Enter Naiya Sehgal (instagram), whose Morocco travel experience exemplifies how cultural immersion can transform both personal style and professional content creation. As the 2020 Influencer of the Year and a marketing professional with credentials from Warwick Business School, Naiya brings both creative vision and strategic expertise to her travel storytelling.

With over 28 countries explored and a reputation for creating visually striking content, Naiya’s approach to Morocco travel goes beyond surface-level tourism. Her recent journey through Marrakech’s bustling souks, peaceful riad courtyards, and remote Atlas Mountain villages demonstrates how thoughtful travelers can build meaningful connections while creating authentic content that inspires others.

What makes Naiya unique in the saturated world of travel content creation is her ability to blend professional marketing insights with genuine cultural curiosity. Her Morocco adventure showcases this unique combination, revealing how strategic content creation can coexist with authentic travel experiences. From staying at carefully selected riads to participating in traditional argan oil production in mountain villages, her journey illustrates the depth of experience available to travelers willing to venture beyond typical tourist attractions.

This interview explores how Morocco’s rich cultural tapestry influenced Naiya’s creative process, transformed her understanding of color and style, and provided authentic content opportunities that resonate with audiences seeking genuine travel inspiration. Her insights offer valuable guidance for both aspiring travel creators and experienced influencers looking to create more meaningful, culturally-aware content.

What inspired your travels to Morocco, and how did it influence your fashion and content creation?

“The culture of Morocco has always fascinated me, from its traditions to its hospitality and, of course, I absolutely love Moroccan tea,” Naiya shares. “For me, Morocco is one of the most colourful and vibrant countries I’ve ever captured. The streets are buzzing with life, the souks are full of energy, and everywhere you turn there’s something to inspire creativity. While travelling, I made sure to dress as vibrantly as possible and it felt like I was channelling a more expressive, colourful version of myself through both fashion and content.”

How did Morocco shape your view of cultural styles and aesthetics?

Morocco’s visual landscape left an indelible mark on Naiya’s creative approach. “Morocco really changed how I see colour in fashion and storytelling,” she explains. “The country is full of contrasts. the golden sands, the blue-painted towns, the vibrant markets, and the bold food and textiles. Every shade felt alive. It made me appreciate how cultural styles can be both rooted in tradition yet incredibly modern and inspiring for creative expression.”

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Any memorable moment or spot that sparked your creativity as a creator?

The Red City proved to be Naiya’s creative sanctuary. “I absolutely loved Marrakech, the vibrancy of the streets and the sheer beauty of the riads. Staying in a riad was definitely one of my favourite parts of the experience. I stayed at Riad Twilight, and it was truly gorgeous, every corner felt like a photoshoot location. The mix of architecture, colours, and patterns was endless inspiration for me as a creator.”

Marrakech’s traditional riads offer travelers an authentic glimpse into Moroccan architecture and design philosophy. These restored palaces, with their intricate tilework and peaceful courtyards, provide the perfect backdrop for both relaxation and creative exploration.

As Influencer of the Year 2020 and a marketing pro, how do you blend storytelling and style when sharing your Moroccan experience?

Naiya’s approach to content creation balances authenticity with aspiration. “For me, blending storytelling and style is all about being relatable and honest. I love adding Moroccan highlights to my content, but I always aim to share the little details that make people feel connected, whether it’s sipping mint tea in a riad courtyard or walking through the busy souks. Style plays a huge role too: the way I dress becomes part of the narrative, reflecting the colours and vibrancy of the country. It’s about creating a visual story that feels aspirational but also authentic.”

What unique cultural aspects would you recommend travellers explore beyond typical tourist spots?

Naiya’s most meaningful experience occurred away from crowded attractions. “One of my most memorable experiences was visiting Asni village on the way to the Atlas Mountains. The women there were making beauty products, especially argan oil, and they invited me to join in the process. I even helped grind the argan nuts, which was such a grounding experience. They served us tea and breakfast, and sharing that moment with locals felt so special. Meeting their pets and seeing their daily lives up close was a 10/10 experience that I’d recommend to anyone wanting a deeper connection with Moroccan culture.”

What tips do you have for influencers and travellers to capture authentic content in Morocco?

Naiya’s content strategy centers on Morocco’s inherent photogenic qualities. “My biggest tip is to embrace the everyday life you see around you. Morocco doesn’t need filters, it’s already so vibrant. Capture the colourful lanes, the iconic blue walls, the golden desert, and the royal charm of the riads. Don’t just focus on the tourist attractions; show the little moments, like locals preparing food or the markets at sunset. For me, colours are everything, so I dressed vibrantly to match the mood and let my surroundings elevate my content. The key is to let Morocco’s natural beauty do the storytelling for you.”

Morocco’s Creative Legacy

Naiya Sehgal’s Morocco journey illustrates how travel can fundamentally shift creative perspectives. Her experience demonstrates Morocco’s unique position as a destination that doesn’t just accommodate visitors; it transforms them. Through vibrant streets of Marrakech, authentic village encounters, and immersive cultural experiences, Morocco offers creators an opportunity to expand their visual vocabulary and storytelling capabilities.

For travelers seeking inspiration beyond conventional tourism, Morocco presents countless opportunities to connect with local culture while creating meaningful content. Morocco’s ability to inspire creativity while maintaining its cultural authenticity makes it an ideal destination for content creators seeking to expand their horizons and connect with audiences through genuine storytelling.

Morocco Through Creative Eyes: Style and Culture Journey with Naiya Sehgal
Must Visit Morocco

As both a celebrated writer and composer, Bowles captured the allure and complexity of North Africa through his distinctive voice. His novels and short stories, marked by their stark psychological insights and atmospheric descriptions, continue to resonate with readers worldwide. Meanwhile, his musical compositions, influenced by his travels and the sounds of Morocco, represent an important contribution to 20th-century American music.

Tangier wasn’t merely a backdrop for Bowles—it was an essential character in his creative journey. The city’s unique position at the crossroads of Africa and Europe, its international status during much of Bowles’ residence there, and its blend of cultures created the perfect environment for his artistic sensibilities. The mystique of Tangier permeates his work, from the shifting sands of the Sahara to the bustling markets of the medina.

This journey through Paul Bowles’ Tangier invites you to experience the city not just as a tourist destination but as a living museum of literary significance. By visiting the places Bowles frequented, readers can forge deeper connections with his stories and gain insights into how this remarkable city shaped one of America’s most distinctive literary voices.

Paul Bowles: A Connection to Tangier

Who Was Paul Bowles?

Born in New York City in 1910, Paul Bowles began his creative career as a composer, studying under Aaron Copland and writing music for theater productions and films. His transition to fiction writing produced works characterized by their precise language, psychological depth, and often unsettling themes of cultural collision.

Bowles’ literary breakthrough came with his 1949 novel “The Sheltering Sky,” which follows an American couple’s increasingly troubled journey into the North African desert. The book, later adapted into a film by Bernardo Bertolucci, established Bowles as a significant literary voice and introduced readers to his vision of Morocco.

Beyond his own writing, Bowles made invaluable contributions as a translator, bringing the works of Moroccan storytellers to English-speaking audiences. His translations of Mohamed Choukri, Mohammed Mrabet, and others preserved local oral traditions and introduced Moroccan voices to international readers.

Bowles first visited Tangier in 1931, but it was in 1947 that he decided to make the city his permanent home. This choice was influenced by several factors: Tangier’s international zone status at the time offered freedom from conventional Western society, the city provided distance from what he viewed as the artificiality of American life, and the landscape spoke to something essential in his creative vision.

The decision to relocate to Tangier proved transformative not only for Bowles but for the city itself. Through his presence and writing, Bowles put Tangier on the literary map, attracting other significant writers and artists. William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, and Jane Bowles (Paul’s wife and an accomplished writer) all spent time in Tangier, drawn by Bowles’ descriptions and the city’s unique character.

Tangier in His Writing

Tangier serves as more than just a setting in Bowles’ work—it functions as a psychological landscape where his characters confront themselves and their cultural assumptions. In Bowles’ Tangier, Western travelers often find their presumptions challenged and their psychological defenses stripped away by the unfamiliar environment.

The city inspired key elements in Bowles’ literary themes: the confrontation between Western and non-Western cultures, the limits of human understanding across cultural divides, and the psychological transformations that occur when individuals are removed from familiar surroundings. Bowles viewed Tangier and its surroundings as places where “the protective clothing of culture” could be removed, revealing deeper truths about human nature.

Several of Bowles’ most significant works showcase Tangier’s presence:

“The Sheltering Sky” (1949), though set primarily in Algeria rather than Morocco, establishes themes of Western displacement that run throughout Bowles’ Tangier-influenced work.

“Let It Come Down” (1952) is perhaps Bowles’ most Tangier-centered novel, following an American bank employee who relocates to the International Zone of Tangier and becomes entangled in the city’s complex social and criminal worlds.

“The Spider’s House” (1955) examines Tangier during Morocco’s struggle for independence, depicting the tensions between tradition and modernity that characterized the city during this pivotal period.

Collections like “The Delicate Prey” (1950) and “A Distant Episode” (1947) contain short stories set in Tangier and the surrounding regions, capturing the city’s mysterious atmosphere and cultural contrasts.

Through these works and others, Bowles created a literary Tangier that exists alongside the physical city, inviting readers to experience both simultaneously when they visit the locations that inspired his vision. Bowles’ Tangier remains both authentic to the city’s character and transformed by his unique perspective—a literary landscape that continues to attract curious travelers decades after his works were first published.

Exploring Paul Bowles’ Favourite Spots in Tangier

To truly understand Paul Bowles and his literary world, one must walk the streets he walked and see Tangier through his eyes. Each location below offers a window into both the writer’s life and the city that captivated him for over half a century.

The Tangier Medina: A Labyrinth of Stories

The ancient Medina of Tangier served as the beating heart of Bowles’ daily life and creative inspiration. This walled city within a city, with its narrow winding streets and centuries-old architecture, became both his home and his muse. Bowles lived in various apartments within the Medina over the years, immersing himself in its rhythms and mysteries.

What made the Medina particularly significant to Bowles was its authenticity and resistance to modernization. Unlike other parts of Tangier that changed dramatically during his lifetime, the Medina retained much of its traditional character, preserving the Morocco that had initially drawn him. The labyrinthine quality of the streets—where one could easily become lost—mirrored the psychological journeys his characters often undertook.

Rue Siaghine, one of the main arteries of the Medina, appears frequently in Bowles’ writings and daily routines. This bustling commercial street connected the Petit Socco (small square) with the Grand Socco and hosted numerous shops and cafés that Bowles frequented. The Petit Socco itself, once notorious for its associations with the drug trade and international espionage, features prominently in “Let It Come Down” as a place where cultures and intentions intersect.

The Medina markets, particularly the food and spice markets, offered Bowles direct contact with local life. In his writings, these markets often symbolize the sensory richness of Morocco, with their colors, scents, and sounds providing vivid background for his narratives. In “The Spider’s House,” Bowles uses market scenes to establish both the timeless quality of Moroccan life and the political tensions beginning to transform it.

Bowles wrote about the Medina with particular clarity in “Points in Time” (1982), his collection of historical vignettes about Morocco, describing how “the shadow-filled streets twist like snakes” and capturing the unique atmosphere that continues to enchant visitors today.

Café Hafa: A Writer’s Retreat

Perched on a cliff overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar, Café Hafa has been a fixture in Tangier’s cultural landscape since 1921. This terraced café, with its simple white and blue aesthetic and breath-taking views of the sea, became one of Bowles’ regular retreats from the bustle of the Medina.

For Bowles and other writers and artists, Café Hafa offered an ideal space for contemplation and creation. The café gained international fame when Bowles began bringing his literary friends there, including William Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, Tennessee Williams, and the Rolling Stones—all drawn by the relaxed atmosphere and spectacular setting.

Bowles appreciated Café Hafa for its simplicity—traditional mint tea served in small glasses, basic seating on terraced levels descending the hillside, and the hypnotic view of ships passing between continents. This minimalism allowed for maximum focus on conversation, writing, or simply absorbing the Mediterranean atmosphere.

The café appears both explicitly and implicitly in Bowles’ work. Though he rarely named it directly, descriptions of characters sitting at cliff-side cafés gazing toward Spain echo his own experiences at Hafa. The view from the café—with Spain visible on clear days—perfectly embodied Tangier’s position at the crossroads of cultures, a central theme in Bowles’ writing.

Today, Café Hafa remains largely unchanged, offering visitors the chance to sit where Bowles sat, drink the same mint tea he enjoyed, and perhaps find inspiration in the same panoramic views that influenced his writing.

The Grand Socco: Where Cultures Collide

The Grand Socco (officially Place du 9 Avril 1947) marks the transition between Tangier’s Medina and the newer parts of the city. This large, circular plaza has historically functioned as a market and meeting place, drawing people from all walks of life.

Bowles was fascinated by the Grand Socco as a place of cultural intersection. In his time, one could observe traditional Moroccan farmers bringing produce to market, international businessmen from the Zone era, Spanish and French colonials, and travelers from across the globe—all within this single space. This mixture of peoples and purposes made the Grand Socco a perfect microcosm of the larger themes Bowles explored in his writing.

In “Let It Come Down,” protagonist Nelson Dyar crosses the Grand Socco regularly, observing how “Arabs, Berbers, Spanish, French, and the occasional American” interact in this liminal space. For Bowles, the Grand Socco represented Tangier itself—a place where identity becomes fluid and where cultural boundaries blur.

The Cinema Rif, located on the edge of the Grand Socco, held particular significance for Bowles. As a composer who had worked on film scores and a writer whose novel “The Sheltering Sky” would eventually be adapted for cinema, Bowles appreciated this connection between Tangier and the world of film. Today, the renovated Cinema Rif continues as a cultural center, hosting film festivals and screenings that honor Tangier’s artistic legacy.

The Kasbah Museum of Mediterranean Cultures

Situated at the highest point of the Medina, the Kasbah and its museum offered Bowles both panoramic views of the city and insights into Morocco’s rich historical heritage. The Kasbah Museum of Mediterranean Cultures (formerly known as the Dar el Makhzen Palace Museum) occupies a 17th-century sultan’s palace, presenting artifacts that span Morocco’s complex history.

Bowles’ fascination with Moroccan traditional arts directly influenced his creative output. As both a writer and a composer, he studied and recorded traditional Moroccan music, preserving sounds that might otherwise have been lost to time. The museum’s collections of musical instruments, textiles, and ceramics reflect the traditional crafts that Bowles celebrated in his work.

Among the museum’s most significant exhibits are its collections of Moroccan artifacts dating from the Roman period through the early 20th century—covering precisely the historical sweep that Bowles explored in “Points in Time.” The museum’s Andalusian garden, with its traditional design and Mediterranean plants, creates an atmosphere of tranquility that Bowles would have appreciated as a counterpoint to the busy streets below.

For visitors following in Bowles’ footsteps, the museum provides essential context for understanding the cultural traditions that so captivated him. The view from the Kasbah walls, spanning the Strait of Gibraltar and both the old and new sections of Tangier, offers a visual companion to Bowles’ literary perspectives on the city—embracing both its ancient character and its ever-evolving present.

The American Legation: A Literary Connection

The American Legation holds a unique distinction as the first American public property outside the United States and the only U.S. National Historic Landmark on foreign soil. Given to the United States by Sultan Moulay Suliman in 1821, this complex of buildings served as the U.S. diplomatic mission to Morocco until 1956.

For Bowles, the American Legation represented a curious link between his American origins and his adopted Moroccan home. While never working directly for the Legation, Bowles maintained connections with American diplomats stationed there and occasionally participated in cultural events hosted at the facility. During World War II, when Bowles worked briefly for the U.S. government’s Voice of America, the Legation served as a point of contact with official American presence in Tangier.

The Legation’s importance extended beyond Bowles to the broader expatriate community. During Tangier’s International Zone period (1923-1956), the Legation played a significant role in the city’s cosmopolitan culture. It hosted literary gatherings, art exhibitions, and musical performances that brought together creative figures from various backgrounds—precisely the mixed cultural environment that nourished Bowles’ work.

Today, the Legation houses a museum and cultural center, including a wing dedicated to Paul Bowles and other American writers associated with Tangier. The museum’s collection includes first editions of Bowles’ books, photographs documenting his life in Morocco, and recordings of the traditional music he helped preserve. For literary travelers, the Legation offers perhaps the most direct connection to Bowles’ legacy in Tangier.

Beachside Inspiration: Tangier’s Coastline

The coastline surrounding Tangier provided Bowles with both creative inspiration and necessary respite from the intensity of the Medina. The meeting of land and sea, with the continents of Africa and Europe in view, perfectly symbolized the thematic boundaries Bowles explored in his writing.

Among Bowles’ favorite coastal spots was Cape Spartel, the northwestern extremity of Africa’s Atlantic coast. This promontory, with its lighthouse and dramatic cliff views, appears in several of his works as a place where characters go to contemplate decisions or seek perspective. The nearby Caves of Hercules, with their natural sea window shaped like Africa, connected to Bowles’ interest in local mythology and the symbolic meaning of landscapes.

The beaches east of Tangier, particularly around the Bay of Tangier, offered Bowles settings for more intimate scenes in his fiction. Unlike the wild Atlantic coast to the west, these Mediterranean beaches provided calmer waters and closer views of Spain across the strait. In “Let It Come Down,” protagonist Nelson Dyar walks these beaches, contemplating his increasingly complicated situation against the backdrop of ships passing between continents.

Bowles often wrote about how Tangier’s natural beauty—the quality of light, the meeting of waters, the dramatic topography—influenced his perception and creativity. The constantly shifting seascape, with its changes in color and mood, mirrors the psychological states of his characters. For visitors seeking to understand Bowles’ creative process, time spent along Tangier’s diverse coastline reveals much about the natural world that shaped his literary vision.

Paul Bowles’ Influence on Tangier Today

Cultural Legacy

More than twenty years after his death in 1999, Paul Bowles continues to shape Tangier’s identity as a literary and artistic destination. His presence lingers in the city’s cafés, streets, and cultural institutions, transforming what might otherwise be ordinary locations into sites of literary pilgrimage.

Tangier’s artistic community still acknowledges Bowles as a pivotal figure who brought international attention to the city’s unique character. Local writers, musicians, and artists often cite him as an influence, particularly in how he bridged Western and Moroccan creative traditions. The annual Tangier International Book Fair frequently features discussions of Bowles’ work and legacy, keeping his literary contributions in contemporary conversation.

Many businesses in Tangier capitalize on the Bowles connection, with bookshops prominently displaying his works, cafés naming dishes after his characters, and hotels preserving rooms where he or his famous friends stayed. This commercialization, while sometimes superficial, nevertheless keeps Bowles’ name alive for new generations of visitors.

More substantively, several cultural foundations work to preserve Bowles’ legacy in Tangier. The Paul Bowles Wing at the American Legation Museum houses manuscripts, photographs, and recordings that document his life and creative output. The Tangier American Institute for Moroccan Studies occasionally hosts scholars researching Bowles and his circle, contributing to ongoing academic interest in his work.

Local Tangier residents engage with Bowles’ legacy in varied ways. Older residents who knew him personally share stories with visitors, while younger generations discover his writing through university courses on Moroccan literature in translation or through the growing interest in Tangier’s bohemian past. For many locals, Bowles represents a complex figure—sometimes criticized for his orientalist perspective yet appreciated for his genuine interest in Moroccan culture and his efforts to preserve traditional music and stories.

Tangier’s Literary Tours

Visitors to Tangier can explore Bowles’ world through several specialized tours focusing on literary heritage. These range from formal guided experiences led by knowledgeable locals to self-guided walks using maps and books that identify significant Bowles-related sites.

The most comprehensive guided tours typically include:

1. A visit to Bowles’ final apartment in the upper Medina, viewable from the exterior
2. Stops at the cafés he frequented, including Café Hafa and cafés around the Petit Socco
3. A tour of the American Legation Museum, particularly its Bowles collection
4. Visits to locations featured prominently in his fiction, such as the settings for key scenes in “Let It Come Down”
5. The Protestant Cemetery where Bowles is buried alongside his wife Jane and other expatriate figures

Self-guided literary pilgrims often use Mohamed Choukri’s book “Paul Bowles in Tangier” as a reference, as Choukri knew Bowles personally and documents many of his favorite locations. Several smartphone apps now offer literary walking tours of Tangier, with audio recordings that include excerpts from Bowles’ works relevant to each location.

For the most immersive experience, visitors can book stays at hotels with Bowles connections, such as El Minzah Hotel, where he often met with friends and visitors, or Hotel Continental, which features in the film adaptation of “The Sheltering Sky.”

Recommended Reading Before Visiting

For travelers planning a Bowles-inspired visit to Tangier, the following works provide excellent preparation:

1. “The Sheltering Sky” (1949) – Bowles’ most famous novel captures the spirit of North Africa and the psychology of Western travelers encountering it.
2. “Let It Come Down” (1952) – Set specifically in Tangier, this novel provides the most detailed fictional depiction of the city during the International Zone period.
3. “Their Heads are Green and Their Hands are Blue” (1963) – This travel book includes Bowles’ non-fiction observations about Morocco and its culture.
4. “Without Stopping” (1972) – Bowles’ autobiography offers insights into his life in Tangier and his reasons for settling there.
5. “Days: Tangier Journal” (1991) – This late-period journal gives readers a sense of Bowles’ daily life in the city.

Specific passages worth noting include the opening pages of “Let It Come Down,” which vividly describe arriving in Tangier by sea; the sections of “Without Stopping” that detail Bowles’ first impressions of the city in 1931; and the Tangier sections of “Their Heads are Green,” where Bowles discusses traditional music and customs.

Conclusion

Paul Bowles and Tangier remain inseparably linked in literary and cultural history. The city provided him not merely with a home but with an entire sensory and psychological landscape that infused his writing and music. In turn, Bowles gave Tangier a place in the global literary imagination, transforming it from a relatively obscure Moroccan port into a symbol of cross-cultural encounter and artistic freedom.

The relationship between Bowles and Tangier was symbiotic—the city’s unique character during the International Zone period offered him an escape from what he viewed as the conformity and materialism of post-war America, while his presence attracted other artists who further enriched Tangier’s cultural scene. As Bowles wrote in “Without Stopping,” Tangier represented “a city where the past and the present exist simultaneously,” a quality that perfectly suited his literary preoccupations.

For contemporary visitors, exploring Tangier through Bowles’ perspective offers a deeper engagement with both the writer’s work and the city itself. Beyond the standard tourist attractions, a Bowles-inspired journey reveals Tangier’s layers of history, its position between cultures, and the enduring power of place to shape artistic vision.

Whether sitting at Café Hafa gazing toward Spain, wandering the Medina’s labyrinthine streets, or standing at Bowles’ grave in the hillside cemetery, literary travelers can connect with the same essential qualities that kept Bowles in Tangier for over fifty years. The city continues to change—much more rapidly now than during Bowles’ lifetime—yet the atmosphere he captured in his writing remains accessible to those willing to look beyond the surface.

A visit to Bowles’ Tangier is not merely tourism but a form of literary archaeology, uncovering the connections between a remarkable writer and the remarkable place that became central to his creative life. In the process, visitors may discover, as Bowles did, that Tangier offers not only insights into Moroccan culture but also a unique perspective on the universal themes of identity, belonging, and the search for meaning across cultural boundaries.

FAQs

1. Who was Paul Bowles, and why is he associated with Tangier?

Paul Bowles (1910-1999) was an American writer and composer who lived in Tangier, Morocco for over 50 years. After first visiting in 1931, he permanently relocated there in 1947, making the city his home until his death. He is best known for novels like “The Sheltering Sky” and “Let It Come Down,” which often feature North African settings. Bowles is associated with Tangier because he not only made it his home but also wrote extensively about the city and attracted other prominent writers and artists to visit or live there, including William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, and Tennessee Williams.

2. What are the must-visit spots in Tangier for fans of Paul Bowles’ work?

Essential Bowles-related sites include Café Hafa, where he often took visitors; the Tangier Medina, where he lived in various apartments; the American Legation Museum, which houses a collection of his papers and memorabilia; the Grand and Petit Socco, which feature in his writing; and the Protestant Cemetery, where he is buried. The Hotel El Minzah and Hotel Continental also have connections to Bowles and his circle of friends.

3. How does Tangier feature in Paul Bowles’ novels and stories?

Tangier serves as both a literal setting and a psychological landscape in Bowles’ writing. His novel “Let It Come Down” is set entirely in Tangier during the International Zone period, while many of his short stories take place in or around the city. Beyond specific references, Tangier’s position between cultures, its unique international status during much of Bowles’ time there, and its sensory qualities permeate his work, influencing themes of cultural displacement, identity, and the psychological impact of unfamiliar environments.

4. Why did Paul Bowles choose to live in Tangier?

Bowles was drawn to Tangier for several reasons. He appreciated its status as an International Zone (1923-1956), which created a cosmopolitan atmosphere with fewer restrictions than either Western societies or traditional Morocco. He valued the distance from American consumer culture and what he saw as its conformity. The landscape and light of North Africa appealed to his aesthetic sensibilities, and the traditional cultures of Morocco fascinated him. As he once wrote, Tangier offered “a city where the past and the present exist simultaneously,” providing rich material for his creative work.

5. Are there literary tours in Tangier inspired by Paul Bowles?

Yes, several tour operators offer Bowles-focused literary tours of Tangier. These typically include visits to locations mentioned in his works, places he frequented, and the American Legation Museum’s Bowles collection. Some tours are led by locals who knew Bowles personally or scholars familiar with his work. Additionally, self-guided tour maps and apps are available for independent travelers who wish to explore Bowles’ Tangier at their own pace.

6. Can I visit historic cafés like Café Hafa where Bowles spent time?

Absolutely! Café Hafa remains open and largely unchanged since Bowles’ time, making it one of the most authentic Bowles-related experiences in contemporary Tangier. The café still serves traditional mint tea on its terraced levels overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar. Some cafés around the Petit Socco where Bowles spent time also continue to operate, though many have changed names or ownership over the decades.

7. What role did the Medina play in Bowles’ writing and everyday life?

The Medina was central to Bowles’ experience of Tangier and features prominently in his writing. He lived in various apartments within the old walled city over his years in Tangier. The Medina’s maze-like streets, traditional markets, and blend of architectural styles provided rich material for his fiction. In works like “Let It Come Down,” the Medina represents both the authentic Morocco that attracted Bowles and the psychological complexity he explored in his characters. Bowles’ daily life revolved around Medina routines, from visiting local markets to meeting friends at nearby cafés.

8. How can I prepare to explore Tangier from a literary perspective?

Reading Bowles’ works set in or about Tangier provides essential context—particularly “Let It Come Down,” “Without Stopping” (his autobiography), and “Their Heads are Green and Their Hands are Blue” (travel essays). Mohamed Choukri’s “Paul Bowles in Tangier” offers valuable insights from someone who knew him well. Books like “The Dream at the End of the World” by Michelle Green provide historical context about the literary scene in Tangier during Bowles’ time. Before visiting, consider acquiring a literary map of the city or downloading a Bowles-themed walking tour app to guide your exploration.

9. Are there other writers connected to Tangier besides Paul Bowles?

Yes, numerous significant writers have connections to Tangier. William Burroughs wrote much of “Naked Lunch” while living there, often visited by Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac. Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, and Gore Vidal all spent time in the city. Jane Bowles, Paul’s wife, was herself an acclaimed writer. Moroccan authors associated with Tangier include Mohamed Choukri, whose autobiography “For Bread Alone” was translated by Bowles, and Mohammed Mrabet, whose oral stories Bowles transcribed and translated. Contemporary writers continue to find inspiration in Tangier, adding to its rich literary tradition.

Exploring Paul Bowles’ Favourite Spots in Tangier
Must Visit Morocco

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and a time for fasting, prayer, and reflection. In Morocco, fasting starts at dawn and ends at sunset. Locals begin their day with a light meal known as suhoor and break their fast at sunset with iftar. The communal spirit is evident when families and friends gather to share iftar meals, enjoy traditional dishes like harira soup, dates, and pastries such as chebakia, and join nightly prayers (Tarawih).

For many Moroccans, Ramadan is also a time to focus on charity and spiritual growth. Even if you are not fasting, you can experience the deep sense of community and dedication that marks this sacred time.

Moroccan Ramadan Customs & Traditions

Local Practices

During Ramadan, Moroccans observe several customs that add a unique flavor to daily life:

• Communal Iftar: Families and communities come together to break their fast. Many restaurants and hotels now offer special iftar packages, and some even invite visitors to join traditional meals.
• Evening Prayers: After sunset, many join the Tarawih prayers held in mosques. These prayer sessions fill the evenings with a calming, spiritual atmosphere.
• Charity and Sharing: Acts of giving are common. You may see locals distributing food or contributing to charity initiatives.
• Market Changes: Souks and local shops may operate on shorter schedules, opening later in the morning and resuming business after iftar.

Preparing for Ramadan as a Tourist

Practical Tips for Visitors

Even if you are not fasting, preparing for the changes in daily life during Ramadan is essential. Here are a few practical tips:

• Plan Your Schedule: Most tourist attractions open from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Schedule your visits accordingly and plan to enjoy the lively evening markets after iftar.
• Meal Planning: Many local eateries close during the day. Consider booking a hotel or riad that offers iftar packages. Many accommodations now cater to non-fasting guests with special menus.
• Dress Modestly: Out of respect for local customs, it is wise to dress conservatively. Light, comfortable clothing that covers shoulders and knees is a good choice.
• Be Discreet: If you choose to eat or drink during the day, do so away from public view to avoid drawing attention. This is particularly important in less touristy areas.
• Stay Hydrated: In warm weather, drink plenty of water during non-fasting hours.

For more ideas on planning your trip, you might find this travel guide for non-fasting visitors helpful.

Ramadan Spiritual Practices

A Time for Reflection

Ramadan in Morocco is not just about fasting—it is a time for spiritual reflection. Many Moroccans spend extra time in prayer and quiet contemplation. Visitors will notice that the atmosphere in the early morning and late at night is calm and filled with a sense of purpose.

Observing the nightly Tarawih prayers in a local mosque or simply watching the streets slowly come to life at sunset provides an authentic glimpse into the spiritual heartbeat of the country.

Ramadan in Morocco for Tourists

What to Expect

As a visitor, you will find that while some businesses adjust their operating hours, major tourist areas remain accessible. Cities like Marrakech, Fes, Rabat, Essaouira, and Tangier continue to welcome travellers with open arms. Here’s what you can expect:

• Quiet Mornings: With most locals resting after the pre-dawn meal, mornings can be quieter. This is a great time for peaceful walks in the medina or exploring historical sites.
• Lively Evenings: After iftar, the streets burst into life. Night tours are popular as illuminated souks, bustling squares, and lively restaurants offer a festive mood.
• Special Iftar Packages: Many hotels and restaurants have introduced iftar packages for tourists. These packages often include a set menu of traditional dishes served in a welcoming setting.
• Cultural Dos and Don’ts: Respect local customs by avoiding public eating and drinking during daylight. Simple courtesy goes a long way in making your visit enjoyable for both you and the locals.

Cultural Dos and Don’ts for Ramadan Tourists

Do’s

• Show Respect: Refrain from eating, drinking, or smoking in public during fasting hours.
• Dress Appropriately: Choose modest clothing, especially when visiting religious sites.
• Be Patient: Understand that local services might be slower as people observe fasting.
• Engage Respectfully: If invited to join an iftar or cultural event, accept graciously.
• Learn Basic Phrases: Simple greetings like “Ramadan Kareem” can show your respect for the culture.

Don’ts

• Avoid Public Consumption: Even if you are not fasting, do not eat or drink in public areas.
• Refrain from Loud Behavior: Keep conversations and behavior subdued, especially in religious areas.
• Don’t Rush: Allow for a slower pace during the day, as many locals adjust their routines.
• Don’t Disregard Local Customs: Even if you are in a touristy area, local traditions are important.

Visiting Historical Sites during Ramadan Hours

Adjusting Your Itinerary

Historical sites, museums, and cultural centers in Morocco may have shortened hours during Ramadan. For example:

• Marrakech: The medina, palaces, and gardens remain open but typically close by mid-afternoon.
• Fes: The ancient medina and tanneries often operate on a reduced schedule.
• Rabat: Key landmarks like the Kasbah of the Udayas and Hassan Tower are open, though guided tours may start later.

It is a good idea to verify the operating hours of attractions ahead of time and plan your visits during the most active parts of the day. Here is a sample table comparing the best times to visit different cities during Ramadan:

Impact of Ramadan on Morocco’s Tourism Industry

A Time of Change and Opportunity

While Ramadan brings a slower pace during the day, it also provides opportunities for unique tourism experiences:

• Reduced Crowds: Many attractions see fewer visitors during the day, offering a more intimate experience.
• Evening Economy: Night tours, special iftar menus, and cultural events boost the tourism sector in the evenings.
• Unique Itineraries: Tour operators are now offering Ramadan-friendly travel itineraries that include guided tours, iftar experiences, and volunteering opportunities.
• Hotel Promotions: Hotels often create special packages during Ramadan, including iftar meals, spa treatments, and cultural performances to attract tourists.

These factors mean that while daytime activity might be subdued, the overall visitor experience is enhanced by the unique cultural and social events that take place after sunset.

Night Tours in Moroccan Cities during Ramadan

Experience the Magic of the Evening

After iftar, Moroccan cities come alive with a festive energy that is not found at other times of the year. Consider these night tour options:

• Marrakech: Wander the vibrant streets of Jemaa el-Fnaa after sunset. Guided tours are available that highlight local music, food stalls, and the illuminated medina.
• Fes: Explore the labyrinthine medina under the stars. Night tours can reveal hidden courtyards and quiet alleys away from the daytime crowds.
• Rabat: Enjoy the serene riverside and historical monuments illuminated at night. A boat ride along the Bou Regreg River can be a relaxing way to end the day.
• Tangier: The coastal city offers beautiful night views from its old kasbah and along its beaches.

These night tours provide a cool, reflective alternative to the daytime heat and allow you to enjoy Morocco’s rich history and culture in a different light.

How to Respect Local Customs as a Non-Fasting Visitor

Mindful Behavior Goes a Long Way

Even though non-Muslim visitors are not required to fast, it is important to observe local customs. Here are some guidelines:

• Eat in Private: If you wish to have a meal during daylight, do so in your hotel or a private area.
• Keep Your Voice Down: Maintain a respectful tone, especially in areas where people are praying or fasting.
• Ask Before Taking Photos: In religious or sensitive areas, always ask permission before photographing locals or their practices.
• Follow Local Etiquette: Use your right hand when greeting or eating, as this is a sign of respect in Moroccan culture.
• Learn Basic Greetings: Phrases like “Ramadan Kareem” or “Ramadan Mubarak” can help create a positive connection with locals.

Best Moroccan Cities for Ramadan Tourism

Top Destinations to Consider

Morocco offers a diverse range of experiences during Ramadan. Here are some cities to consider:

• Marrakech: A bustling hub where ancient traditions meet modern energy. Enjoy vibrant markets, iftar experiences, and the captivating Jemaa el-Fnaa square.
• Fes: Known for its historic medina and artisan traditions, Fes provides a more intimate and reflective experience during Ramadan.
• Rabat: The capital offers a relaxed pace with a mix of historical sites, green spaces, and a quieter medina.
• Essaouira: A coastal town that combines historical charm with laid-back vibes, making it ideal for a peaceful Ramadan retreat.
• Tangier: With its blend of Mediterranean and African influences, Tangier is perfect for those seeking coastal views and a vibrant cultural scene.

Each city provides its own unique blend of history, culture, and modern amenities, making them ideal for a Ramadan-themed itinerary.

Ramadan-Friendly Travel Itineraries

Sample Itinerary for a 7-Day Trip

Day 1: Arrival in Marrakech

• Settle into a riad that offers an iftar package.
• Explore Jemaa el-Fnaa in the evening.

Day 2: Marrakech Exploration

• Visit the Koutoubia Mosque and Saadian Tombs in the morning.
• Enjoy a guided tour of the souks before iftar.
• Experience a rooftop iftar dinner with traditional Moroccan dishes.

Day 3: Day Trip to Essaouira

• Travel to Essaouira for a change of pace.
• Stroll through the medina and along the beach in the afternoon.
• Join an evening iftar and explore local markets at night.

Day 4: Fes – The Cultural Capital

• Head to Fes and check into a boutique hotel with special iftar offerings.
• Tour the historic medina and tanneries in the late morning.
• Participate in a local iftar event organized by your hotel.

Day 5: Fes and Surroundings

• Visit Al Quaraouiyine University and explore artisan workshops.
• Enjoy a quiet afternoon in a traditional café.
• Join a guided night tour of Fes’s medina after iftar.

Day 6: Rabat – The Capital

• Travel to Rabat and explore the Kasbah of the Udayas and Hassan Tower.
• Enjoy lunch in the medina before iftar.
• End the day with a relaxing boat ride on the Bou Regreg River.

Day 7: Departure

• Enjoy a relaxed morning with a light breakfast.
• Shop for souvenirs in local markets before heading to the airport.

This itinerary is flexible and can be adapted based on your interests and the pace you prefer during Ramadan.

Volunteering as a Tourist during Ramadan

Engage with the Local Community

For travelers looking to make a meaningful connection, volunteering during Ramadan can be an enriching experience. Many organizations in Morocco organize community meals, charity events, and social initiatives during this time. You can contribute by:

• Helping serve iftar meals at community centers.
• Participating in local charity drives.
• Joining cultural exchange programs that support local artisans and community projects.

These opportunities provide a deeper understanding of Moroccan society and allow you to give back while experiencing the true spirit of Ramadan.

Traveling to Morocco during Ramadan 2025 is a chance to witness a country that honors its traditions with warmth and a relaxed pace. Whether you are exploring historical sites in Fes, enjoying the vibrant evenings of Marrakech, or experiencing the coastal charm of Essaouira, you will find that the spirit of Ramadan adds a unique layer of depth to your journey.

Plan your trip with care: respect local customs, adjust your schedule to the new rhythms of daily life, and be open to the beauty of communal iftar dinners and nightly cultural tours. With thoughtful planning, your Ramadan visit to Morocco can be an unforgettable adventure filled with cultural insights, delicious cuisine, and warm hospitality.

Understanding Ramadan in Morocco
Must Visit Morocco

What makes getting married in Morocco different?

The answer lies in tradition, religion, diverse legal requirements and a process as intricate as a Moroccan couscous. In this article, we will help you understand how difficult it can be to get married in this beautiful North African country. So, relax, savour a cup of mint tea (a must for any Moroccan adventure), and let’s explore everything about saying “I do” in Morocco. Ready? Into the wild world of matrimony in Morocco!

Navigating the Moroccan Marriage Maze

Requirements for Getting Married in Morocco

Ah, the sound of ululation in Moroccan alleys! But before you envisage yourself in traditional Moroccan attire, there’s a process of paperwork and preparation. Getting married in Morocco has diverse requirements, each contributing to matrimony.

The initial step is grasping the varied requirements based on nationality, religion and location. Don’t fret; we’re here to guide you through this complicated journey.

Valid Passport

A passport is an essential document for marriage. Ensure its validity for bureaucratic processes. It should be valid for at least three months from your arrival in Morocco. Like travel stamps, it signifies your marital journey.

Birth Certificate

A certified copy of your birth certificate is required. You will also need a precise Arabic translation and the translator must be approved. Be ready for your documents to embrace Morocco’s linguistic diversity.

Certificate of No Impediment

For our non-Muslim friends, this document is your backstage pass to the Moroccan marriage stage. It’s a declaration from your embassy or consulate, confirming that no legal obstacles are blocking your marital path. It’s like ensuring the plot of your love story is free from unexpected twists.

Certificate of Conversion (if applicable)

For those men who follow paths outside of Islam, a certificate of conversion is required. Head to the mosque and find an Adoul or religious/ court notarial to obtain this certificate which must be notarised. This can take up to a week to be prepared for you, so don’t leave it til the last minute! For some men, this is a real stumbling block to marriage in Morocco, as, even though many just lie and pretend to have converted to Islam, there is no way back when you have converted and there are people who are proud of their religions or won’t lie and refuse to become Muslim. Women do not have to convert to Islam to marry a Muslim man. 

Proof of Residence

Some regions may ask for proof that you’re not just passing through but have already established yourself in the area. A local background check may be the soil from which your marriage blooms.

Proof of Income (sometimes)

Money matters, even in the language of love. Depending on the region, financial documentation may be required to ensure you’re ready for the financial challenges that come with married life.

Health Certificate

In sickness and in health, they say. Prove it with a clean bill of health, ensuring that contagious diseases won’t crash your matrimonial celebration. 

Parental Consent (if under 18)

If you’re taking this journey before reaching the age of majority, parental consent might be necessary to board the marriage train.

Marriage Application Form

Every love story needs paperwork, and here, it’s the marriage application form. Head to the local Adoul’s office and grab one, this will serve as the official documentation of your marriage.

Two Witnesses

Two living, breathing Muslim witnesses are required for the marriage ceremony. Ensure they have valid identification – you wouldn’t want your love story to turn into a detective novel.

Adoul (Islamic Notary)

The maestro of the Moroccan marriage symphony. A legal representative of the Ministry of Justice in Morocco officiates your union. Picture them as the conductor ensuring every note of your love song is played just right.

Before you start feeling overwhelmed, remember these requirements can vary. The most accurate guidance is in contacting the local Adoul’s office or relevant authorities in your chosen city. Seek counsel from your embassy or consulate; they can offer tailored advice based on your nationality. I have heard an official in the British Embassy in Rabat advising a young English woman who wanted to marry a Moroccan man, “Don’t do it.”!

Background Checks

• Criminal Record Check: A spotlight on your past; a life of crime is frowned upon in Morocco.
• The Adoul and Approved Translators Tango: Adoul and translators collaborate to facilitate your paperwork through the bureaucratic ballroom.

Adoul in Morocco

Adoul, the ones orchestrating behind the scenes, have a vital part in your marriage. They manage your paperwork and give you the marriage certificate, akin to a special scroll. Picking the appropriate Adoul is comparable to choosing a director for a major film. Find one who is not only knowledgeable but also patient and willing to navigate you through the complexities of the procedure.

Approved Translators for Marriage

Language workers – the approved translators. These individuals, commonly on an official list, guarantee your papers use the language of legality. It’s not merely translation, it’s presenting your papers accurately.

Caution: The rhythm might differ based on your circumstances. Your steps could be influenced by nationality, the region, and specific Adoul requirements.

Embassy Marriage Guidelines Worldwide

Embassy guidelines become guiding stars for couples of diverse nationalities. Each embassy waltzes in with unique guidelines:

• U.S. Embassy Affidavit of Nationality and Eligibility to Marry
• UK Government’s Morocco Notarial and Documentation Services
• Canadian Government’s Marriage Overseas: Information Specific to Morocco
• Belgium Government’s Getting Married Abroad or in Belgium
• Australian Government’s Moroccan Consulate Marriage Requirements

In this era of digital connectivity, embassy guidelines are just a click away. Following them is a swift and elegant process.

Step-by-Step Instructions for a Marriage in Morocco

Detailed Process

Welcome to the core of our story – the detailed process for marriage in Morocco. Here are the steps needed by a foreigner to pass safely through a traditional Moroccan marriage, with each action holding the weight of tradition, love, and bureaucratic formality.

1. Get Your Background Check in Your Home Country: Begin in your home country to secure the criminal record background check.
2. Make an Appointment at your Country’s Embassy: Secure an appointment well in advance at your country’s Embassy in Morocco.
3. Find an Adoul and Ask for a Specific List of Documentation: Inquire about the specific documents your Adoul requires.
4. Find a Translator in the City You’re Staying In: Choose from the approved list of translators for linguistic accuracy.
5. Bring All Necessary Documents from Your Home Country: Gather together your birth certificate, proof of occupation, criminal record check, bank details, etc.
6. Head to Rabat to Get Your Paperwork Notarized: A short trip to Rabat for essential notarization.
7. Start Collecting the Rest of the Papers: Collect your local background check, residency card, passport photos, etc.
8. Get Everything Translated: The translator takes center stage again, with a week-long linguistic transformation.
9. Turn All the Things into the Adoul: Hand over your documents to the Adoul; brace yourself for possible back-and-forth.
10. Speak to a Judge: Stand before a judge, ready for personal questions about your love story. You will be asked questions about how and when you met and possibly asked to provide messages and photos of your developing relationship. 
11. Adoul Drafts the Marriage Contract: The Adoul drafts the marriage contract, usually in Arabic, sometimes in French. 

Receive Your Marriage Certificate: Your marriage certificate; the physical proof of your completion of the Moroccan matrimonial process.

Key Points for a Smooth Process

• Adoul and Translator Partnership: A harmonious relationship with your Adoul and translator is crucial. Choose wisely, and your dance through bureaucracy will be more graceful.
• Pre-Planning Pays Off: The key to a smooth performance is pre-planning. Preparing your documents before arriving in Morocco sets the stage for a seamless process.
• Adoul’s Role in Speeding Up the Process: Your Adoul is not just a guide; he can be the accelerator in this bureaucratic journey. His expertise can fast-track you through the paperwork.

Moroccan marriage FAQs

Let’s address the swirling questions that often accompany the dance of love:

Do You Have to Convert to Islam to Be Married in Morocco?

• Women do not need to be Muslim to marry a Moroccan man, but the same does not hold true for men marrying Moroccan women. If you’re a non-Muslim man, consider conversion or exploring unions beyond Morocco’s borders. But beware, marriages outside the country may not be legally recognized in Morocco. 

What is the Duration of the Marriage Process?

The duration of the marriage process is influenced by various factors:

• Your Documents and Preparation: Pre-planning sets the stage for efficiency.
• Your Husband’s or Wife’s Work Situation: Work commitments should be taken into account.
• Process Location: Locale or destination – the choice influences the duration of the procedure. 
• Divorce, Previous Marriages, and Other Factors: Past relationships can add complexity.

Anticipate several weeks for your love story to unfold fully. The process, like an elaborate choreography, takes time.

Will the Adoul Translate My Marriage Paperwork Before/After I Sign It?

• No, the Adoul won’t be your linguistic guide through the paperwork. You’ll sign the documents in Arabic, and your copy will be in Arabic. To go over the content yourself, it’s wise to hire a recognized translator. After all, clarity in your commitments is of the utmost importance.

Conclusion

Dear readers, this guide is not just a solo presentation but also a dialogue. As you navigate your matrimonial journey in Morocco or share your experiences, we welcome you to participate in the conversation. Feel free to express your thoughts and reactions, or share tales of bureaucratic experiences in the comments below. Your stories contribute to the narrative and can assist future couples in achieving wedded bliss with the minimum of stress.

Thank you for being part of this matrimony journey and may your journey through this Moroccan maze be brimming with love, understanding, and the best steps toward happily ever after.

Getting Married in Morocco: A Comprehensive Guide for Foreigners
Must Visit Morocco

Morocco is known for its religious tolerance. Although the majority of the population is Muslim, Christmas is widely acknowledged and respected. In cities like Casablanca and Marrakech, you’ll find a mix of traditions that showcase the country’s commitment to coexistence. In other, more traditional cities, such as Fes and Meknes, the season is celebrated, but under the guise of “fin d’année” or “End of year” avoiding a direct mention of Christmas. So you can purchase find’année trees and decorations in the supermarkets. 

In major cities and tourist areas, streets are adorned with Christmas decorations and lights, creating a festive atmosphere that captivates locals and visitors alike. The decorations often include Christmas trees, twinkling lights, and festive ornaments that line the streets and decorate public spaces. Christmas carols and festive music are played constantly in shopping centres and supermarkets. 

While Christmas markets may not be as ubiquitous as in some Western countries, you can still find markets in certain areas, especially in larger cities. These markets feature a variety of festive goods, including handicrafts, ornaments, and traditional Moroccan sweets. The markets are a perfect place to experience the fusion of Moroccan and Western Christmas traditions.

Traditional Moroccan Christmas Foods

Moroccan cuisine is known for its diverse and flavourful dishes and Christmas is no exception. While the traditional Christmas turkey may be less commonplace, Moroccans celebrate with special meals that showcase their culinary expertise.

Couscous, tagines, and pastries are often featured on Christmas tables, combining Moroccan flavours with festive spirit. It is quite possible to assemble much of a traditional British Christmas dinner complete with turkey, stuffing, roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts and even cranberry sauce for American visitors. All that may be missing are the pork products, notably sausages and bacon, which are often unavailable and, when they are, of inferior quality.

But fear not!  Moroccan lamb or turkey sausages are a delicious substitute, and you can replace the bacon with a veal version or some of the sliced smoked meats that make perfectly adequate alternatives. Turnips, sweet potatoes and other seasonal vegetables are readily available, and many Moroccans have a sweet tooth, so you can find Christmas cakes and yule logs in the supermarkets.

All the Christmas spirits, wine and beer may be purchased at off-licences and Carrefour supermarkets, though the prices are sometimes a little higher than in the US or the UK. Just don’t get drunk in public! 

Celebrations in Christian Communities

In cities with significant Christian populations, such as Rabat and Casablanca, Christmas is celebrated with religious services, carol singing, and other traditional festivities. Moroccan Christians and foreign expatriates come together to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. Churches can be found in the major cities, though they are usually quite ordinary-looking buildings and hidden away on side streets. 

Hospitality and Generosity

One of the most heartwarming aspects of Christmas in Morocco is the spirit of hospitality and generosity that permeates the celebrations. It is common for Muslim neighbours to exchange greetings and well-wishes with their Christian counterparts, reflecting the unity and goodwill that define Moroccan society.

Christmas in Morocco is an excellent example of cultural harmony and coexistence. The unique blend of traditions, decorations, and festivities highlights the diversity and tolerance that make Morocco a special place. Whether you’re exploring the bustling streets of Marrakech or attending a Christmas service in Casablanca, the holiday season in Morocco is a magical time that brings people together, regardless of their religious or cultural backgrounds.

Christmas in Morocco – What You Need To Know
Must Visit Morocco

What is Henna and what does it contain?

Before using Moroccan Henna in tattooing, it passes through a series of controlled and challenging steps until it becomes a fine powder. Henna is a plant native to North Africa, Asia and North Australia and is grown in the Zagora region of Morocco. It is generally planted in November and in March as it thrives in arid landscapes and requires hot weather but demands regular watering. It will die if temperatures fall below 5 degrees Centigrade. It is a tradition where Moroccan henna is planted, that the landowner prepares a feast as a thank you to the men who have helped him with the planting of the henna seeds.

According to Moroccan traditions and customs, henna is always related to Moroccan women’s beauty more than men’s, though men sometimes use it to dye their beards. Henna is considered part and parcel of Moroccan women’s lives, as it is used in conditioning and dying their hair, nails, hands, and feet.

Henna leaves contain different glycosidic substances, most notably lawsone, also known as hennotannic acid, which is primarily responsible for the biological effects that give a blackish-brown colour to the skin.

How is Moroccan Henna made?

After being harvested and dried, henna leaves are crushed into a dust-like powder. Then, Moroccan henna powder is mixed with a dollop of lemon juice, a pinch of cloves, and hot water until the ingredients become a kneaded paste.

The henna paste is decoratively applied on clean skin, the design depending on the woman’s taste. This paste is left on the skin until it dries. It is important to notice that the longer the henna is left on the skin, the darker the colour will be.

Pro tip: to get fast results and a brownish-black colour from henna, older Moroccan women suggest diluting henna paste with Moroccan tea after it has been tattooed on the skin.

Henna Tools

There is no formal, institutional setting where the art of henna tattooing is taught. It is passed down through generations from mother to daughter. The women responsible for tattooing henna in Morocco are known as “Nakasha“, who have learned the skill from their ancestors

Typically, there are three main tools for ornamenting Moroccan henna:

• Murood; a pen-sized, pointed stick made of wood which was the only tool used in the past. It is dipped in henna paste and used to make thin decorative lines on the skin. However, tattooing with a Murood takes a long time because it needs to be dipped frequently in the henna paste, like a quill pen in ink. 
• Syringe; the most used nowadays, the syringe is normally 10ml, filled with henna paste, so it is easier for the Nakasha to draw accurately and swiftly. 
• Triangle Plastic Pouch; a plastic pouch that is also utilized today and has started to capture the attention of artists, especially young ones. It is filled with henna paste, and it is cut from the bottom, depending on whether the person wants thin or thick henna lines on the design. 

Moroccan Henna Designs

Morocco is a North African country known worldwide for its diverse and harmonious culture. Moroccan regions vary not only in terms of customs, weddings, caftans, or Moroccan food but also in terms of Moroccan henna designs. Numerous Moroccan henna designs have existed for decades, however, let’s choose the most popular ones:

• Amazighi-henna Designs: or Berber-henna designs, are unique to the Tamazight speakers who occupy the High, Middle, and Anti-Atlas Mountains. They are inspired by Amazigh culture, utilising Berber geometric patterns such as  Amazigh Fibula (Aketi), Tifinagh script signs, the Amazigh Cross, and the Hand of Fatima (Khemissa).
• Fassi-henna Designs: associated with the Fez and Meknes region. Due to their geographical proximity, both of these Imperial cities have the same henna designs. 
• Sahrawi-henna Designs: when we talk about the Sahrawi or the Sahara area, we mean the region starting south of Marrakech and continuing southwards beyond Laayoun and Dakhla ending with Lagouira city. Sahrawi henna designs are inspired by desert landscapes, hence they combine geometric patterns made up of bold lines and desert symbols such as palm trees. They are a brownish colour. Sahrawi henna designs often have a style in which both hands are completely tattooed up to and beyond the wrists. 
• Chamali-henna Designs: are found in areas to the north of Morocco including Tangier, Tetouan, Hoceima, etc… Simplicity and elegance are reflected in Chamali henna designs in which thin lines and dots, flowers, and geometric patterns are used decoratively.

Why is Moroccan Henna so important for Moroccans?

“Wherever there is Henna, there is Happiness” is a Moroccan idiom that represents the place of henna in Moroccan society. Thus, Moroccan mothers always urge their daughters to use henna and tattoo their hands as for them it is a symbol of calling upon God’s blessings, “حن يحن عليك مولانا“.

Moroccan henna is not just decorative but also used in treating and curing illness. Moroccan henna is used for headaches and nail problems, beauty as well as for magnetizing joy and banishing sadness.

Moroccan henna in the Henna Night Party.

No joyful Moroccan occasion can be held without Moroccan henna being a welcomed guest. Henna night, or a Henna party or as Moroccans call it “lilat al-henna“, is one of the most common occasions that witnesses the incarnation of Moroccan henna with its atmosphere. The henna night is the bride’s night, in which the bride celebrates her last night of being single. Only women from the bride’s family and the groom’s family are in attendance.

 It is forbidden for a bride to tattoo her hands or feet during the period of her wedding until the henna party. On that night, the bride is dressed in a royal-green caftan and adorned with Moroccan gold jewellery with the help of the Nagafa, a woman who is in charge of dressing the bride and doing her makeup. 

On a silver plate called “Siniya”, there is a silver ball filled with henna paste, milk, sugar, and eggs which convey blessings and wishes for a happy, pure, and comfortable life for the couple. The bride enters the party hall where women are dancing to Moroccan traditional songs and melodies mixed with the “youyou”, then she is led to a “berzza”, the sofa where the bride and the groom sit, in front of the” Siniya” and the Nakasha who begins tattooing. 

The invited women throw coins and banknotes on the “Siniya” as gifts for the bride. The Nakasha continues tattooing the bride in a focused and artistic way to make her look gorgeous. Single women at the henna night are encouraged to tattoo their hands with the bride to share her happiness and to wish for a blessed life with their future partners.

Frequently Asked Questions.

As a tourist, where can you get a Moroccan henna tattoo in Morocco?

• Marrakech: one of the best-known cities for henna tattoos in Morocco. Jemaa El-Fna Square and the old Medina are excellent places for tourists to find many Nakashes, the expert Moroccan women artists who tattoo henna. Nakashes always have a Moroccan henna design book, which includes different henna designs from different regions.
• Casablanca: Bab Marrakech and Mohammed V Square (Pigeon Square) are popular for tattooing Moroccan henna in Casablanca.
• Rabat: the capital of Morocco, It is also a famous place for tattooing Moroccan henna designs. Bab El Had square is a common place for Nakashes offering different Moroccan henna designs.
• Fez: the spiritual capital of Morocco, is one of the most attractive cities in Morocco for tourists. A famous place where tourists can tattoo henna is the Taala’a Kebira, one of the greatest and longest streets in Fez el Bali that starts at the Bab Bou Jloud and Bab Mahrouk gates and ends at Al-Attarine Madrasa near the Qarawiyyin Mosque.
• Tangier: the “Northern Bride” as it is commonly known, is located in the north of Morocco. The Sour el Magaazine Wall is the most visited place by tourists for tattooing Moroccan henna.
• Meknes: an imperial city of Morocco founded by Sultan Mulay Ismail, it’s a historical city par excellence. However, El Hedim Square is the best place where tourists can get a henna tattoo and take pictures in front of Bab Mansur al’Alj gate.
• Agadir: Souk El Had is a place frequented by Nakashas for tattooing and selling Moroccan henna to Moroccan and foreign visitors. 

Prices of Tattooing Henna in Morocco?

The prices for henna tattoos vary depending on the city, the required design, the quality of the henna, and the designer. Prices range between 30 and 60 Moroccan Dirhams, roughly equivalent to 3 to 6 US dollars.

Is Moroccan Henna black?

Moroccan henna has a green colour when it’s crushed and mixed and it is transformed to reddish-orange, brownish-red, brown, or brownish-black when it is applied to the skin, depending on how many hours that the henna is kept on the skin. Natural Moroccan henna is not black, the black henna that one hears about is sometimes available but should be avoided as it contains PPD (paraphenylenediamine) and is an oxidative, that can have a serious and hazardous effect on the skin. 

To summarise, Moroccan henna is not just a simple product, it is a way of life and part of a time-honoured tradition. A natural botanical mixture used to create meticulous designs using basic tools and with a deep-rooted cultural significance. As a symbol of the country’s history, Moroccan henna not only adorns a woman’s skin but also weaves a vibrant cord connecting past and present, honouring Morocco’s rich heritage in the high-spirited tapestry of henna night parties.

Moroccan Henna: from plant to party
Must Visit Morocco

Moroccan Women, since the beginning of times have been interested in traditional, plant-based ingredients in their skincare routines.

Today, the world is finally witnessing a growing trend towards natural and organic beauty products, which are made with safe, non-toxic and environmentally-friendly ingredients. Some of which have been the key elements of the Moroccan beauty routine, for centuries.

In this article, we will share some of the Natural Moroccan beauty secrets and tips that will transform your beauty rituals. Join the rising trend and get the natural glowing skin you have always wanted!

Moroccan Oils: Natural Moroccan Beauty Secrets

1. Argan Oil: The liquid gold

For many years, Moroccan people have extracted Argan Oil from the seeds of Argan trees in Southwest Morocco, an oil that serves many purposes. In addition to its culinary use, this gold liquid have shown many benefits in the cosmetic world.

Incorporating it into your skincare routine is viewed as one of the top Moroccan natural beauty secrets for a healthy and radiant skin, one little bottle of it can be used in a variety of ways.

Argan oil has shown miracles throughout the years, not only on hair but also face and skin for its nourishing and healing properties. In fact, it can treat multiple skin conditions, such as dryness, acne, inflammations and minor burns thanks to its high concentration of vitamin E that help heal and protect the skin.

2 drops of Argan Oil can be great for dry and sensitive skin. However, a patch test is recommended before applying it on an oily skin.

Packed in Omega-6 fatty acids, this miraculous oil is an anti-aging remedy; it helps in reducing wrinkles by moisturizing the skin and making it firmer and plumper. Besides its rejuvenating effects, Argan can do wonders on hair as well; it can be used as a conditioner making it shinier, healthier and stronger.

Order your Argan bottle now and say goodbye to dry skin, damaged hair and wounds!

2. Prickly Pear Seed Oil: The Luxurious Oil

From the Western Sahara desert of Morocco to the global beauty market, Prickly Pear Seed oil has gained a well-deserved reputation for its effective anti-aging properties.

This natural Moroccan beauty secret has been making a big splash recently thanks to its high levels of antioxidants and fatty acids. It is a non-greasy solution for various hair and skin needs.

Known for its ability to target wrinkles and dark spots, Prickly Pear Seed Oil is one of the most favored cold-pressed oils among both locals and tourists.

Actually, this oil as expensive as it can get, it is still worth the price; its concentration of unsaturated fatty acids and vitamins E & A is the highest among cosmetic oils.

Apply 2 to 3 drops of Prickly Pear Seed Oil after your favorite moisturizer – Use this Beauty Tip if your skin is feeling particularly dry and dull.

With 1.5 times more vitamin E than Argan oil, the Cactus Pear oil seems to work miracles. It keeps your skin looking young and your hair feeling healthy.

Fun fact: To produce only one liter of this precious oil, we need approximately one ton of Prickly Pear Fruit!

How to use Moroccan Oils on face?

Argan Oil – For all skin types ( In moderation for oily skin )

Prickly Pear Seed Oil – For all skin types

1. Put 2 – 3 drops of the oil in the palm of your hand, rub your hands together
2. Massage the oil into your skin – Preferably damp skin for better results
3. It is safe to be used during both your morning and evening skincare routine – Can be used on a daily basis

3. Rhassoul Clay

Looking for another natural Moroccan Beauty Secret straight from the atlas mountains? Look no further, the Moroccan Rhassoul Clay might just be the one for you! This mineral-rich ingredient is a favorite among women from all around the world for its ability to cleanse and refresh hair and skin.

It is a natural and gentle clay that has been used for so long by the Amazigh women of Morocco for both hair and skin.

Packed with minerals and especially with Silica, it is believed that the Moroccan red clay is the most powerful among all other types of clay; its strong absorbing and exfoliating properties are the most efficient of all of them.

Using Rhassoul regularly can improve skin texture, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and cleanse your face and scalp.

How to use Rhassoul Clay Powder?

You will mostly find it in a dry condition. So, in order to use it, add a liquid to form a paste and then rinse it off with warm water after letting it dry. It is often mixed with Rosewater, Argan oil or just plain water, based on your personal needs.

For face

It can be used as a face mask to:

• Deeply exfoliate
• Reduce blemishes and acne
• Remove toxins
• Unclog pores.

For body

• A natural dry soap or body scrub for its antimicrobial properties
• A gentle detoxifier used in the finest spas in Morocco and all over the world
• Cleanses the skin of oil and impurities without drying
• Leaves the skin smooth, fresh and moisturized

For hair

• As a hair mask, hair conditioner or a natural solid shampoo:
• The natural silica acts as a gentle scalp exfoliant
• Gives the hair more definition and volume
• Stimulates hair growth
• Unclogs the hair follicles.

Mixing Rhassoul Clay with Aker Fassi, can work wonders on your skin. It is the perfect combination for all skin types; it can be used as a body scrub or a face mask for brightening and purifying effects.

So, if you are looking for a natural Moroccan beauty secret that answers your hair, body and skin needs. Make sure to add the Moroccan red clay to your shopping list once you are in Morocco for a complete satisfaction!

4. Rose Water : Facial Toner

The Moroccan rose water is a must-have beauty product, made from the petals of the Rosa damascena plant, which is native to Morocco. It is the most used rose in the perfumery world thanks to its addictive and fragrant scent.

Whether you use it as a make-up remover, after-wash astringent after a long day or a calming toner after a good chemical peel session, Rose Water is the ultimate addition to your daily skincare routine. It serves as a multi-purpose natural toner that is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive and acne prone skin.

This Moroccan gem has various benefits for your skin, hair, and overall well-being. It is packed with antioxidants, which help to neutralize free radicals and protect your skin from damage.

For skin

• Acts as a refreshing toner and natural astringent
• Helps to absorb excess oil
• Minimizes and tightens pores
• Helps to reduce acne, redness, and irritation thanks to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties
• Helps to hydrate – soothe – calm and nourish sensitive skin
• Helps to maintain the skin’s pH balance

For hair

Acts as a natural conditioner: Detangles and softens hair; especially locks

Fun fact: Rose water can be found in most Moroccan households, not only for cosmetic purposes, but it is also a popular ingredient in cooking; it adds a distinctive flavor to traditional dishes.

5. Aker Fassi: Natural Berber lipstick

Another Moroccan beauty gem that has gained rapid popularity and gone viral on TikTok is the Aker Fassi lipstick. Native to Fez, It is a powder extracted from the dried poppy petals and dried grains of pomegranate; it is commonly sold in powder form or as a solid lipstick but lately, it has gotten super famous on the internet for the uniqueness of its Clay pot form.

As a powder, solid lipstick or in a lid, Aker Fassi is the perfect choice for a rich reddish stain that looks beautiful on both cheeks and lips; giving you natural blush and rosy moisturized lips.

How to use Aker Fassi?

To use Aker Fassi Clay Pot, you can soak your finger or a lip brush in water, rub it gently on the clay pot and then apply it on your lips. For more moisturized lips, use Argan oil instead of water, before or while applying Aker Fassi.

Aker Fassi powder is one of the natural Moroccan beauty secrets that can benefit both the skin and hair. Its antioxidant, soothing, and astringent properties make it a highly valued ingredient, providing impressive and instant results.

For a natural hair dye; mix one teaspoon of Aker Fassi powder and 100g of Henna to get a vibrant Gypsy Red color.

Added to the Rhassoul clay, the natural amazigh powder enhances skin’s elasticity, cleanses and hydrates it.

Mixed with Rose Water, it softens the hair, strenghtens it and gives it a shinier look.

In short, by adding these Natural Moroccan beauty secrets to your skincare routine, you too can achieve a glowy and youthful appearance!

In fact, these beauty gems have not only been used by Moroccan women; but have also become the go-to for many women all over the world. They can be easily found online or while wandering the streets of Morocco! In the heart of the medinas of Marrakech, Casablanca, Fez.. Wherever you go, you will be warmly welcomed.

So why not join the growing organic trend and try out some of these well-kept beauty secrets, to let your natural beauty shine?

How To Get A Glowing Skin With Natural Moroccan Beauty Secrets
Must Visit Morocco

While roaming the streets of Morocco, you will definitely notice a wide variety of clothing choices, from females wearing full-body gowns and a headscarf covering everything but their eyes to others wearing short dresses.

The same thing applies to men, as you will certainly see men wearing long and loose gowns and others wearing shorts and tank tops.

However, this variety of clothing choices definitely depends on if you choose to visit larger cities or smaller rural places, it also depends on the season when your visit to Morocco will take place. So it is definitely helpful for you to have a clearer idea about what to wear in Morocco during your visit:

What to wear in Morocco: In a big city

People that live in the large metropolitan cities of Morocco have quite a variety of clothing styles, the younger generation of women tend to dress in a more

modern way with dresses, jeans and high-heels as well as make-up, while typically older women choose to wear more traditional clothes such as Djellaba.

Same goes for men, as the older generation will still wear the traditional Djellaba, but most younger men choose to dress in a more casual way when they are out and about. Long pants are the most common.

Nonetheless it’s highly advisable to find a middle ground and dress somewhat moderately to respect the local culture, women don’t necessarily need a heascarf “Hijab” but low-cut shirts and very short shorts may not be the best idea.

In general, it’s always a good idea to keep your knees and shoulders covered as a sign of respect and modesty, with the exeption of beaches and pools, where it’s perfectly acceptable to wear bathing suits, cover-ups and shorts.

What to wear in Morocco: In rural areas

When it comes to the rural areas of the country, it is highly advisable to wear more conservative clothing, preferably long loose pants with normal length tshirts, long dresses all while avoiding crop tops, shorts and short dresses. Which will also make you feel more at ease with the surrouding environment.

You will find that almost all Moroccans who live in rural areas tend to dress in a traditional way, with both men and women choosing to wear full body covering modest clothes. They may even be offended at the sight of someone wearing revealing clothes, especially for women.

As it will be a very rare sight to see someone wearing something revealing, because the people who live there tend to be a lot more traditional and rigid than those who live in urban areas.

What to wear in Morocco during winter:

If your visit to Morocco takes place during the winter, it’s important to keep in mind that most of Morocco has mild winter weather.

So you’ll want to pack some extra layers of clothes, such as long sleeve tops, warm sweaters, scarves and socks.

If you plan on visiting a city in the Central Atlas Mountains of Morocco like Fes or Meknes, it’s extra important to keep in mind that these cities as well as close by villages are far drier and colder than the coast.

What to wear in Morocco during summer:

Unsurprisinly, Morocco’s peak tourist season is in fact summer, so if you plan on visiting during the summer season, you’ll have to remember that Morocco can get very hot and humid during summer months and heatwaves are common as it easily reaches 100F or higher during daytime.

You’ll need to wear lighter and more breathable fabrics, like cotton and linen. A hat and a pair of sunglasses are a must.

Also if you’re planning on visiting the Sahara during summer, it’s highly advisable to bring along a scarf and a cardigan as it can get chilly during the night.

What to wear in Morocco during fall and spring:

Remember to regularly check local weather for different parts of the country as different regions have different temperatures and climates, for example, the weather is Fes will be different than Tangier.

During the fall and spring weather, it is a good idea to pack shirts and pants, without worrying about the extra layers, you may need a light jacket or a cardigan during nightime as it tends to get colder.

What to wear in Morocco: The ultimate clothing guide
Must Visit Morocco

Few countries in the world have a musical heritage as rich and ancient as that of Morocco. Moroccan music is as beautiful and enchanting as the country itself.  Growing up in Morocco, I have always been proud of Moroccan music’s range, depth and diversity, expressed in many forms and through many instruments. 

Few countries in the world have a musical heritage as rich and ancient as that of Morocco.

Music is indeed one of the richest parts of Morocco’s culture. Here is a list of Morocco’s most famous and rich musical genres from Andalussi and Malhoun in the north to the Sufi brotherhoods and Amazigh folk throughout the country and Hassani Sahraoui music in the very south.

Moroccan music: Ayta

When we talk about the popular oral tradition of Morocco, we are talking about expressive forms that have retained their originality over time. It is a very rich heritage which consists of an array of cultural manifestations as suggested by the odes, the anecdotes, the folk dances, the halgats, the songs, the ayouts (plural of Ayta).

Ayta occupies a large place in Morocco’s cultural and artistic heritage. The word itself means a call intended for a person in order to attract his attention. Artistically, it’s a means of musical oral expression originated from the countryside of Morocco, structured according to a logical sequence, beginning with a prelude, followed by several chapters, interspersed in turn by a chorus or refrain (transitional poetic verse which allows the passage from one sequence to another ), culminating in a dancing finale. 

The art of Aita in Morocco contains seven main sections are: Marsawi, Hasbawi, Hawzi, Zaari, Khribgui, Jebli, Mellali. Ayta Art is about the realities of life — about the land, nature, wars, mountains, crises and, of course, it’s about love. In short, Aita music represents the heritage of Morocco. 

source: aytart.com

Amazigh folklore (Ahwach, Ahidous..)

The Berbers are some of the first habitants of Morocco. they developed, especially in the countryside, a very original musical style. This Moroccan music varies according to the region concerned. Each of Morocco’s three Berber regions has its own language and, in turn, their own Berber rhythms. 

In addition to dialectal Arabic, there are three forms of Berber dialects spoken in Morocco: Tamazight in the West region of the Middle Atlas, Tachlhit in the South West region, and Tarifit in the North.

In most cases, Berber music is performed by popular artistic troupes composed of women and men, some singing in the dialect of the region and others performing dances punctuated to the rhythm according to string or percussion instruments such as the rebab, the lotar, which resembles the lute and the Bendir, a round drum, during moussems or other festivities such as weddings.

At the head of the troop, we always find a raïss in a white caftan and carrying on the side a dagger in an engraved case. This popular moroccan music has generated, in addition to singing, a way of dancing that has given rise to several forms of popular dances: ahwach dances and ahidous dances among others.

Ahwach, a Berber dance, collective and traditional, widespread in the High Atlas, this dance varies from region to region and from tribe to tribe, while keeping the same basics. This collective dance is performed to the rhythm of a traditional song: the tawala, orchestrated by a soloist.  The ahwach is a joyful and convivial dance. It is a beautiful demonstration of Berber traditions in Morocco.

Ahidous, a millennial practice that is an integral part of our Moroccan artistic heritage. The Ahidous is a traditional dance practiced by the Berber tribes of the Atlas, in which women and men, attached, form undulating circles, accompanied by songs in Berber by rhythms of the bendir.

In addition to the famous Ahwach and Ahidous, Berber songs are collective songs of several types: tamawith, tariffareth, izlan, afardi, izran and asalaw. 

Sufi

This beautiful mystical religions style of moroccan music can be traced back in its origins in the country of Morocco to the red city of Marrakech, the sufi music comes from sufism, it belongs to what it’s called tariqas or orders and some of the most famous tariqas in morocco are tariqa issawiya, boutchichiya, Hamadcha, Cherkaoua and Dar Dmana among others.

Sufism is the mystical side of Islam, and its history is traced to the very early days of the religion. The tariqas or Sufi brotherhoods get together, and music is an essential part of their spiritual tradition which seeks to reach a trance state to inspire a mystical fantasy. Sufi music is also strongly focused on poetry and as a form of devotions and worship.

Moroccan Sufi Music is a mystical, musical, cultural, and religious style that the Sufis believe it brings one spiritually closer to the Prophet Muhammad and Allah, typically performed with an oud (Arab lute), vocals, percussion, and sometimes with a reed flute called a “Ney,” and of course, the most essential element to it is that the poetic component produces a trance-like state.

Issawa 

Issawa is what could be the most famous tari9a sufiya (a Sufi musical method or order), which means a religious form of Moroccan folklore, Meknes and Fez are the birthplaces of Issawa. Issawa was founded by Sidi Ben Aissa also called shaykh lkaml in the 15th century, the term Issawa or Aissawa comes from the founder’s name ben Aissa.

Issawa are Sufi brotherhoods, Moroccan folklore groups that sing Islamic songs but in special and rhythmic ways and are known for their spiritual music led by a “mqdm” head of the group. Bendir, taarija (percussion instruments), raita (small pipes) and n’far (large one-note trumpets) are some of its most used musical Instruments.

A “Issawa” night is a must on your next visit to the cultural and spiritual capital Fes. There are many riads in the old medina of the city that offer musical Issawa nights that would leave you wanting more.

Gnaoua 

Gnaoua music, listed on December 12, 2019 in the intangible heritage of Unesco, is a tradition perpetuated in Morocco by the descendants of former slaves from sub-Saharan Africa. Combining African rituals and worship of saints venerated by local populations.

Gnaoua music was widely popularized by the Gnaoua Festival of Essaouira that was created in 1997 in the city of Essaouira in southern Morocco. For its part, Gnawa music is practiced by a religious brotherhood. The moroccan music of the gnaoua has a very particular rhythm, a mixture of African and Arab-Berber rhythms. The dancers perform impressive acrobatic figures inspired by Moroccan melhoun.

Gnawa music is definitely one of the most characteristic music of the Moroccan heritage with its beautiful unique rhythms, its sounds, colors, outfits, dances but also its rituals and traditions.

Gnawas use 3 main musical instruments: The Guembri, an instrument with chords, is the main instrument of a gnaoua group. It is the instrument of the maalem. The maâlem or master musician is also the singer of the group. The qraqebs or karkabous are percussion instruments where the sound produced comes directly from the material of the instrument (metal). And finally the tbel, the tbel is a drum and there are often 2 tbel players in a Gnaoua music group.

Andaloussi 

Known formerly under the name of “musiqa Al Ala, موسيقى الآلة” translated to “instrumental music”  to differentiate it from vocal music, of a religious nature, where the use of musical instruments is forbidden, with the exception of those used for show the rhythm, this heritage is today commonly called “at-Tarab al-Andaloussi,” or “al-Musiqa al-Andaloussia,” meaning Andalusian music.

Andalusian moroccan music is the main musical genre in Fes and Tetouan, composed of a repertoire organized into instrumental openings, songs of poems and improvised choruses, according to a musical system: Nawba. It is a classical music inspired by the songs of religious poems, it includes individual or collective songs like Moual. There are various subgenres of Andalousian moroccan music such as Gharnate, consisting of a mandolin and lute and can be heard in north of morocco in the cities of Tangiers and Tetouan.

Imported to North Africa by the Arabs expelled from Spain from the 11th century, As its name suggests, it contributed to enriching the Moroccan musical heritage, thanks to an oriental mixture of Arab, Berber and Iberian artistic data. 

This Moroccan music is an elitist musical genre, often reserved for the celebrations of notables. The repertoire of the musicians, dressed in white djellabas, consists of several noubas, kinds of instrumental and vocal suites. Each piece is led by a soloist and played, with the support of songs, by the whole orchestra. 

Chaabi 

A highlight of Morocco’s traditional musical heritage, one of the most popular in Morocco, “Chabbi” meaning popular in Arabic, is indeed the most popular music listened to in Morocco. made its appearance thanks to the moussems celebrated in the four corners of the country. 

The chaâbi nowadays is a moroccan music that is frequently found in weddings and this style is often associated with the party. The use of popular language and the creation of new rhythms have made this style an essential complement to dance. 

The instrumentation of the Moroccan chaâbi can be varied: bendir, derbouka, violin, lute or gembri, and since the technological innovation, the electric guitar and the keyboard have appeared.

During musical performances, Moroccan women dance by swaying their hips, sweeping their hair and tapping their feet on the ground or on a metal sound box, a dance called in moroccan dialect derdigue. This specifically Moroccan dance is not found in any Arab-Muslim country. The derdigue would either be a vestige of Arab-Andalusian Spain found in Flamenco or (like hair sweeping) from trance ceremonies.

Nowadays, the artists of urban Châabi are more and more numerous and of different artistic quality, and among which we find: Abdelaziz Stati, Tahour, Daoudi, Daoudia, Haj Moughit, Saïd Sinhaj and Abidat Rma.

Melhoun

True poetic art, A heritage of inestimable value, Melhoum meaning “the melodic poem”, is a form of traditional Moroccan music that dates back to the fifteenth century originating from the region of the Tafilalet oasis and the zawias in southern Morocco to then have spread to the rest of the country . 

Originally, malhun started as a pure literary creation with poems that sing of daily life in the medinas, sung words, a poetic genre today known in Morocco under the name of “qasida”. 

This form is today accompanied by instruments such as the “oud” (from the family of plucked string instruments) or the “bendir” (percussion instrument). It has been influenced through the ages by the rhythms of Andalusian moroccan music and popular songs which gave birth to Melhoun as we know it today.

Sahraoui Music

In the Saharaoui oral tradition, music and poetry have always been inextricably intertwined, allowing for a greater understanding and transmission of poetry by combining classical Arabic poetry, which consists of at least seven verses with a single rhyme, a musical form played in a specific defined order starting from when the lute player begins his melody

This type of song, called “Al Haoul” in Hassaniya language,  frequently stimulates as much fear of the Saharan expanse as it does solitude.

Hassani poetry, an important part of Sahraoui culture, comes from the Amazigh/berber and arabic culture as much as the Mauritanian griots and is particularly inspired by the daily life of the desert. The poetry equally expresses the hopes and fears, traditions and the relationship between men and women. Religious faith is also a source of inspiration with hadiths and Koranic verses serving as a basis for poems.

The instruments employed, like the poetry they accompany, are the result of cultural hybridization between the Sahara and Sub-Saharan Africa. The Saharan instrumentalists tend to reside in two areas in particular: Noun and Saqua el Hamra.

It is also from Noun that the “guedra”, a famous Saharawi dance is native. As for Saquïa el Hamra, it has always been a rather mythical place and destination of the “Iggaouen”, the stray griots coming from Mauritania.

Some of the most famous Sahraoui moroccan music instruments are: the “tbal” used indifferently in the two Saharan parts of Noun and Saquia el Hamra. And the “Tidinite ” is a four string lute reserved for men, a privileged instrument of the Mauritanian griots and strongly reminiscent of the “guembri” gnawa.

Moroccan jewish music

The Jews of Morocco have always been part of the socio-economic landscape of the Kingdom. Without abandoning the Jewish heritage which has enriched the Arab-Muslim heritage. Making the Moroccan identity a base of several cultures and religions.

Moroccan Jews preserved religious and secular musical traditions, improvised upon them and popularized them. Frequently performing alongside Muslims, they contributed to the development of an authentic Moroccan music scene.

Moroccan music: A rich diversity 
Must Visit Morocco