Morocco



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**__Introduction: __** Morocco is a French speaking African country. French is not the official language ; however, it is recognized as a national language. The two official languages spoken in Morocco are Berber and Arabic. Morocco is located on the North-West coast of Africa. The country is like an island with the Atlantic Ocean covering the entire Western and Northern borders and the Sahara Desert spanning most of the Eastern border. It is a prime location for tourism because of the beautiful beaches, and because of its close proximity to Spain.

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=__Geography:__ = As you can see, the location of Morocco is in the Northern part of Africa on the West coast.

* Morocco borders the Atlantic ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. * It borders Algeria to the East and the Western Sahara to the South. * Morocco shares several similar cultural features with Algeria and Tunisia considering their close proximity. * Closest African country to Europe geographically but, ironically, the least known about at the turn of the 20 century. * Geographic Coordinates: 32 00 N, 5 00 W. * The total area of the country is 446,550 sq km. The amount of land is 446,300 sq km and the amount of water is 250 sq km. * To get an idea of the size of the country, it is slightly larger than California. * There is a total of 1,835 km of coastline in Morocco.

Sources: <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">[] <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">[] <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">[] <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">[] <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">BOOK: //The Conquest of Morocco//

=<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">__**Population and Demographics:**__ = <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">﻿* The estimated population for July of 2011 is approximately 31,968,361. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">* The population growth rate is about 1.067%. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">* Male/Female ratio is about 0.97 males/ 1 female. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">* Life Expectancy: Population: 75.9 years; Males: 72.84 years; Females: 79.11 years. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">* Ethnic Groups: Arab-Berber 99.1%, Other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">* Religions: Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">* Languages: Arabic (official), Berber Dialects, French (used for business, government and diplomacy). <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">* "Narrow streets teemed with exoctic figures: Genouah (Timbuctoo), Susi, Mountineers, Moors, Gharbs from the island of Malta, and Berbers." <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">* What is most distinctive about Morocco is its large population of Europeans, "The majority of Europeans in the early 1900s in Morocco were Spaniards."

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Sources: <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[] <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">BOOK://The Conquest of Morocco//

=** __Economy:__ **=

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">The market economy in Morocco benefits greatly from its low labor costs, and also its close proximity to Europe. Agriculture, light manufacturing, and tourism are very important to the economy. Morocco is also the world's largest exporter of phosphate. Morocco entered a Free Trade Agreement with the US in 2006, and also in 2008 entered the 2000 Association Agreement with Europe, which helped its economic status greatly. Even though the economy is doing somewhat well, there is still a high rate of poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment in the country.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Unemployment rate: 9.8% (2010) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Population below poverty line: 15% (2010) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Inflation rate: 2.5% (2010) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Exports: 14.49 billion (2010) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Imports: 34.19 billion (2010) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Exchange rate: 8.3619 Moroccan Dirhams per US dollar (2010)

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Sources: <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">[] <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">[]

=<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">__History:__ =

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">The history of Morocco spread over 12 centuries. Morocco is a country, like many others, that has greatly evolved over time. The history begins in Prehistoric Times (2001BC), and continues on to today. Berber Kingdoms emerged in the 2nd century BC. Later on, the Romans also had a large influence over the area. The Berber Kingdom allowed the Romans to have some ruler-ship. Between 20AD and 439AD, the area had been Romanized and then Christianized.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">After the 4th century, Morocco was then became a Jewish Kingdom until Islam was introduced. In the 7th century, the Arabs came into the area, bringing Islam, which many of the Berbers converted to.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">"In 1559, the region fell to successive Arab tribes claiming descent from the Prophet Muhammad: first the Saadi Dynasty who ruled from 1511 to 1659 and then the Alaouites, who founded a dynasty that has remained in power since the 17th century."

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Before the 20th century Morocco was not seen as a big interest to Europeans as they viewed the country as, "yet to emerge from the Middle Ages with warlords, emperors, slaves, barbarism, corruption and poverty stricken."

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Like many of the African countries, Morocco fell into weakness of the Europeans. In the latter years of the 19th century, France took an interest in the country, as many others in the northern region of Africa. The competition for Morocco between France, Britain, Spain and Germany grew very heated as the 1900s rolled around. This was linked to some of the reasons for the beginning of World War I.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">In 1912, the Treaty of Fez made Morocco a protectorate of France. The French government then promoted economic development, and tried to exploit Morocco's mineral wealth. French control continued to increase over Morocco.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">From the early 1900s until 1956, Morocco fought, trying to break free of the French control.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Morocco gained its political independence from France on March 2, 1956, and on April 7.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">From 1956 to 1958 Spain recognized Morocco’s control over certain Spanish territories.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">On March 3, 1961 Hassan II was pronounced King of Morocco.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">During the 1970s Morocco annexed the Western Sahara, but control over the area still remains controversial as Spain claims ties to the country as well.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">During the 1990s King Hassan II rose up as emperor of Morocco and started political and economic liberalization known as "Hassanian democracy" which was continued by his successor, King Mohammed VI, as he became the leader in 1999.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">The country established a bicameral legislature in 1997 similar to that of the United States Government. This move positioned Morocco in a close standing with the United States and European powers and initiated mutually positive relations between Morocco and these allies.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">In 2002 the Maghreb insurgency took hold in Morocco and the surrounding countries of West Africa and is still a problem to this day.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">On May 16, 2003 terrorists believed to be associated with al-Qaeda carried out several bombings targeted at Jewish, Spanish and Belgian buildings within Casablanca killing 33 people and injuring many more.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">In 2004 the government carried out several changes to Family Law aimed at, "lifting the inequality imposed on women, protecting children's rights and safeguarding men's dignity", with these reforms Morocco is progressing, becoming more 'modern' and making positive changes to improve upon poverty and living situations within its borders.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Sources: <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; line-height: 23px;">[] <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">[] [] [] <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">BOOK: //The Conquest of Morocco//

=__<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Photos: __= <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Get a taste of the country with these photos, which explain things that cannot be put into words...













<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Sources: <span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">[|http://www.projects-] [|abroad.org/_photos/destinations/morocco/morocco-street.jpg] []

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=**__<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">Book Sources: __**= **// Audrey: //**

// Morocco // By Dorothy Hales Gary Lord Kinross MLA Citation: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px;">Gary, Dorothy Hales., and Patrick Balfour Kinross. // Morocco; //. London: Dent, 1971. Print. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 32px;">Summary: This book is a good source to get a feel of the country without actually going there because it is mostly visual. The book focuses on the geography of Morocco and shows the different aspects through beautiful photos. Some of the photos include scenes of the inside of a mosque, street scenes with outdoor markets, and of course, people. We can see the people dancing, working outdoors with animals, and wearing traditional costumes. This book is very interesting because photos can really show a lot about a country. There are photos of people attending a wedding feast and ceremony, and their outfits are beautiful. They wear fine handmade silver jewelery for important events such as this one. Many of the buildings featured in the book are old, but the architecture is magnificent. Some of the buildings resemble roman churches.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">// The Berbers // By Robert Montagne <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 32px;">MLA Citation: Montagne, Robert. // The Berbers; Their Social and Political Organisation; //. London: Cass, 1973. Print. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 32px;">Summary: <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 32px;">This book focuses more on the people of Morocco. The book talks about the Berber culture and religion, which is practiced in a few different Western African countries. The countries in which Berbers live include Morocco, Mauritania, Libya, Niger, Mali, Tunisia, Algeria, and Egypt. The Berber people have their own language which does vary between regions due to the different dialects. This group of people considers themselves the "Imazighen", which means "free people". In Morocco, there are three different ethnic groups that live in different areas. The Shilha live in the Upper-Southern parts of the Atlas mountains. The Central Atlas Imazighen live in the Upper-Northern parts of the Atlas mountains. The Riffians live in the coastal parts of the mountains. The Berber people have been around since the prehistoric times, and continue to thrive in the modern day.

**// Bryce: //** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">// Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia // By Richard M. Brace <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> MLA Citation: Brace, Richard M. //Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia//. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1964. Print.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Summary: <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">This book covers many bases on the country of Morocco in an attempt to build an understanding of what the country is like. Geographical. population, Arabizztion and European influence is covered with Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia as a whole. Then the book branches off into different sections that focus specifically on each of the certain countries covered in the text. Colonel Lyautey and the start of French involvement in Morocco and Sultan Mohammed V are covered in chapter six. Other topics briefly touched upon include appeals to the United Nations by Morocco, the dethronement of Muhammed V and independence in Morocco. The eleventh chapter is dedicated to what each country is like today; under Morocco's heading the author writes about recent politics, the rule of Sultan Hassan II and the Moroccan economy.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">// The Conquest of Morocco // By Douglass Porch <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> MLA Citation: Porch, Douglas. //The Conquest of Morocco//. New York: Knopf, 1983. Print.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Summary:

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The book covers European involvement and influence within Morocco and much of North Africa’s borders. First it explains how Morocco seemed of little interest for the European powers, which explains why penetration of the country occurred so much later compared to other African countries. The introduction goes on to describe Morocco as a dirty and corrupt place, where sodomy was present and diverse peoples roamed the streets. The country is derogatorily described as stuck in ‘medieval times’ with, “merchants sitting crossed-legged in shops calling out to passerby’s in Arabic, Spanish and English.” The streets also were also a place to make money and entertainment for storytellers, jugglers, performing apes and snake eaters. The book moves on to focus on the power struggle between Spain, Germany and France to control the area as England signed an agreement, the //Entente cordiale//, and no longer laid claims to areas within the country. Porch explains that the French began with a method called ‘peaceful penetration’ to gain ground and work their way into Moroccan territory. Colonel Hubert Lyautey was, “Morocco’s conquerer and, in colonial terms, her creator”, as he was the initial force behind France’s push into the country. The Coup de Tanger occurred from 1905-1906. Germany called out France as they felt threatened for their status within the country. The Moroccan people sensed that the French had other intentions than trying to make peace in the country and soon war break out between the French and Morrocans. Riots, battles and rebels excursions occurred within the war and, as France carved through much of Morocco, it never completely conquered the country until war broke out in Europe that halted the war in Morocco. However, the French conquests in Morocco were considered a success and one can safely say that France was the victor in the war.



Sources: [|http://img2.wantitall.co.za/images/ShowImage.aspx?ImageId=The-Conquest-of-Morocco|51zFjE5cUaL.jpg]

=**__<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Relation to France: __**=

<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">- "French diplomat St-Aulaire cracked the Spanish monopoly on Catholic worship by having six French nuns attached to the French hospital in Tangiers." The French priest being, "smuggled into Morocco was a minor diplomatic triumph." <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">- Tangiers criminal numbers flourished. City was a place of exile for political refugees since Napoleonic times. <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">- René Taillandier said, "Nor was there any real intimacy, never the temptation to share a confidence, hardly to be humorous or joke." <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">- "Many Jews claimed Algerian nationality, several thousand in Fez, and automatically won French protection during World War II." <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">- On April 8, 1904 the Franco-Spanish treaty, the Entente cordiale, was signed in which Britain recognized French claims to Morocco following an agreement to allow Britain free reign in the Nile Valley of Egypt. <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">- French noblemen Declassé and St.-René Taillandier early, "plans for reform were seen as a wild dream." <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">- "After the signing of the Entente St.-Aulaire, first secretary of the French legation at Tangiers, set out for Fez to negotiate a loan of 62 million francs." Under his belief in "peacful penetration," he wished to persuade the Sultan to give up important privileges to custom receipts to guarantee the loan would come through. The Sultan Abd el-Aziz consented to an interview even after new of the Entente had spread and St.-Aulaire convinced him to allow the loan negotiations to proceed. By May 23, 1904, "the makhzan agreed to negotiate only with French banks and to allow French customs officers to take 60 percent of Moroccan customs receipts." <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">- French fought German attempts at damaging their foothold in Morocco by developing the port police and state bank by means of gaining sympathy and support from allied countries. With the creation of the Moroccan state bank, controlled by the Banque de Paris, and an effective Moroccan police force, "In Morocco France was finally established." <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Sources:

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">BOOK://The Conquest of Morocco//

=__<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Literature: __= <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Moroccan literature is predominately written in Arabic, Berber and French. At the rise of the 12th century Fez University played an important role in contributing to Moroccan literature. Sufi leaders have played an important role from this early time period up until now. The first Moroccan writers, Ayyad ben Moussa and Ibn Bajja, were discovered during the Almoravid dynasty (1040-1147). Sultans, Abu Yaquab Yusuf and Abu Inan Faris, were known for starting prominent libraries and schools within Morocco to stimulate the love for the book as collectors of literature themselves. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Between the 16th and 21 centuries such notables took place: <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Famous Moroccan poets of this period were Abderrahman El Majdoub, Al-Masfiwi, Muhammad Awzal and Hemmou Talb. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">In 20th century Morocco three generations of writers molded literature into what it is today. The first generation put pen to paper during the Protectorate (1912-1956) in which France took control of the southern half of the country while Spain took control of the northern half dictated under the Treaty of Fez. Mohammed Ben Brahim, known as the poet of Marrakech, is the predominant representative writer for this time period. The next generation took charge during the country's fight for independence with writers such as Abdelkrim Ghallab, Allal al-Fassi and Mohammed al-Mokhtar Soussi. The third generation is composed of writers from the sixties with writers including Mohamed Choukri, Driss Chraïbi, Mohamed Zafzaf and Driss El Khouri. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">List of famous Moroccan Literature: <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">BOOKS: <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//It Happened in Casablanca// by Hassan El Garch <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//Sacred Night// by Tahar Ben Jelloun <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//Jean Genet in Tangier// by Mohamed Choukri <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits// by Laila Lalami <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//Butter Man// by Elizabeth and Ali Alalou <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">POEMS: <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//My Love Scream// Akamim Med <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//The Fish// by Moulay driss Elaamrouf <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//We Long for Peace// by Wafae Akioud <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//Ordinary Day// by Sarah Cherrabi el Alaoui <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">OTHER: <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">__Tingis__: a quarterly magazine
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Songs (religious poetry but also elegies and love poems)
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">biographies and historical chronicles like the "Nuzhat al-hadi bi-akhbar muluk al-qarn al-hadi" of
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Songs (religious poetry but also elegies and love poems)
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">biographies and historical chronicles like the "Nuzhat al-hadi bi-akhbar muluk al-qarn al-hadi" of Mohammed al-Ifrani (1670–1745), and the chronicles of Muhammad al-Qadiri (1712–1773).
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">accounts of journey's like the rihla of Ahmed ibn Nasir (1647–1717)
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">religious treatises and letters like those of Muhammad al-Arabi al-Darqawi (1760–1823) and Ahmad Ibn Idris Al-Fasi (1760–1837)



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=__<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Music: __= <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">The genres of Moroccan music are vast and plenty, comprising Arab, Berber, classical and popular elements, each stylized with both Middle Eastern and African influences at play. In the country the violin is a major instrument of both traditional and modern music alike. Classical Moroccan music is the most diversified among traditional Arabic music as it blends the sounds of Arabic origin with that of African beats. The different categories of music include Andalusian, Chaabi, Gnawa, Griha, Malhun and Ra'i. Many Moroccan musicians have made appearances touring through the United States.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Andalusian is orchestra music that has Andalusian dialect, or classic Arabic, influence. Nawbaat musical forms from their Andalusian origin.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Chaabi, Arabic for 'popular' it is Moroccan pop that draw on Arab, African and Western varieties. - During the 1970s such groups as JilJilala, Lem Chahed and Nass El-Ghiwane emerged as pop inivators. - Noujoum Ouazza of Lem Chahed is a well-known name in Morocco and he is now part of the German band, Dissidenten's lineup (Dissidenten is a Germany band that collaborates with African, India and Middle Eastern musicians). Today popular pop singers include Hasna with her hit //Marsoul El Hob,// Elam Jay who is a singer-song writer, composer, record producer, dancer, choreographer, music video director and entrepreneur, and Hatem Adar who placed tenth on Super Star 3 the Arabic equivalent of Britain's //Pop Idol//, similar to America's //American Idol//. Hasna: //Marsoul El Hob//- media type="youtube" key="aKf4ggrdEyQ" height="390" width="480"
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Gnawa are people that came from the Guinea Empire, now the present day countries of Guinea, Mali and Senegal. During the 16th century these people were captured and sold to rich sultans in North Africa, introducing their music tradition to the new culture in which they were immersed. Gnawa is religious in nature mixing Arabic beliefs with African rhythm and the music has a quality of 'mysticism'. "Typical instruments used in Gnawa are the //tbal// (loud double-headed-drums) and //querqbat// (metal castanets)." Gnawa is now recognized as a style of music in Morocco. - Gnawa Diffusion, Hassan Hakmoun, Abden Binizi and Sapho are just a few of the popular artists who perform Gnawa songs. - Bob Marley is consider a Gnawa Regae performer by Moroccan peoples.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Griha is a form of music that makes use of colloquial or 'slang' speech. The themes that reoccur in the music include that of love, war and adventure as artists often incorporate satirical twists.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Malhun has a poetic melody as the music is comparable to American rap, "urban, sung poetry that comes from the exclusively masculine working-class milieu of craftsmen's guilds." Malhun artists pull inspiration from Andalusian music. Jeyz Featuring Azad and Manuellsen: //Kämpferträne//-
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">media type="youtube" key="WvuhnYo1TJA" height="390" width="640"
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Ra'i, "is one of the most accessible, danceable and catchy music styles around. It is based on north African rhythms, combined with a solid bass line, synthesizer (instrument imitator), and colloquial Arabic vocals." - Popular Ra'i artists include Ashraf and Mara & Jalal.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Dance is also very varied in Morroco ranging from belly dance to ceremonious dance. The Casbah Dance Experience is a non-profit group that seeks to spread the influence of Arabic dance beyond its' current reaches and preserve such dance.

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=__<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Food!: __=

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Because of the many different cultures and religions in Morocco, there is a wide variety of different foods. Some of the major influences on Moroccan cuisine are Berber, Moorish, Rabat, Tetouan and Arab. There are many different ingredients that can be found in Morocco due to its climate. There are a wide range of Mediterranean fruits that are grown there, including tropical ones. Common meats include chicken, camel, rabbit, seafood, beef and lamb. Moroccan cuisine is also known for its spices. There are many ingredients that are imported to Morocco; however, there are also many home-grown ingredients, such as: saffron, mint, olives, oranges, and lemons.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">The most commonly used spices consist of cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, ginger, pepper, saffron, and many others. The midday meal in Morocco is considered the main meal of the day. It is served everyday except during the holiday period of Ramadan. The meal typically begins with hot and cold salads, and then a tagine. Next is the meat, followed by couscous topped with veggies and meat. Bread is served with every meal. Moroccan people usually eat with their hands, using their bread to help them pic up some foods. For desert, a coconut fudge cake is sometimes served, or some sort of other pastry.



<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">__Recipe for Moroccan Coconut Cake:__ <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Ingredients: <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">2 Cups of Grated Coconut <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">3/4 Cup evaporated Milk <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">2 Cups Sugar <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">1oz Butter <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">2 TBS Lemon Rinds

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Preparation: <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">In a 2 quart saucepan, combine coconut, milk, and sugar. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Simmer gently until 238 degrees or until a soft ball is formed in cold water. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Add butter and lemon rinds. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Let cool to room temperature in the pan. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Beat until thick and glossy. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Pour into 8x8 inch pan lined with wax paper. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Chill, then cut into one inch squares and enjoy! :) <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Sources: [][][][] []

=__<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Art: __= <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Wall Art... <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Costume Art... <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Home Art... <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Sources: [][][][][]

=__<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Tourism: __= <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Tourism is a large revenue producer for Morocco. Since Morocco is one of the most politically and economically stable African countries, it is the hot-spot for much of the African tourists. Another attraction would be the the marvelous coastal regions, since most people are looking to visit the ocean when they go on vacation. Tourism really began in the 1980s, when many Europeans visited Morocco. Most of the people came from Spain and France, since these countries are close by, but also people from Germany and England experienced the beginning of the Moroccan tourism. Now, there are more than 8 million tourist arrivals every year in Morocco from all over the world. Some of the most famous Moroccan tourist attractions are the Atlas Mountains, the Saidia Coast, the Sahara, the Koutoubia Mosque, and Casablanca's downtown area. <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Sources: []

=__ Film Analysis: __=

//** Audrey: **// In the film, //Ali Zaoua: Prince of the Streets//, four homeless boys in Casablanca, Morocco struggle with their lives on the street. Ali Zaoua is the main character of the film; however, he is only physically present in the beginning of the film. The boys go from being a part of a gang, to rebelling against the gang with the guidance of Ali. Of course, the gang does not approve of this, and they murder Ali. The three remaining boys decide that Ali was a very important person, and he should be buried like a prince. Throughout the movie, the boys are trying to get the materials to burry Ali, and they also have to fight against the gang who is trying to reclaim them back. The film was released September 8th, 2000. It was directed by Nabil Ayouch. The languages of the film are Arab and French. The time period of the movie is about the same as when it was made, so we get to see the modern part of the country. The film focuses more on the poor parts of the country, but we do get a taste of what it’s like for the more wealthy people because we can easily distinguish them from the others. They have beautiful white clothes and they are clean, which the boys from the street are dirty and wear rags. Ayouch is a director, producer, and writer. He was born on April 1st, 1969. He was born in Paris, where he studied the theatre. He has written and directed five major films, in which one he also produced (Prince of the Streets). He began his career as a script writer, and got his first big break in 1992 with his first short movie, //Les Pierres Bleues du Desert//. After his first few films, he was known internationally. The title of the film is important, because the whole film is centered around Ali Zaoua. As said before, he is murdered and then his friends want to make sure that he gets a proper burial. They want him to be buried like a prince, because he is very important to them, and he deserves the recognition. Throughout the film they also always refer to Ali as a prince, not just when talking about the burial. He was a real prince in their eyes, a prince of the streets. There are a few interesting themes in the film, which include friendship and honoring the dead. The four boys were very close, and even though they were living on the streets, they looked after one another. They had their times when they would get upset with each other, almost like brothers, like a family, but for the most part, they were caring of one another. When Ali dies, the boys still stick together, even though they are trying to get coaxed back to the gang. Also the next theme comes into play, and also ties with the theme of friendship. The boys want to make sure that their dear friend is honored, even when he’s gone, because they think of him as someone that is worth honoring, even when he is dead. Also in the end of the movie, the youngest of the boys complains that no one pays attention to him, and he wants to die, because when Ali died, they all paid attention to him. The mood of the film is very sad and depressing; not only because of the sad story line, but also because of the way the movie was filmed. There are some dark scenes, and also violent ones. The dialogue in the movie can really bring you down as well while watching; because throughout the entire film, all that is ever talked about is death and tragedy. The story does have a happy ending in a way though, because in the end the boys marvel about Ali and talk about what a great place he is now in. He no longer has to suffer the hard life of the streets, nor does he have to continue to fight with the violent gang. Other aspects of the first that contribute to the mood are the setting and then costumes of the people. The places in which the boys spend their time are really dirty, and their clothes are like rags. It makes the audience feel really sorry for them, because they are very young, yet they are in the streets struggling to live. The music also adds to the feeling of the movie, because there are different types of music between the scene when they are mourning over Ali, and then when they are thinking about how happy he must be to have left the cruel world. There are two scenes that I think are very important to the movie, and I want to talk about. The first scene is a scene where the boys are criticized by the gang for having followed Ali like dogs when he decided to rebel. After, one of Ali’s best friends is sitting by himself on a set of stairs. A small puppy comes up the stairs to have some attention, he’s alone too. The boy gets mad when he sees the dog, thinking about what the boys in the gang have said. He throws the dog down the stairs, but the dog comes back. He throws the dog again, and then lies down at the top of the stairs. The dog comes back again, but the boy doesn’t throw him this time. The dog lies on top of the boy’s neck and cuddles up to him. The boy asks “Why did you come back?” to the dog. I found this scene interesting, because it’s like he’s also asking himself why he followed Ali like the dog was following him. When the dog is laying on him, the camera zooms into them both together, and it makes this scene very warm compared to the rest of the scenes in the movie. It’s one of the only scenes where love is shown. The next scene that was interesting is the one in the end when the youngest of the boys is threatening to kill himself, because he wants to have more attention. It’s also like he thinks that now that Ali is dead he has a better life because he doesn’t have the face the challenges of everyday life, and in heaven, he can do whatever he pleases. He is going to drown himself, but then he decides against it, after the other two boys talk to him and he comes to his sense. I liked this scene because it showed just how hard it must be for these boys to have a life where they spend all their time on the streets, and they always have trouble and violence waiting around every corner. Also we cannot see the boy when he is threatening to kill himself because he is down in a hole that leads to a ‘cellar’ where there is water. We can hear him in the water though, so we almost think he’s going to die as well. Because he doesn’t kill himself, it makes the end of the movie more enjoyable. Questions: 1: Why did the director decide to use drawings when the boys are fantasizing about Ali’s future in heaven? 2: For what reason was the conversation at the beginning of the movie between Ali and then reporter repeated at the end of the movie? Sources: [] []

//** Bryce: **// Ali Zaoua: Prince of the Streets The film is set in Casablanca, Morocco as a coming of age story of a group of three boys, Kwita, Omar and Boubker, struggling to survive living upon the streets. All the while they are struck with the death of their fourth member and the newly found leader of the group, Ali, and they attempt to provide him with a proper, even glorious funeral as Kwita swears he will bury him like the prince that he was. Incidences of children living upon the streets are common within Morocco, “Street children in Morocco number between 10,000 and 14,000, showed a study by the Moroccan secretarit of state in charge of social protection family, and childhood.” Casablanca is nick-named ‘Mean Streets’ as it is one of Morocco’s top cities claiming to be home to street children working as beggars and falling victim to abuses. The name of the film, Ali Zaoua: Prince of the Streets is significant because the name in the title is the boy who is killed within the beginning scenes of the film and revered as a ‘prince’ among his friends. His spirit and the fight to retain his respect and adoration as a human being live on through his friends who grasp onto the memory of him as a brave and aspiring urchin boy. The title is symbolic as Ali Zaoua is seen as a prince through his friend’s eyes, especially Kwita, and is honored like one in the end with his ceremonious funeral and decorated casket to match his dreams of becoming a sailor. The film was made in 2000 under the director, Nabil Ayouch, who lives in Morocco. “The director was born in Paris, France, grew up there and went to a theatre school in the French capital for three years.” “Ayouch is a movie director, writer and producer which adds to his credibility working in film.” The main themes within the film are poverty, adversity, hope, imagination, determination and courage. The use of daydreaming and imagination is quite prevalent throughout the movie as a means for the adolescents to cope with leaving their families, living on the streets and having to provide for themselves. An example of the boys using their creative minds as a coping mechanism is when they are all lying in the boat staring up at the sky and make up the story of Ali being in heaven and living his dreams as a sailor in order to process and come to accept his death. The mood of, //Prince of the Streets//, is gloomy and yet a sense of hope lingers on the sidelines. Then, as the scenes roll on and the movie nears its end, hope begins to grow stronger and outshines the sense of bleakness. This mood is created by beginning with adolescents who seem to have a dismal life, a dingy past, an unpromising future and nothing to live for in the present. Progressively Kwita, Omar and Boubker learn to take things as they come, find more enjoyment out of life and come together as they say their finally goodbyes to their deceased friend Ali. The aesthetic qualities of the film include the use of diegetic sound, gulls and a ship’s air horn, heard as common sounds of life by the ocean. Repetition of non-diegetic sound, as heard by the audience, is used in orchestra music played while scanning the Moroccan coast line right after Kwita’s line, “I will bury him. Then I will come back!”, the same music and ocean scene that was played previously earlier in the movie. The costumes of the youth on the streets are tattered and filthy to stress the fact that these children are poor and unkempt. Their clothes make the movie more believe as they are playing homeless, neglected kids and they must look the part. The repetition of Ali’s interview at the beginning and the end of the film emphasizes his dream to be a sailor and reminds the audience of the theme of hope. A part of the film that grabbed my attention was the scene, near the beginning of the film, in which Kwita sees the first chalk drawing that comes to life when he goes to return the wallet he stole to its owner. This is symbolic, showing that Kwita is thinking about Ali because he pictures what looks to him like the drawing of a head coming to life and transforming into a sailor within a boat rowing across a body of water, clearly the image of Ali who aspired to be a sailor. This is reinforced by the fact that in the following scene he looks toward the hole that the boys dropped Ali into to hide him. Further, symbolism is used to show that imagination is readily accessible to the boys on the streets as a means of dealing with their life and actions, in this case Kwita justifies stealing the wallet from the girl for Ali’s sake. The scene makes use of non-diegetic sound and repetition as this is the first time out of two times the orchestra music is played and the camera pans across the water following the chalk scene. The scene in the second half of the film I want to focus on is the one in which Kwita goes to visit Dib to tell him that they aren’t rejoining the gang and that they are burying Ali. This scene makes use of the tracking shot as the camera follows Kwita on his long, dragged out walk to Dib. Kwita makes his walking pace slow which gives the viewers an idea of his nerves and caution approaching Dib and his goonies. Although the Dib’s followers taunt Kwita and give him dirty looks along his walk he holds himself together and bears through his feelings of apprehension and uneasiness. Kwita realizes that he is on these boys turf, he takes a safe approach to facing Dib and he shows courage in standing up to the bully. This contradicts his earlier action of running away from Dib’s approaching gang and leaves the audience with a lasting impression of him as a brave character. Questions: - What is the purpose of Kwita’s fantasy about marrying the girl he stole the wallet from in the construction of Ayouch’s movie? - Why is chalk used as a reoccurring item of great importance to the symbolism within the film?

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