odds & ends item from OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2007
Country In Focus
Morocco
Located directly below Spain and approximately the size of California, the Kingdom of Morocco rests on Africa’s northernmost tip between Algeria and Mauritania. Its location—straddling Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East—has shaped its culture throughout the centuries.
Morocco is most notably recognized for one of its port cities, made famous by a classic black and white movie from the 1940s: Casablanca. Situated on the country’s North Atlantic coast, Casablanca (which means “White House” in Spanish) is the sixth largest port city in Africa and handles almost all Moroccan trade.
Other important Moroccan cities include the coastal city of Tangier, Marrakech, Fes and Meknes. Travelling from Tangier, tourists can enjoy a comfortable three-hour ferry ride to arrive at Algeciras, a small port in southern Spain.
Once a part of the Roman Empire, Morocco traces its modern Islamic roots to the Arab invasion in the seventh century when nomadic Berber tribes who controlled the region were forced to convert to Islam. However, the Berbers, a conglomeration of tribes distinguished by their Hamito-Semitic language, retained certain characteristics of their migratory way of life, still apparent in the country today.
Source: Stacey L. Caswell
Source: Stacey L. Caswell
Source: Stacey L. Caswell
Historically, Morocco was also controlled by Spain and France before officially gaining its independence in 1956. Currently, it is the only country in Northern Africa with a ruling monarchy.
Morocco’s landscape is a mix of rolling green hills, deep valleys and Saharan desert. In Northern Morocco, the hills provide prime land for grazing animals, while palm trees to the south give shade to urban dwellers on hot days.
Due to its location on the African continent, Morocco boasts an eclectic mix of European and Arabic influence, most notable in its architecture. Rows of Spanish-style stucco buildings dot the countryside while Arabic calligraphy-lined stone walls encircle cities. A quick glimpse of Tangier from a rooftop reveals rows of stark white mismatched buildings seemingly piled on top of each other.
Transportation in Morocco is primarily accomplished by modern methods, with the exception of camels and donkeys, which are occasionally used to navigate narrow passageways throughout many of Morocco’s older cities.
Although the nation’s official language is Arabic, most Moroccans regularly communicate in French and English, and even Spanish in certain northern areas of the country. Many also speak Moroccan Berber dialects: Tarifit, Tashelhi or Tamazight.
Tea is very important in Moroccan culture. Natives regularly drink atai, a type of green tea with lumps of sugar and mint leaves served in tiny glasses. Popular cuisine includes couscous, a Berber dish made of rolled semolina wheat, served with a type of beef or lamb stew.
Moroccans are known for their incredible artistry, especially in designing tapestry. A passing visit through a “souk,” or open air market, reveals natives’ incredible talent for making handcrafted rugs from sheep’s wool and all-natural dyes.
To learn more about Morocco, check out the Moroccan National Tourism’s Web site at www.visitmorocco.org.