Culture

Hassan Mosque : The most famous landmark in Rabat,

 an infinished Almohad minaret standing at 40 metres.

Morocco is an ethnically diverse country with a rich culture  and civilization . Through Moroccan history , it has hosted many people coming from East (Phoenicians, Cathaginians, Jews and Arabs), South (Sub-Saharian Africans) and North (Romans, Vandals ,Andalusians, Moors and Jews). All those civilizations have had an impact on the social structure of
Morocco. It conceived various forms of beliefs, from paganism, Judaism , and Christianity to Islam .

Since independence a veritable blossoming has taken place in painting and sculpture, popular music, amateur theatre, and filmmaking. The Moroccan National Theatre (founded 1956) offers regular productions of Moroccan and French dramatic works. Art and music festivals take place throughout the country during the summer months, among them the
 World Sacred Music Festival at Fès.

Each region possesses its own specificities, thus contributing to the national culture and to the legacy of civilization. Morocco has set among its top priorities the protection of its diverse legacy and the preservation of its cultural heritage.

Culturally speaking, Morocco has always been successful in combining its Berber, Jewish and Arabic cultural heritage with external influences such as the French and the Spanish and, during the last decades, the Anglo-American lifestyles.

Literature:

Tahar Ben Jelloun

Moroccan literature is written in Arabic, Berber and French. Under the Almohad  dynasty Morocco experienced a period of prosperity and brilliance of learning. The Almohad built the Marrakech Koutoubia Mosque, which accommodated no fewer than 25,000 people, but was also famed for its books, manuscripts, libraries and book shops, which gave it its name; the first book bazaar in history. The Almohad Caliph Abu Yakub had a great love for collecting books. He founded a great library, which was eventually carried to the Casbah and turned into a public library.

Modern Moroccan literature began in the 1930s. Two main factors gave Morocco a pulse toward witnessing the birth of a modern literature. Morocco, as a French  and Spanish protectorate left Moroccan intellectuals the opportunity to exchange and to produce literary works freely enjoying the contact of other Arabic literature  and Europe.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Morocco was a refuge and artistic centre and attracted writers as Paul Bowles  , tennessee Williams and William S. Burroughs. Moroccan literature flourished with novelists such as Mohamed Zafzaf  and Mohamed Choukri, who wrote in Arabic, and Driss Chraibi  and Tahar Ben Jelloun who wrote in French. Other important Moroccan authors include, Abdellatif Laabi, Abdelkrim Ghallab, Fouad Laroui, Mohammed Berrada  and Leila Abouzeid. It should be noted also, that orature (oral literature) is an integral part of Moroccan culture, be it in Moroccan Arabic or Amazigh.

Music:

The most famous of all Moroccan bands outside
of Morocco and also highly revered within
 Morocco, NASS EL GHIWANE aka The Rolling Stones of Africa!

Moroccan music is of Amazigh, Arab and sub-Saharan origins. Rock-influenced chaabi bands are widespread, as is trance music with historical origins in Muslim music.

Morocco is home to Andalusian classical music  that is found throughout North Africa. It probably evolved under the Moors in Cordoba, and the Persian-born musician Ziryab  is usually credited with its invention. A genre known as Contemporary Andalusian music and art is the brainchild of Morisco  visual artist/composer/ oudist Tarik Banzi  founder of the Al-Andalus Ensemble

Chaabi (popular) is a music consisting of numerous varieties which are descended from the multifarious forms of Moroccan folk music. Chaabi was originally performed in markets, but is now found at any celebration or meeting.

Popular Western forms of music are becoming increasingly popular in Morocco, such as fusion, rock, country, metal and particularly hip hop.

Morocco participated in 1980's Eurovision Song Contest, being in penultimate position.

Cuisine:

Moroccan cuisine has long been considered as one of the most diversified cuisines in the world. This is a result of the centuries-long interaction of Morocco with the outside world. The cuisine of Morocco is mainly Berber-Moorish, European, Mediterranean cuisines. The cuisine of Morocco is essentially Berber cuisine (sometimes referred to as the Moorish cuisine). It is also Influenced by Spephardic cuisine and by the Moriscos when they took refuge in Morocco after the Reconquista. Spices are used extensively in Moroccan food. While spices have been imported to Morocco for thousands of years, many ingredients, like saffron  from Tiliouine, mint  and olives  from Meknes, and oranges  and lemons  from Fez, are home-grown. Chicken  is the most widely eaten meat in Morocco. The most commonly eaten red meat in Morocco is breef ; lamb  is preferred but is relatively expensive. Couscous  is the most famous Moroccan dish along with pastilla , tajine , and harira . The most popular drink is green tea  with mint, Atai.

Moroccan Couscous

Sport:

Spectator sports  in Morocco traditionally centred on the art of horsemanship  until European sports—football  polo, swimming, and tennis—were introduced at the end of the 19th century. Football is the country’s premier sport, popular among the urban youth in particular, and in 1986 Morocco became the first Arab and African country to qualify to the second round in World Cup competition. Morocco will be hosting the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. The host cities will include Tangier, Casablanca, Rabat, Agadir and Marrakech.

At the 1984 Olympic Games, two Moroccans won gold medals in track and field events. Nawal El Moutawakel  won in the 400 metres hurdles ; she was the first woman from an Arab or Islamic country to win an Olympic gold medal. Said Aouita won the 5000 metres at the same games. hicham El Guerrouj  won gold medals in the 1500 metres and 5000 metres for Morocco at the 2004 Summer Olympics   and holds several world records  in the mile run.

Tennis and golf  have become popular. Several Moroccan professional players have competed in international competition, and the country fielded its first Davis Cup  team in 1999.

Kickboxing  is also popular in Morocco. Badr Hari , heavyweight kickboxer and martial artist, is a former K-1 heavyweight champion and K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 and 2009 finalist.