independence and Sovereignty of MoroccoIIn 1912, the sultan of Morocco, Moulay Abd al-Hafid, permitted French protectorate status. Nationalism grew during World War II. Sultan Muhammed V was deposed by the French in 1953 and replaced by his uncle, but nationalist agitation forced his return in 1955. In 1956, France and Spain recognized the independence and sovereignty of Mo-rocco. After his death on 26 February, 1961, Muhammed V’s son succeeded him as King Hassan II. In the 1990s, King Hassan promul-gated “Hassanian democracy,” which al-lowed for significant political freedom while at the same time retaining ultimate power for the monarch. In August 1999, King Has-san II died after 38 years on the throne, and his son, Prince Sidi Muhammed, was crowned King Muhammed VI. Since then, Muhammed VI has pledged to make the political system more open, allow freedom of expression, and support economic re-

HISTORY IN BRIEF


form. He has also advocated more rights for women, a position opposed by Islamic fundamentalists. The entrenched political elite and the military have also been leery of some reform proposals. With about 20% of the population living in dire poverty, eco-nomic expansion is a primary goal.

Morocco’s Occupation of Western SaharaMorocco’s occupation of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) has been repeat-edly criticized by the international com-munity. In the 1970s, tens of thousands of Moroccans crossed the border into Spanish Sahara to support their government’s con-tention that the northern part of the terri-tory was historically part of Morocco. Spain, which had controlled the territory since 1912, withdrew in 1976. When Mauritania withdrew in August 1979, Morocco overran the remainder of the territory.

A rebel group, the Polisario Front, has fought against Morocco since 1976 for the independence of Western Sahara on behalf of the indigenous Saharawis. The Polisario and Morocco agreed in September 1991 to a UN-negotiated cease-fire, which was contingent on a referendum regarding in-dependence. For the past decade, however, Morocco has opposed the referendum. In 2002, King Muhammed VI reasserted that he “will not renounce an inch of” Western Sahara.

Arab Spring Protests Reach MoroccoOn May 16, 2003, terrorists believed to be associated with al-Qaeda killed 33 peo-ple in several simultaneous attacks. Four bombs targeted Jewish, Spanish, and Bel-gian buildings in Casablanca. In the terrorist bombings of 2004 in Madrid, Spain, numer-ous Moroccans were implicated. A wave of suicide bombings struck Casablanca in March and April 2007. Authorities were not certain if the attacks were related.

Early in 2011, tens of thousands of pro-de-mocracy protesters gathered in various cities, calling for a shift to a constitutional monarchy in what was termed the Febru-ary 20th movement. King Mohammed VI answered with promises of reform, which took the shape of a constitutional refer-endum in July. February 20th supporters called for a boycott of the referendum, calling the included reforms inadequate and taking offense at its intent to bolster the king’s position as “supreme arbiter” of political and institutional life.

HISTORY IN BRIEF

Sultan Abdelhafid of Morocco


IslamIslam is practised by the majority of Moroc-cans and governs their personal, political, economic and legal lives. Islam emanat-ed from what is today Saudi Arabia. The Prophet Mohammed is seen as the last of God’s emissaries (following in the footsteps of Jesus, Moses, Abraham, etc) to bring rev-elation to mankind. He was distinguished with bringing a message for the whole of mankind, rather than just to certain people. As Moses brought the Torah and Jesus the Bible, Mohammed brought the last book, the Quran. The Quran and the actions of the Prophet (the Sunnah) are used as the basis for all guidance in the religion.

Muslims are obligated to pray five times a day. Friday is the Muslim holy day; many companies also close on Thursday, making the weekend Thursday and Friday.

During the holy month of Ramadan, all Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk and are only permitted to work six hours per day. Fasting includes no eating, drinking, cigarette smoking, or gum chewing. Expa-triates are not required to fast; however,

they must not eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum in public. Each night at sunset, families and friends gather together to celebrate the breaking of the fast (iftar). The festiv-ities often continue well into the night. In general, things happen more slowly during Ramadan. Many businesses operate on a reduced schedule. Shops may be open and closed at unusual times.

Hshuma, the Concept of Shame Moroccans’ most cherished possession is their honour and dignity, which concerns not only themselves, but also all members of their extended family.

Hshuma occurs when other people know that someone has behaved inappropriately. A Moroccan’s sense of self-worth is exter-nally focused, so the way others see them is of paramount importance.

In business, it is extremely important to verify anything that has been agreed to in front of others as it may not have been a sincere agreement and the person may have no intention of following through.

SOCIETY & CULTURE


INDIGENOUS PEOPLEBerbersThe Berbers or Amazigh are an ethnic group indigenous to North Africa; the name Berber derives from the Latin barbarus.

Today, most of the Berber people live in Northern African countries, such as Algeria and Morocco; a large Berber population is also found in Tunisia, Lib-ya, Mauritania, Mali and Niger, as well as large migrant communities living in France, Turkey and other countries of Europe. The Berber identity is usually wider than language and ethnicity, and encompasses the entire history and geography of North Africa. Berbers are not an entirely homogeneous ethnicity and they encompass a range of phenotypes, societies and ances-tries. The unifying forces for the Berber people may be their shared language, belonging to the Berber homeland, or a collective identification with the Berber heritage and history.There are some twenty-five to thirty million Berber speakers in North Africa. The number of ethnic Berbers (including non-Berber speakers) is far greater, as it is known that a large part of the Berbers have acquired other languages over the course of many decades or cen-turies, and no longer speak Berber today.

Well-known modern Berbers in Europe include Zinedine Zidane, a French-born internation-al football star of Algerian Kabyle descent, Loreen, the Swedish-born winner of Eurovision 2012, and Ibrahim Afellay, a Dutch-born football player of Moroccan Riffian descent.

Moroccan Berber women still have tattoos in geometric designs on their faces, sometimes covering much of their forehead, cheeks, and necks. These are marks of tribal identification and date from a time when it was necessary to be able to spot women of one’s tribe who had been carried off in raids.

Dubbed Moroccan, or Berber, tea has become the national drink of Morocco. It was intro-duced to Morocco in 1854 when blockaded British merchants uploaded large quantities of tea at major Moroccan ports. Thé à la Menthe (Green Mint Tea) is Chinese green tea brewed with a handful of mint leaves and loaded up with sugar.


INTERESTING FACTS

• Morocco is only 13 km from Europe, across the Strait of Gibraltar.

• Oukaïmeden, in Morroco’s High Atlas Mountains is the highest ski resort in Africa; however, snowfall rarely exceeds 20 cm) annually.

• White is the colour of mourning in Moroc-co. A Moroccan widow wears white for 40 days after the death of her husband.

• Morocco’s national animal is the Barbary lion. DNA evidence from two lion skulls found in the Tower of London prove that English royalty owned at least two Barbary lions sometime between the 13th and 15th centuries.

• Moroccans jokingly call their tap water Sidi Robinet (Sir, or Lord, Tap), and it is drinkable in most parts of the country.

• The word kasbah probably derives from the Turkish kasabe, meaning small town. In contemporary Morocco and all of North Africa, it is generally used to refer to the fortified strong point in a city.

• Often called the “Red City,” Marra-kech, Morocco, requires sun protection and headgear of some kind all year-round, even during winter.

• Morocco is the largest processor and ex-porter of sardines in the world.

• The English word “genie” comes direct-

ly from the Arabic word djinn, denoting a spiritual being that may play some part in human affairs if called upon. In Morocco, djinns are believed to frequent places as-sociated with water: public baths, drains, sinks, and even pots and pans.

• Casablanca, the film named after the Mo-roccan city, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, won the Academy Award for Best Motion Picture in 1942 and is con-sidered one of the best films of all time.

• The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the world’s seventh largest mosque, and it took five years of intensive labour by over 30,000 workers and craftsmen to complete it in 1993. The mosque’s minaret at 210 m high is the world’s tallest, and it is Casablan-ca’s chief landmark. In terms of covered area, the Hassan II Mosque is the largest in the world and has space for 80,000 wor-shippers.

• Morocco’s current royal family, the Alaouites, dates from the 17th century. Sul-tan Mohammed V, the current monarch’s grandfather, organized Morocco as a consti-tutional monarchy and assumed the title of King in 1957. Mohamed VI has been King of Morocco since July 30, 1999.

• Women’s rights in Morocco took a ma-jor step forward in 2004 with the reform of the country’s personal status code, the Moudawana. With the reform, women in Morocco can now have custody of their children, the unilateral repudiation of a wife


INTERESTING FACTS

is abolished, and a man’s taking of a sec-ond wife is subject to the approval of his first wife.

• Traditionally the liver, not the heart, is considered to be the symbol of love in Morocco.

• In the 1950s, Orson Welles stayed at the Hôtel des Îles in Essaouira, Morocco, while he was filming the movie Othello. Legend has it that he met Winston Churchill there. Essaouira also became famous as a hang-out for singers Cat Stevens and Jimi Hen-drix in the 1960s.

• In Morocco, very few citizens have pri-vate baths, and a ritual purification of the body is essential before Muslims can per-form prayers, so many Moroccans bathe at the public hammam (bath). The hammam is segregated and, along with the local zaouia (saints’ shrine), is an important place for women to socialize.

• Morocco is the only African country that is not a member of the African Union.

• The tomb of John the Baptist is said to reside in the shrine of Sidi Yahia ben Younes, situated in the Moroccan city of Oujda.

• The inventor of the first pedestrian crossing light, Leslie Hore-Belisha, is bur-ied in the Jewish cemetery of Essaouira.

• The Venus of Tan-Tan, a 6 cm stone carv-

ing found in a nearby river bed in 1999 in Morocco is alleged to be between 300,000 and 500,000 years old and may be the ear-liest artistic representation of the human form.

• Rabat was made the capital city of Mo-rocco in 1913 by the French because Mo-rocco had no fixed capital at the time. In the 17th century, the Moroccan city Rabat was, for a time, the center of the notori-ous Sallee Rovers, who were corsairs, or pirates. Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe was a fictional captive of a “Turkish rover of Sallee.”

• The médersa, an Islamic college of high-er education, originated in Persia and was developed in the Islamic west in the 13th century. The largest Moroccan médersa is the 16th century Médersa Ben Youssef in Marrakesh, which is also the largest médersa in North Africa.

• Casablanca, or Dar el Beïda (White House), is Morocco’s largest city. One version of how the city got its name states it was named after Caid’s house, a large, white building that is visible from a dis-tance. Another version states that Sidi Allal el-Kairouani named the city ad-Dār al-Bāyda (House of the White Princess), after his daughter, Lalla Beida. The city changed its name to the Spanish transla-tion “Casa Blanca” in 1770.

• Morocco is second only to Egypt in the Arab world for encouraging friendly re-


lations with Israel. At the end of 1993, a number of measures to improve rela-tions between the two countries were announced by the king, more specifically including the opening of direct air connec-tions and telephone and postal links.

• Äid al-Kebir (Big Festival) is the biggest holiday in Morocco, and elsewhere in the Muslim world it is called Eid al-Adha. It is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Dhu al-hijja, the month during which Muslims make a pilgrimage to Mecca.

• At the 1984 Olympic Games, Nawal el Moutawakel unexpectedly won the inau-gural running of the 400m hurdles, the first major title won by an Arab woman in an international competition.

• During the 1950s and 60s, Morocco served as a literary sanctuary for many foreign writers, including Americans Wil-liam S. Burroughs, Paul Bowles, Brion Gysin, Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsburg, and Tennessee Williams.

• Coveted since Roman times, Morocco’s rare and beautiful thuya wood can be found only in the western foothills of the Atlas Mountains. In modern times, this material is synonymous with wealth, being the first burled wood used for luxury dash-boards in the Rolls Royce.

• The Atlas film studios, 6 km outside of Ouarzazate, are known as Morocco’s Hol-

lywood. During the past century, hundreds of films have been shot in this region, including Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, Bertolucci’s The Sheltering Sky, and Scors-ese’s Kundun, among others.

INTERESTING FACTS


Morocco, unlike most other African countries, produces all the food it needs to feed its people. Its many home-grown fruits and vegetables include oranges, mel-ons, tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, and potatoes. Five more native products that are especially important in Moroccan cooking are lemons, olives, figs, dates, and almonds. Located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the country is rich in fish and seafood. Beef is not plentiful, so meals are usually built around lamb or poultry.

One of the great cuisines of the world, Moroccan cooking abounds with subtle spices and intriguing flavour combinations. Think tart green olives paired with chopped preserved lemon rind stirred into a tagine of tender chicken, the surprise of rich pigeon meat pie dusted with cinnamon and icing sugar, or sardines coated with a flavourful combination of coriander, parsley, cumin and a hint of chilli. In-fluenced by Andalusian Spain, Arabia and France, Morocco’s cuisine is a delicious combination of mouth-watering flavours that make it unique.

B’ssara At a few pennies a bowl, this rich soup of dried broad beans is traditionally served for breakfast, topped with a swirl of olive oil, a sprinkling of cumin and bread fresh from the oven.

Tagine A tagine is the clay cooking pot with a conical lid that gives its name to a myriad of dish-es. Tagines can be seen bubbling away at every roadside café, and they are found in top-notch restaurants and in every home, and always served with bread.

ChermoulaWith its long Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, Morocco boasts a rich array of fish dish-es. Chermoula is a combination of herbs and spices used as a marinade before grilling over coals, and as a dipping sauce.

Harira During the holy month of Ramadan, the fast is broken at sunset each day with a steaming bowl of harira soup. Rich with tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas and lamb, it is finished off with a squeeze of lemon juice and some chopped coriander, and served with a sticky sweet

CUISINE


pretzel called chebakkiya.

Kefta tagine Beef or lamb mince with garlic, fresh coriander and parsley, cinnamon and ground cori-ander is rolled into balls and cooked in a tomato and onion sauce. Just before the dish is ready, eggs are cracked into depressions in the sauce and cooked to perfection.

Couscous ‘Seksu’ or couscous is a fine wheat pasta traditionally rolled by hand. It is steamed over a stew of meat and vegetables. To serve, the meat is covered by a pyramid of couscous, the vegetables are pressed into the sides and the sauce served separately. It is often gar-nished with a sweet raisin preserve, or in the Berber tradition, with a bowl of buttermilk.

Makouda Moroccan street food is legendary and the best place to sample the wide variety is Dje-maa el-Fna square in Marrakech. Here beside the kebabs, calamari and grilled sardines, you will find the more unusual sweet cheek meat of sheep’s heads, snails cooked in a spicy broth that wards off colds, and skewers of lamb’s liver with caul fat. Makouda are little deep-fried potato balls, delicious dipped into spicy harissa sauce.

Zaalouk Moroccan meals begin with at least seven cooked vegetable salads to scoop up with bread. They can include green peppers and tomatoes, sweet carrots or courgette purée, and a dish of local olives alongside. Zaalouk is a smoked aubergine dip, seasoned with garlic, paprika, cumin and a little chilli powder.

B’stilla This very special pie represents the pinnacle of exquisite Fassi (from Fez) cuisine. Layers of a paper-thin pastry coddle a blend of pigeon meat, almonds and eggs spiced with saffron, cinnamon and fresh coriander, the whole dusted with icing sugar and cinnamon.

Mint tea Known as ‘Moroccan whisky’, mint tea is the drink of choice. It is usually heavily sweet-ened with sugar chipped off a sugar cone. Gunpowder tea is steeped with a few sprigs of spearmint stuffed into the teapot. It is poured into a tea glass from a height to create a froth called the crown.

CUISINE


MarrakeshThe bustling and vibrant buzz of Marrakesh Medina sums up Morocco for many visi-tors. The entrance to the Old City is via the vast plaza of Djemma el-fna Square where, it seems, half of the city converges throughout the day and into the evening to hang out with the stall vendors, traditional musicians, snake charmers and random acrobats. Once inside the Medina itself, you enter a world of maze-like alleyways and shopkeeper hustle. It is an experience full of colourful and noisy local life, and not to be missed on your Mo-roccan sightseeing trails.

Hassan II MosqueCasablanca’s landmark building, the Hassan II Mosque, is a lavish symbol not only of the city, but also of Morocco itself. This modern mosque (finished in 1993) does not do things by halves. The ornamental details covering every centimetre of the mammoth 2 ha site took 10,000 artisans to complete. Intricately carved marble pieces, vibrant mosaics and zellige tile details pay tribute to traditional Islamic architecture, and yet still manage to feel contemporary.

Oudaias KasbahRabat’s Oudaias Kasbah neighbourhood is a peaceful and perfectly quaint district that feels miles away from the city, yet is right in the heart of it. Inside the walls of this old fortress are lanes of neat white-and-blue houses rimmed by colourful flowerpots and flapping washing. It is the prettiest corner of the capital.

Fes el BaliAlong with Marrakesh, Fes is Morocco’s other big cultural destination. But unlike its sister Imperial City to the south, Fes has not been trussed up for the tourists. Fes el Bali (Old City) is an authentic muddle of a place where it is nearly impossible not to get lost. The back alleys with their chipped plaster-work and gorgeous old doors will have you stopping

When you travel to Morocco, the best places to visit include the imperial cities of Marrakech, Fes and Meknes. This is where you find wonderful ba-zaars, palaces and bustling town squares. Morocco is also famous for its beaches and some of the best seaside towns include Essaouira, Tangier and Asilah. You can also hire a camel, trek through the Sahara and climb North Africa’s highest peak to enjoy the beauty of Moroccan landscapes or stay in a traditional Kasbah in the fascinating Dades Valley.

POPULAR ATTRACTIONS


for photos on every corner, while the stinking tanneries are one of Fes el Bali’s most pop-ular attractions for those who can handle the smell.

TangierTangier has a fascinating and slightly debauched role in 20th century literary history, and this past is what draws many tourists here. This is the city that inspired famous works such as Paul Bowles’ “The Sheltering Sky” and William Burroughs’ “Naked Lunch”. Tangier may have been scrubbed up since their day with the bohemian cafes and lounge bars long gone, but you can still catch a whiff of the decadent days gone by.

ChefchaouenIn the beautiful Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen is a gorgeous labyrinth of blue-on-blue build-ings that has an incredibly photogenic glow. There is not much actual sightseeing to be done, and this is one of the town’s main attractions. It is simply about wandering the Me-dina alleys and lapping up all that colourful architecture. It is a peaceful, easy-going town and a great place to recharge.

VolubilisMorocco’s number one Roman ruin is a feast for history-lovers with a clutch of remark-able mosaics still interred where they were unearthed. This site is also full of tumbled columns and temple remnants, standing as reminders that even the greatest empires will eventually crumble. The hilltop location allows the ruins to lord over the surrounding countryside, adding to the romantic ambiance of lost glory. This tourist attraction is an easy day trip from either Meknes or Fes.

Bab al-MansourThis mammoth gateway (which guards the entrance to Meknes’ Imperial City district from the Medina) is noted for its stunning decoration. Meant as a monumental reminder of the sultan’s might, the Bab al-Mansour is a magnificent relic of Meknes’ glorious era as capi-tal.

Ait Ben HaddouThis golden adobe kasbah (fortress) thrusts dramatically out of the earth amid scenery that wows all who visit. It is a fairy-tale place, and the orange-hued turrets have become a favourite film location due to the surreal beauty. If you are heading out into Morocco’s inland regions, it should definitely be on your must-visit list.

POPULAR ATTRACTIONS


Dades ValleyHikers, trekkers and general nature-lovers should not miss a journey into the raw land-scapes of Morocco’s Dades Valley. With the snow-capped peaks of the High Atlas in the distance, the big-sky country here is the perfect antidote for those who have been getting frazzled nerves amid the souks of Marrakesh and Fes. There are dinky villages galore, ex-ceptional bird spotting opportunities and lush fields stretching as far as the eye can see.

EssaouiraMorocco’s most charming seaside village is laid-back Essaouira, an old hippie haunt of the 1970s that has lost none of its authenticity. The colourful fishing boats bobbing on the water, stately old shore-side fort and twisty lanes of the old town make Essa (as it is affectionately known by frequent visitors) a delight to discover.

Erg ChebbiInland, in Morocco’s east-ern Sahara region, are the grand and rippling sand dunes of the Erg Chebbi, where would-be explorers and adven-ture-seekers head to get a dose of desert action. This is prime territory for dune-surfing, four-wheel-drive dune-bashing and the (much more authentic) camel trekking. For those with less of an active nature, just sitting amid the sand dune splendour is worth the long jour-ney out here.

POPULAR ATTRACTIONS


IMPORTANT TIPS

Meeting Etiquette• When Moroccans greet each other they take their time and converse about their families, friends, and other general topics. • Handshakes are the customary greeting between individuals of the same sex. Some-times women will shake hands too, but if a hand is not offered, then just nod your head slightly to say hello. The verbal formal greeting is “Ah salaam ahlaykum” which means “peace be upon you”. To respond, you say “Wah alaykum salaam”. Some peo-ple say “salaam” to keep it short. • Handshakes may be somewhat weak ac-cording to western standards. • Once a relationship has developed, it is common to kiss on both cheeks, starting with the left cheek while shaking hands, men with men and women with women. • In any greeting that does take place be-tween men and women, the woman must extend her hand first. If she does not, a man should bow his head in greeting. • When entering a social function, shake hands with the person to your right and then continue around the room going from right to left. • Say good-bye to each person individually when leaving.

Gift Giving Etiquette• If you are invited to a Moroccan’s home bring sweet pastries, nuts, figs, dates or flowers to the hostess. • A small gift for the children is seen as a token of affection. • Do not bring alcohol unless you know that

your host drinks. • Gifts are not opened when received.

Table manners•Food is generally served at a knee-high round table. • The guest of honour generally sits next to the host. • A washing basin will be brought to the table before the meal is served. Hold your hands over the basin while water is poured over them. Dry your hands on the towel provided. • Do not begin eating until the host blesses the food or begins to eat. • Food is served from a communal bowl. • Eat from the section of the bowl that is in front of you. Never reach across the bowl to get something from the other side. As an honoured guest, choice cuts will be put in front of you. • Scoop the food with a piece of bread or the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand. • Eat and drink only with the right hand. • Do not wipe your hands on your napkin. • Water is often served from a communal glass. If you want your own glass, ask for a


IMPORTANT TIPS

soft drink.• The washing basin will be brought around the table again at the end of the meal. • Expect to be urged to take more food off the communal plate. Providing an abundance of food is a sign of hospitality.

ClothesClothes are particularly im-portant: many Moroccans, especially in rural areas, may be offended by clothes that do not fully cover parts of the body considered “private”, including both legs and shoul-ders, especially for women. In urban areas, Moroccan women wear short-sleeved tops and knee-length skirts, and men may wear sleeveless T-shirts and above-the-knee shorts. However, the Muslim idea of “modest dress” (such as would be acceptable in a mosque, for example) requires women to be covered from wrist to ankle, and men from over the shoul-der to below the knee. At least in rural areas, it is a good idea to follow these codes, and defi-nitely a bad idea for women to wear shorts or skirts above the knee, or for members of either sex to wear sleeveless T-shirts or very short shorts. Even ordi-nary T-shirts may be regarded

as underwear, particularly in rural mountain areas. The best guide is to note how Moroccans dress locally.

Insha’Alla This means “God willing” or “if God wills it”. You will hear this used a bit like “maybe” or “possibly”.

TimeTime concept is flexible in Morocco. Things rarely happen on time, or something will take much longer than planned. Try not to get upset about it – your frustration generally has no influence on the outcome, so it is best just to relax.

FeetFeet are generally considered unclean – especially the soles – so do not point them at peo-ple, or step over things when you can go around. You are also expected to take your shoes off when entering someone’s house.

GesturesThumb up does not mean the same thing and is considered rude, and so is the “a-okay” sign – the one where you touch your finger and thumb in a circle and spread your remaining fingers.


IMPORTANT TIPS

AffectionPublic displays of affection between a male and a female, such as kissing, is not consid-ered appropriate and should be avoided. You may notice Moroccan men walking or standing holding hands, this is normal between good friends, and it does not indi-cate anything beyond platonic friendship.

HandsSome Muslims may consider the left hand to be unclean. You should always therefore shake hands, eat or offer and receive with the right hand.

MosquesIt will usually be the case that if you are a non-Muslim you will not be able to enter mosques or the immediate area of some religious shrines. If you are unsure, then simply ask.

HagglingAs with many nations, there is a culture of negotiating prices in Morocco. If there is a price marked on an object, it is almost certainly inappropriate to negotiate on the

price, except for perhaps when you are buying many items at once. However, if the price is not marked, you may begin the fine art of haggling. The vendor will quote you a price to begin with, depending on whether you are in the tourist district of a large town or in a village market, the start-ing price may be somewhere from ten to one and a half times the going rate. At this point, you will need to make a judgement call. On one hand, paying over the odds can drive up expectations and prices generally for everyone including locals. On the other hand, driving the price of a souvenir down by the equivalent of 25 pence will make vir-tually no difference to you but may change the weekly income of a rural family by a few percent.

ConductTry to conduct yourselves in a generally calm and reasonably quiet manner. As a rule of thumb, simply observe the local Moroccans around you and try not to be significantly louder or more boisterous than them.


Moroccans are extremely hospitable and very tolerant. Though most people are reli-gious, they are generally easy-going, and most young Moroccan women do not wear a veil, though they may well wear a headscarf. Nonetheless, you should try not to affront people’s religious beliefs, especially those of older, more conservative people, by, for example, wearing skimpy clothes, kissing and cuddling in public, or eating or smoking in the street during Ramadan.

Gender RolesIn Morocco, male/female relationships are patterned differently than in Western countries because gender roles are much more fixed.

Females in Morocco are not discriminated against. However, upon reaching puber-ty (especially in small cities and villages), they are often separated with the inten-tion of making sure that they stay virginal and to better prepare them for mother-hood. In Morocco, getting married is con-sidered one of the most important times in a woman’s life.

Since Morocco is a country that has had foreigners living among them for hundreds of years, it is common to find less tradi-tional differences between men and wom-en in the larger cities, such as Marrakesh and Casablanca.

Women in Morocco are stereotypically ex-pected to take care of the home and fam-ily, engaging in activities such as cooking, cleaning, shopping, weaving, caring for the elderly and educating the children while the man is away at work. In their free time, women meet other societal expecta-tions of visiting family, friends and attend-ing evening prayer services at the local

PEOPLE IN MOROCCO


mosque or shrine. These roles also apply to women in the countryside, where agricultural duties are shared with their husbands. However, in the countryside in Berber villages it is the women who often run the households and spend most of their time doing the agricul-tural work.

As a result of Morocco’s culture and traditions, women do not often accompany their hus-bands on social outings. With the exception of modern cities such as Casablanca and Mar-rakesh, it is not likely to see a co-ed group of Moroccans mingling in a local cafe or bar.In more traditional areas of the country and in some of the larger cities, women are also not supposed to smoke, travel alone or without parental consent, or be unaccompanied late at night.

Much of this is gradually changing as foreigners continue to make their lives in Morocco. Morocco is the home to a large population of British and French families, along with many Americans, Germans and Spaniards. As a result of foreigners relocating to make Morocco their permanent home, and others purchasing property for vacation homes or building riads, Morocco has become increasingly open.

Considering Morocco’s history, its occupation by the French and Portuguese, the country has become a melange of the novella (new) and the old. European contemporary influ-ences on Moroccan traditional architecture, cuisine, fashion, film, music and decoration are leading the way to a new Morocco.

For the most part, Moroccans are incredibly open-minded, especially in cities where tour-ism is common (Marrakesh, Casablanca, Fes, Essouaria, Rabat, Meknes, and Ouarzaza-te) and you will find it quite easy to have conversations with locals (in souks and hotels) about world politics, the cultural and historical traditions of Morocco and the economy.

The popularity of tourism caused the Moroccan economy undergo a process of liberal-ization and modernization, consequently altering some societal values. Today, Moroc-can women are taking more active roles in the government, law, medicine, warfare, and trade. There is also an increase in university enrollment among the younger generation, ultimately, leading to a more open-minded youth and a greater tolerance for modern ideas and Western influences. Consequently, Moroccans are getting more used to seeing females (particularly tourists) visiting cafes and other places that in the past were primari-ly frequented by men.

PEOPLE IN MOROCCO


SOCIETY

MarriageMarriage is a civil ceremony that is conducted in city offices. A religious ceremony is also performed. The ceremony is similar to those in the United States, with the addition of sponsors. Principal sponsors are friends and relatives who have positions of influence in the community. The number of principal sponsors attests to the popularity and potential success of a couple. It also reduces the couple’s expenses, since each principal sponsor is expected to contribute a substantial amount of cash. Members of the wedding party are secondary sponsors, who do not have to provide funds.

Arranged marriages have not been part of Filipino life. However, men are expected to marry, and if a man has not married by his late twenties, female relatives begin intro-ducing him to potential brides. The median age for marriage is twenty-two. Young pro-fessionals wait until their late twenties to marry, and engagements of five to seven years are not uncommon. During this period, the couple becomes established in jobs, pays for the education of younger siblings, and acquires household items. A woman who reaches the age of thirty-two without marrying is considered past the age for marriage. Women believe that marriage to a wealthy man or a foreigner will guarantee happiness. Divorce is illegal, but annulment is available for the dissolution of a marriage. Reasons for annul-ment include physical incapacity, physical violence, or pressure to change one’s religious or political beliefs. Interfaith marriages are rare.

Domestic Unit The extended family is the most important societal unit, especially for women. Women’s closest friendships come from within the family. Mothers and daughters who share a home make decisions concerning the home without conferring with male family mem-bers. One child remains in the family home to care for the parents and grandparents. This child, usually a daughter, is not necessarily unmarried. The home may include assorted children from the extended family, and single aunts and uncles. Several houses may be erected on the same lot to keep the family together. Childcare is shared. Fathers carry and play with children, but are unlikely to change diapers. Grandparents who live in the same household are the primary care-givers for the children since both parents generally work. Preschool grandchildren who live in other communities may be brought home for their grandparents to raise. Indigent relatives live in the family circle and provide household and childcare help. Young people may work their way through college by exchanging work for room and board. Family bonds are so close that nieces and nephews are referred to as one’s own children and cousins are referred to as sisters and brothers. Unmarried adult women may legally adopt one of their sibling’s children.


CORPORATE CULTURE

Relationships & Communication

• Who you know is more important than what you know, so it is important to net-work and cultivate a number of contacts, who may then assist you in working your way through the serpentine bureaucracy. • Expect to be served mint tea whenever you meet someone, as this demonstrates hospitality. • Moroccan business practices have been greatly influenced by the French and em-phasize courtesy and a degree of formality. • Since Moroccans judge people on appear-ances, dress and present yourself well. Business Meeting Etiquette

• Appointments are necessary and should be made as far in advance as possible, and confirmed a day or two before the meeting. • It is best to avoid scheduling meetings

during Ramadan since Muslims cannot eat or drink during the day. • Never try to schedule meetings on Friday between 11:15 am and 3 pm, since most companies close for prayers. • Try to arrive at meetings on time and be prepared to wait. Moroccan businesspeople who are accustomed to dealing with inter-national companies often strive to arrive on time, although it is often difficult for them to do so in such a relationship-driven cul-ture. • In general, Moroccans have an open-door policy, even during meetings. This means you may experience frequent interruptions. Others may even wander into the room and start a different discussion. You may join in, but do not try to bring the topic back to the original discussion until the new person leaves. • French is generally the language of busi-ness, although some companies use English.

Moroccans prefer to do business with those they know and respect, there-fore expect to spend time cultivating a personal rela-tionship before business is conducted.


Business Negotiations

• Companies are hierarchical. The highest ranking person makes decisions, but only after obtaining a group consensus. • Decisions are reached after great deliberation. • If the government is involved, discussions will take even longer since the ministers of several departments must often give approval. • Moroccans are looking for long-term business relationships. • Do not criticize anyone publicly. It is important that you do not cause your Moroccan business associates to lose face. • Moroccans are non-confrontational. They may agree in meetings rather than cause you to lose face. • Expect a fair amount of haggling. Moroccans seldom see an offer as final. • Decisions are made slowly. Do not try to rush the process, as it would be interpreted as an insult. • The society is extremely bureaucratic. Most decisions require several layers of approval. • It may take several visits to accomplish simple tasks. • Do not use high-pressure tactics as they will work against you. • Moroccans can be deliberate and forceful negotiators.

Dress Etiquette

• Business attire is formal and conservative. • Men should wear dark coloured conservative business suits to the initial meeting. • Women should wear elegant business suits, dresses or pantsuits. • Women must be careful to cover themselves appropriately. Skirts and dresses should cover the knee and sleeves should cover most of the arm. • Avoid wearing expensive accessories.

Business Cards

• Business cards are given without formal ritual. • Have one side of your card translated into French or Arabic. • Present your card so the translated side faces the recipient.

BUSINESS CULTURE


Veronica GelfgrenYulia BazyukinaMarja-Liisa Helenius

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MOROCCO - Info4Migrants · 2017. 1. 22. · National Flag National emblem Rabat WESTERN SAHARA ALGERIA SPAIN ... in Arab flags, and the pentacle represents the five pillars ... Allegiance