Morocco
All countries-
The universal language of music
Music dossier: Tuning in to the unfamiliar
An independent, modern music scene has long since developed in the Islamic world and Europe. Breaking with convention, it is a far cry from belly dance and folklore cliches. In this dossier, we present some of its leading protagonists, genres and events
-
Aziza Brahim's "Mawja"
The voice of Western Sahara
Aziza Brahim's childhood as a Sahrawi refugee in Algeria naturally shaped her music, but as her latest album, "Mawja" shows, while she has not forgotten where she comes from, she has long since tuned her ears to a world beyond the camp perimeters
-
New Choukri translation
The absurdist frame
In Mohamed Choukri's varied and experimental collection "Tales of Tangier" the hyperreal meets the bizarre. The off-kilter stories put forward by the late author seem to be set spinning on their edges, so fast and wild they might just fly off the page
-
Music of the Sahel
Jarama – echoes of the Sahara
It's a long way from Hungary to Morocco, both geographically and culturally. For expatriate Moroccan Said Tichiti, the distance finally caught up with him in 2018. Stuck musically and seeking inspiration he and two of his Chalaban band mates made the long trip to his former home. New release "Jarama" is the musical outcome
-
Family law in Morocco
A cultural battleground
Moroccan citizens are awaiting upcoming amendments to the family law, especially those that pertain to several controversial social issues
-
Migrant destination Europe
EU gatekeeper Morocco leverages its own interests
Morocco is intensifying its gatekeeper role in EU migration, stopping 87,000 migrants in 2023. Key to the deal is European acceptance of Morocco's claim to disputed Western Sahara
-
Destination Morocco
A magnet for migrant women?
Morocco has slowly transformed from a transit country to a destination country for sub-Saharan African migrants – almost half of whom are women
-
Cinema showcase in Morocco
Arab women filmmakers challenge Western preconceptions
Female filmmakers from across the Middle East are increasingly being recognised and celebrated. But the challenges they face are not always what you might expect
-
Sofia Alaoui's film "Animalia"
Aliens land in Morocco
Moroccan terrain has long proved a popular backdrop for American film productions. In "Animalia", director Sofia Alaoui highlights Morocco's scenery from a local and personal perspective, focusing in particular on the Atlas Mountains
-
Lessons from the earthquake in Morocco
Earthquake a turning point for Morocco?
A wave of solidarity swept across Moroccan society in the wake of the recent earthquake. However, the disaster also revealed serious shortcomings in the state's institutions. Political analyst Ali Anouzla explains what lessons can be learned
-
Jewish music
Breathing new life into Ladino
Noam "Nani" Vazana's most recent album "Ke Haber" (What's New) is a beautiful dive into the rich cultural history of Sephardic Jews and the Ladino language. But there's a twist to what she does with the language: instead of just singing old songs, she creates and writes new material. By Richard Marcus
-
Morocco quake aftermath
Moroccans pull together for Atlas region
Morocco's devastating earthquake has led to a wave of solidarity with the victims, with many volunteers setting off under their own steam to help. But reconstruction will take a long time. Hans-Christian Roessler reports from Amizmiz