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Faith in a Cultural Evolution – The Majalla

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Children sit down for lunch in Syriac Orthodox church hall in Acton, London after communion. Amy Assad

Children sit down for lunch in Syriac Orthodox church in Acton, London after communion. Amy Assad

* Conserving Middle Eastern traditions in London:  “It is totally different in Morocco, if you work [during Ramadan], you get time off.” *

The Majalla, by Amy Assad (London, England, July 22, 2013) — It is July on the hottest weekend of the year, and the Syrian Orthodox church is packed with people. Those in attendance—mostly Syriacs from Syria and Iraq—who did not get a seat are jostling for a view in the doorway, while others are wedged into window ledges or propped up against the side walls. Many of the women are keeping cool with lace fans, normally reserved for long summer wedding ceremonies in their home countries. It certainly feels like the Middle East. We are, in fact, in Acton, London.

“Don’t forget your roots are there. I know you are British now, but you came from Iraq, from Syria, Iran, Lebanon and Turkey,” pleads Father Thomas, bishop of the Syrian Orthodox church in London, to the young generation of the Syriac diaspora who have gathered for their communion. Some let out a giggle, though it is unclear whether his statement was designed to be tongue in cheek.

It is, for the most part, a typically Syrian Orthodox service. The use of English during the ceremony, as well as traditional English prayers-—interspersed between the usual Syriac and Arabic—are, however, a new introduction. “Many of them don’t speak Arabic or Syriac,” says my cousin, Rula, gesturing to the newly communed in the church hall after the ceremony. That includes her three children. The group look uncomfortable in their traditional white robes, while others have gone off piste and come dressed in full angel garb. At the head of the children’s lunch table sits Father Thomas, next to the bemused-looking Syrian Orthodox bishop of Baghdad. They are surrounded by bottles of Fruit Shoots, cupcakes and ham or jam sandwiches.

Don’t forget your roots are there. I know you are British now, but you came from Iraq, from Syria, Iran, Lebanon and Turkey.

London is unique for being home to a wide array of cultures that have played an integral role in shaping its character. Naturally, the city has also affected and altered the traditions and habits of those communities. However, there is a growing concern among the older generations of the Middle Eastern Christian diaspora, that as their homelands become increasingly dangerous places to live or visit, and therefore a more distant influence on their children, the new generation will stop identifying with their cultural roots and their ancient religious traditions altogether.

This concern is also pertinent for members of London’s Muslim Middle Eastern community this month, as Muslims all over the globe, including those in London, observe Ramadan. “The religion is not lived organically here,” says Tam, a journalist from London, which, he says, can make some aspects of observing Ramadan feel more forced. “If you don’t conform, it can be seen as detrimental. If you do practice, people are quicker to judge. People sometimes suffer from superiority.” Whereas, he says, “In the Middle East [all denominations] understand the place of religion and traditions.”

In the Middle East, the cafes and restaurants (at least, those that are not in the Christian areas) comply with restrictions of Ramadan, which makes it easier for those who are fasting to avoid temptation. Everything, apart from the weather, is working in their favor. “Here, you are surrounded by people who can eat and drink,” says Hakima, a Moroccan national, who works as a secretary in London. “You forget, you think, ‘Why is that person drinking?’” But, she adds, “The first few days are hard, but then you get used to it.”

“The second generation walk on a tightrope between two cultures,” Albert, a Syrian antiques dealer who has lived in London for forty years, says of both the Muslim and Christian Middle Eastern diaspora. “They behave differently at home and among their own community and then in a different way with English society.” In London, he admits, it is easier to let go of traditions if you want to.

The UK’s Channel 4 are apparently attempting to bridge this divide in showing the Ramadan Adhan, or call-to-prayer, at 3 a.m. each day. Their spokesman says the aim was to “hopefully [bring] a bit of attention to the experience of Ramadan and what [Muslims] are going through.” However, the move has been criticized as being more of an attempt to attract viewing figures than to promote cultural understanding, as it is unlikely that many non-Muslims would be staying up to watch it.

Despite the current heatwave, many Muslim Londoners say they prefer to observe Ramadan in the UK because of its generally cool temperatures. However, Iftar (breaking the fast) does not commence until much later in UK time, and there are other reasons why observing Ramadan in London may be seen as more of a challenge. “You don’t make the same preparations for Iftar, because you are working,” says Hakima. “It is totally different in Morocco, if you work [during Ramadan], you get time off.”

“Ramadan is more of a private family affair here, whereas in Egypt it is a public event,” says Mostapha, a journalist based in London. “I would like to spend the last ten days [of Ramadan] in Egypt,” he adds, as these are considered the most important and intense days of the holy month. However, he would prefer to spend the first part of Ramadan in London as “in Egypt it’s very busy, a stressful time.”

People can celebrate their traditions as a community wherever they are. But your identity is about your individual relationship with your faith or culture. Does this aspect of ones identity eventually become diluted living in London?

After residing in the city for a number of years, even the first generation notice changes in their behavior. “We don’t realize it until we go back home,” says Albert, “I didn’t like it when people charged in to have coffee in the morning; I didn’t like it when people made noise when I slept. I valued my privacy and my individuality more.” However, he says this is not necessarily a bad thing: “We have come here of our own choice,” says Albert. “We have to integrate somehow,” he adds. “If we don’t, we’ll suffer. We will never be happy.”

Whether first generation Middle Easterners living in London are here by choice or necessity, the change will come naturally to them over time, as they integrate more and more with other cultures. Although they may never be one hundred percent integrated, many of them have told me that it is better to accept the inevitable, rather than fight it. This may be considered more natural for the second generation, but they too experience conflict: with their parents and other first-generation community members for identifying themselves more with British-ness, rather than their family background.

Being exposed to and challenged by other cultures on a daily basis is good for offering perspective on your own culture. One also learns how to accept different people with different values. And this is exactly what gives London its unique quality, as a place of constant curiosity and evolution. Maintaining cultural or religious habits in London may at times be more difficult than at home. But, as Tam says, “London has all sorts of people, and they understand you,” which makes it easier to observe your faith and traditions while also adapting to the new environment. Ultimately, blending the cultures need not be seen as losing an identity, but can instead be seen as gaining a new, enriched individuality.

Amy Assad is an editor at The Majalla and an English–Syrian, London-based writer who specializes in the arts and culture of the Middle East. She received her BA in Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies from Leeds University and has lived and studied in Syria and Morocco.



Vivendi in exclusive talks with Etisalat on Maroc Telecom – AFP

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Vivendi said on Tuesday it was in exclusive talks with the UAE's telecom operator, Etisalat, to sell a 53-percent stake in Morocco's operator Maroc Telecom. (AFP/File)

Vivendi said on Tuesday it was in exclusive talks with the UAE’s telecom operator, Etisalat, to sell a 53-percent stake in Morocco’s operator Maroc Telecom. AFP/File

 

* French conglomerate seeks to sell its 53-percent stake in Morocco’s operator to UAE’s telecom operator before end of 2013.*

Middle East Online, AFP (Paris, France, July 23, 2013) — French conglomerate Vivendi said on Tuesday it was in exclusive talks with the UAE’s telecom operator, Etisalat, to sell a 53-percent stake in Morocco’s operator Maroc Telecom.

The sale is thought to be part of a bigger strategy by Vivendi to sell-off its telecom holdings to better focus on media activities. Middle East Online

The sale is thought to be part of a bigger strategy by Vivendi to sell-off its telecom holdings to better focus on media activities. Middle East Online

Vivendi said that if approved, the sale to the Emirates Telecommunications Corp would bring in a total 4.2 billion euros ($5.5 billion) in cash, including the 2012 310 million euros dividend.

The companies intend to close the transaction before the end of the year.

The sale is thought to be part of a bigger strategy by Vivendi to sell-off its telecom holdings to better focus on media activities, dominated by its Universal Music unit, the world’s biggest music group.

Last week, the Financial Times reported that Vivendi had rejected an $8.5 billion offer by Japan’s SoftBank for Universal Music.


Entrepreneurship: Master of Morocco’s outsourcing industry – Financial Times

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* “Thanks to market reforms initiated about 15 years ago, Morocco is considered more business-friendly than other countries in the region. The corridor between Casablanca and Rabat is home to hundreds of companies, employing about 55,000 people…” *

 

    New horizons: Moroccan Youssef Chraibi, co-founder of Outsourcia, is looking at markets in Francophone sub-Saharan Africa. Financial Times

New horizons: Moroccan Youssef Chraibi, co- founder of start-up Outsourcia, is looking at markets in Francophone sub-Saharan Africa. Financial Times

Financial Times, by Borzou Daragahi (Casablanca, Morocco, July 23, 2013) –Even among the moneyed elite with Prada handbags, Gucci sunglasses and wearing Chanel at Casablanca’s super-chic “haute patissier” Frédéric Cassel, Youssef Chraibi turns heads as he double-parks his six-series BMW, tips the valet and takes a seat on the terrace, apologizing for arriving late.

Outsourcia, the company he co-founded, has also distinguished itself despite setting up in a crowded business environment where the entry costs are minimal. In 10 years, the outsourcing group has grown from scratch to a business with 600 employees in Africa and Europe and $14.6m in annual revenue.

Clients include Carrefour, Total and Renault, as well as the number two Moroccan mobile carrier, Meditel. Even in 2010, at the height of the financial storm, Outsourcia purchased Ascom, a call-center operator based just outside Paris, in a rare instance of a north African company swallowing up a European business.

“It has been hard work but we had a good team from the beginning,” says the softly spoken 36-year-old Moroccan. “We have a central management committee of young but very talented people and this is one of our main strengths.” He says one reason Outsourcia has continued to win business from Europe is that it treats even junior employees as valued specialists and potential leaders.

Thanks to market reforms initiated about 15 years ago, Morocco is considered more business-friendly than other countries in the region. The corridor between Casablanca and Rabat is home to hundreds of companies, employing about 55,000 people, providing call-center and other outsourcing services to European companies, and forming a north African version of India’s Hyderabad for the francophone world.

But as the financial crisis has gripped Europe, this nascent sector has come under threat. Growth in Morocco’s outsourcing sector has slowed from 17 per cent in 2010 to 10 per cent in 2012 and a projected 5 per cent this year. Last summer Mr Chraibi and other Moroccan outsourcing executives prevailed against a French government plan to scale down overseas call-center operations to bring jobs back home from Morocco.

All along, Outsourcia’s strategy has been to emphasize the quality of its outsourcing work rather than the price. Despite the belt-tightening mood of most clients, Mr Chraibi boasts that he tells them his is not the cheapest shop in town.

“We have a different approach to the market,” he says, sipping a cool drink. “We can do it for half the price of [a supplier in] France, but we are not the cheapest in Morocco. We are doing offshore outsourcing in terms of value and value-creation for our clients and for the customers of our clients.”

Mr Chraibi, who was raised in a middle-class family of modest means, began his business career while still in school at the prestigious HEC Paris. There, in the late 1990s, he and a fellow student set up Marketo, a business-to-business online platform designed to connect buyers and sellers of small and medium-sized enterprises. They sold it to Vivendi, the French media conglomerate, in 2001 for an undisclosed sum.

Then, while working at the French telecommunications company Orange, Mr Chraibi teamed up with his colleague Franck Polizzi to set up Outsourcia in 2003 with about €100,000 in seed money from their own savings. Mr Polizzi, founder of a small telecoms company that had been bought by Orange, knew the call-center business, and Mr Chraibi specialized in telecoms. As one of the first call-center ventures in Morocco, they established a brand and wooed clientele before others piled in.

Staying connected in Casablanca

Outsourcia shows that even a medium-sized company can operate internationally while also benefiting from the financial advantages of being based in a developing country such as Morocco.

  • Based in Casablanca, Outsourcia manages three sites in France and several in Morocco. The senior managers, except chief operating officer Franck Polizzi, are based in Morocco. “We consider our sites in France an extension of Morocco,” says Youssef Chraibi, the co-founder.
  • Mr Chraibi often travels to Paris on one of the nine daily flights that link it with Casablanca. However, fast internet connections mean it is also possible to hold monthly board meetings via videoconference.
  • Morocco’s business-friendly rules mean Outsourcia paid no income tax for the first five years. As a company in the offshoring sector, it pays lower social taxes than other industries. The government also reimburses Outsourcia for costs associated with staff training.

Outsourcia has also taken care not to hitch itself to a single sector, let alone a single client. “We have 50 clients, so it means 50 small operations,” Mr Chraibi says. “But it also means that there is no dependence on one.”

Outsourcia’s employees soon progressed beyond simply fielding complaints and inquiries to developing close and continuing relationships with the clients.

“Many companies in France prefer to work with a company like ours and not a company that is one of the biggest players because we have this consulting approach. For instance, we created a ‘laboratory’ offering a client tailor-made test-and-learn platforms that give it the opportunity to test new customer-relations management approaches,” he explains. “After analyzing the results we made recommendations on whether the new approaches [worked], and whether to do it in-sourced or out-sourced, onshore or offshore.”

Two years ago Outsourcia launched a social media service to help clients deal with customers via Facebook and Twitter. “We were the first ones in Morocco to say social media is a new channel for customer relationship management,” he says.

A typical Outsourcia specialist employee is a problem-solver who manages cases for multiple clients across multiple platforms, he says.

Some of the web-savvy men and women assigned to this social media work have been hired through Outsourcia’s own recruitment and training agency, Offshore Academy. The agency manages a database of 30,000 CVs that is constantly updated, says Mr Chraibi. “Recruitment of young talent today is one of our core businesses. When we hire someone, we are mainly focused on these kinds of capabilities – autonomy, creativity, integrity and flexibility.”

Trainees at the academy in Casablanca even include employees of competitors, who need to learn to handle claims, write proper emails or soothe irate callers.

Mr Chraibi acknowledges that the management ethos and practices at Outsourcia feel more American than French. Senior managers are offered partnerships and equity stakes in the company – there are now several partners in the business – so long as they stay for five years. Rather than punch the clock after eight hours, many stay longer. Mr Chraibi says he works at least 60 hours a week.

[Continue Reading…]


Network of Young Innovators … These Are the TechGirls – Huff. Post, Ann Stock, US State

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MENA TechGirls: "For the 27 tech savvy teenagers from the Middle East and North Africa, this was their first time in the United States. It was quite the introduction to America." -- Ann Stock, US State Dept

MENA TechGirls: “For the 27 tech savvy teenagers from the Middle East and North Africa, this was their first time in the United States. It was quite the introduction to America.” Ann Stock, State Dept

 

* “They’ll use what they learned and serve as role models for other girls in their communities… Hafssa, a 15-year-old from Morocco, said she will share her knowledge of HTML, CSS and game design…” *

Ann Stock, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Educational & Cultural Affairs

 

Ann Stock, Asst. Sec. of State for Educational & Cultural Affairs

Ann Stock, Asst. Sec. of State for Educational & Cultural Affairs

Huffington Post, by Ann Stock (Washington, DC, July 23, 2013) — On the 8th floor of Yahoo!’s Washington, D.C. office, the conversation is buzzing with 27 teenage girls asking questions. They were not asking about Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer, or talking about how they use Tumblr. Instead, “What is the total percentage of women who work at Yahoo!?” asked Imene, a 17-year-old from Algeria, or “What innovations is Yahoo! investing in to differentiate themselves from the competition?” asked Lina, a 16-year-old from Libya.

It’s not very often that you hear 15- to 17-year-olds asking these questions, or wanting to be nanotechnologists, mechanical engineers, or energy conservationists. But these are not your average 15- to 17-year-olds: these are the TechGirls.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton supported the creation of the TechGirls program in 2011, “to encourage innovation and promote the spread of new technologies to give women and girls the support that they need to become leaders in this field.” TechGirls came on the heels of the successful TechWomen, a mentoring program that pairs international female tech leaders with their American counterparts.

For the 27 tech savvy teenagers from the Middle East and North Africa, this was their first time in the United States. It was quite the introduction to America. Over three weeks, the TechGirls met with high-level female technologists at companies such as Facebook and Google, as well as female political leaders like Congresswomen Suzanne Bonamici and Susan Davis. They built up their coding, web development, and 3D game design skills through hands-on training, and learned the different academic and career paths available to them in the tech industry.

2013 TechGirl Hafssa Kouskous from Taza, Morocco.

TechGirl Hafssa Kouskous from Taza, Morocco.

When the TechGirls return home, they’ll use what they learned and serve as role models for other girls in their communities. Last year’s group of TechGirls taught technology skills and pursued goals for attending university, and it is no surprise that this group of TechGirls plans to do the same. Hafssa, a 15-year-old from Morocco, said she will share her knowledge of HTML, CSS and game design with other girls within her small community, as there are no other opportunities to learn [technology]. And Joanna, a 15-year-old from Jordan, wants to collaborate with TechWomen alumnae in her country to inspire more girls in her school to become interested in technology.

These young women demonstrate that forming more mentorship networks for women in girls in tech will help close the gender gap in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. The TechGirls have formed a tight bond with their American peers, public and private sector innovators, and soon with TechWomen alumnae back home. These networks will not only help them succeed in their careers and academics, but will cause a ripple effect in their community, where one girl’s success encourages others to pursue their dreams as well.

This is TechGirls 2013.

Ann Stock is Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs.

 

The 2013 TechGirls program included meetings at the White House and Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, as well as business and NGO high-tech leaders in the US.  TechGirls

The 2013 TechGirls program included meetings at the White House and Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, as well as with business and NGO high-tech leaders in the US. TechGirls


Bringing contemporary Moroccan art to London – Middle East Monitor

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Moroccan Fine Art is not the only initiative promoting Moroccan art, but the only one to have an English website and to push the work globally. Middle East Monitor

Moroccan Fine Art is not the only initiative promoting Moroccan art, but the only one to have an English website and to push the work globally. Middle East Monitor

 

Middle East Monitor, by Amelia Smith (London, England, July 24, 2013) — Finding a riad-style warehouse teeming with beautiful Moroccan furniture isn’t quite what you expect when stepping off the tube at Greenford in west London. But it is in a showroom at the heart of this Ealing suburb, at the top end of the central line, that husband and wife Adnan Bennani and Nadia Echiguer run their complementary businesses.

The light sparkles through Moroccan lamps hanging at one end of the huge room. The tables are adorned with silver teapots, delicately designed crockery, and Myriam Mourabit tumblers. The design is contemporary, says Bennani, but they have been decorated using the traditional technique of henna, applied through a syringe.

Since 1946, Bennani and his family have been tracking down designers like Mourabit, showcasing them in Moroccan Bazaar, and then selling them on to anyone from interior designers to individuals looking to bring the flair of Morocco’s medinas to their living rooms.

Above the hand-woven, woollen rugs that adorn the floor and in between the carved, wooden screens a different type of craftsmanship can be seen. Hanging on the walls of the showroom is contemporary Moroccan art for sale; Nadia’s recently opened venture.

One picture by artist Anna Allworthy depicts a skyline in Casablanca. To the left stands the bold Hassan II Mosque, the largest in the country. If you look closely at the image, it’s possible to see fragments of a newspaper, first torn up then affixed to form part of the houses.

Allworthy is just one of Nadia’s portfolio of artists whose styles span calligraphy, painting and drawing. Nadia works closely with international art consultants, interior designers, hotels and private individuals; her artists’ work can simply be bought, or commissioned to produce specific work for specific briefs

Moroccan Fine Art is not the only initiative promoting Moroccan art, but the only one to have an English website and to push the work globally. It is largely an online business, which showcases its paintings at pop up exhibitions and art fairs, but in between shows the works are on display in Greenford.

Recently, she, Bennani and an international art consultancy agency collaborated with the designer at the Four Seasons in Marrakech to deck out the hotel. Nadia chose 12 of her artists and commissioned them to create work that would suit the interior.

“Compared to the UK, Morocco has very few museums” she explains, “so being in a hotel is like being in a museum.”

She draws my attention to the work of Larbi Cherkaoui, one of her most prestigious artists who was part of this project. He often works on goat skin, creating large-scale bases for his pictures by combining smaller squares of the skin. Using ink, acrylic and oil he uses large hand movements to paint a letter over the top. Much of his work explores the Arabic script.

Though Nadia’s artists are doing well at home and in various parts of the world, compared to work from other Arab countries Moroccan art is just not as big. In Spain and France, the two countries that colonised Morocco, the work is thriving. But partly due to the language barrier in the UK it is not the same here.

Nadia must seek authorisation for her paintings from the ministry of culture in Morocco; unless they’re sold, paintings can’t be kept in the UK for more than six months and every half year she has to get new stock. “A lot of people are complaining about this because it doesn’t help our artists to be known outside Morocco” she says.

When Nadia did her first art show in May many people told her they didn’t know there was art in Morocco. “But Morocco has a huge heritage of art” says Bennani. “Yes” Nadia agrees. “Impressionist artists came to Morocco for the light, for example Matisse and Majorelle.”

Nadia explains that her mother loved art, and when she was young she went with her to art exhibitions. She also spent a lot of time at different studios, talking to artists about their work. “I bought my first painting before buying my first house” she says laughing. “Usually people buy the house first.”

Moroccan Bazaar has an open day this Sunday 28 July. In January next year Moroccan Fine Art and Moroccon Bazaar have a joint exhibition at ArtMoorHouse in London.


Amazigh culture celebrated in Tangier – Le Matin

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The Twiza Festival celebrates Amazigh culture, and the principles of tolerance, modernity and co-existence.

Twiza Festival celebrates Amazigh culture, and principles of tolerance, modernity and co-existence.

(Article in French)

Le Matin (Tangier, Morocco, July 25, 2013) — This summer, Tangier will welcome with open arms the splendors of Amazigh culture. From August 15 through 18, on the occasion of the ninth annual Mediterranean Festival of Amazigh Culture (Twiza), leading artists from around the Mediterranean will be present. The organizers of the event, the Twiza Festival Foundation, chose to highlight the diversity of Amazigh culture in the broadest sense through a program that will invite both celebration of and reflection on the theme “Resistance for Culture”– a nod to the original challenges that faced the first annual event.

The festival is about spreading the values of tolerance, modernity and co-existence. The festival also strengthens the tourism appeal of Tangier, a city that has for decades attracted the biggest names in art, music, and literature worldwide, including Paul Bowles, The Rolling Stones, and others. Today, the city continues to attract tourists from around the world. The festival is committed to hosting its acts in various spaces across the city.

[To Continue Reading in French, Click Here]


A Marshall Plan for Maghreb & Middle East? – George C. Marshall Foundation, B. Shaw

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Couple underneath Tunisian flag in Tunis, Tunisia. The Arab world's uprising against autocratic leaders began in Tunisia, after ousting Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, their ruler of 23 years. A recent conference met in Tunis, hosted by the Marshall Foundation, Stimson Center, and L’Institut Arabe des Chefs d’Enterprises, to discuss Maghreb economic integration. 2011, Lefteris Pitarakis/AP

Couple under Tunisian flag in Tunis, Tunisia. Arab world’s uprising against autocratic leaders began in Tunisia, after ousting Zine Ben Ali. Recent conference in Tunis, hosted by Marshall Foundation, Stimson Center, & L’Institut Arabe des Chefs d’Enterprises, met to discuss Maghreb integration. Lefteris Pitarakis/AP

*The Marshall Foundation’s recent conference in Tunis discussed need for regional economic integration in the Maghreb, the region in North Africa that includes Libya, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria.*

Richmond Times-Dispatch, op-ed by Brian D. Shaw (Lexington, Virginia, July 28, 2013) — The phrase “Marshall Plan” has become synonymous with large-scale relief programs associated with war, post-conflict reconstruction or even natural disasters. The George C. Marshall Foundation in Lexington has sponsored numerous conferences and meetings here and abroad that examine why The Marshall Plan was so successful (in preserving and establishing democracy and free enterprise in western Europe after World War II) and how its action principles might best be applied to contemporary situations where economic reconstruction or mass relief is needed.

The Marshall Foundation’s recent conference in Tunis brought together business people, academicians, policy planners and other thought leaders for a day and a half discussion on regional economic integration in the Maghreb, the region in North Africa that includes Libya, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria. It was there that the Arab Spring was born.

(Our partners for the conference were The Stimson Center in Washington, voted last year as one of the most creative and innovative think tanks in the country by the MacArthur Foundation, and L’Institut Arabe des Chefs d’Enterprises, an organization of CEOs and academicians in Tunis that does thoughtful and serious work on economic and political issues in the region.)

Five main tenets set the tone for the conversation. They come right from the ethos of the Marshall Plan.

• Political stability won’t occur in the region (or anywhere) without economic stability.

• A strong case can be made for economic integration; the challenges are primarily political and security conflicts.

• Any successful aid program must be driven by the country and not imposed by outside countries or institutions.

• Structural framework is more important than aid; in other words, systems must be in place to administer and monitor the aid for the program to be successful.

• Political leadership and elements of self-sacrifice and determination are essential to the success of aid programs.

These basic Marshall Plan premises inspired the group to look for ways to apply them to the Maghreb and, perhaps, beyond. There was much discussion about how the “informal” economy of the region — small shops and merchants selling to individuals and small groups — is as large as the “formal” economy comprised of large companies and corporations, both domestic and multinational.

How can a structure be created that allows for more growth of that informal economy? Can incentives be created, or, more importantly, can impediments such as tariffs and taxes be reduced or eliminated to spur more and expanded free trade?

The consensus from the group was that the old methods of thinking about the economy — protecting small numbers of traditional jobs at the cost of creating new jobs in a more integrated marketplace — were not going to work in the post-Arab Spring era.

Another idea broadly discussed was the creation of cross-border enterprise zones, particularly in the southern part of the region. For centuries, those who live in that part of the region moved freely across borders, taking their trade with them.

Practices of modern border control — and the presence of armed rebels — has all but eliminated that easy ability to move goods and services between countries and the people who need them. Can innovative political thinking create a system that would allow the same freedom of movement that existed for thousands of years? The thinkers in the room believed it possible.

Many other topics elicited spirited discussion — the impact and high cost of corruption on businesses and political systems, the role civil society must play in the growth and expansion of the economy, the influence of former colonial countries, such as France, in stimulating or impeding the region’s economies. Those topics and others will be part of the conference report to be issued in the fall.

The Marshall Plan is considered by many to be our nation’s greatest foreign policy achievement.

Yet, even those who cite it as such are quick to point out the many differences between post-war Europe and areas such as the Maghreb and the Middle East. Those differences are real and profound.

That said, what the Tunis conference and others have shown time and again is that the innovation, vision and creativity that George C. Marshall — U.S. Army chief of staff in World War II, Truman administration secretary of state, 1953 Nobel laureate — and others applied to the plan that bears his name remain as relevant and practicable in the 21st century as they were 65 years ago.

In fact, if history is any teacher, the strategic lessons of Marshall’s leadership might be the Middle East’s best and only path to political and economic growth and development.

Brian D. Shaw is president of The George C. Marshall Foundation, which is based in Lexington and promotes scholarship, leadership and statesmanship


‘Strong, Enduring Friendship’: US sends warm wishes,support to King, Morocco on Nat’l Day

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Morocco National Day, July 30th: “On behalf of President Obama & the American people, I offer warm wishes to King Mohammed VI & the Moroccan people as you celebrate your national day this July 30." -- Sec. of State John Kerry

Morocco National Day: “On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I offer warm wishes to King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan people as you celebrate your national day this July 30.” –Secretary of State John Kerry

* “During this time of profound change in the region, the US supports Morocco’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the rule of law, human rights, & good governance…the US wishes you a future of peace & prosperity. Ramadan Mubarak” *

– John Kerry, US Secretary of State

US Secretary of State John Kerry

Sec. of State John Kerry

US State Department, Press Statement (Washington, DC, July 29, 2013) – The US State Department today issued the following statement by Secretary of State John Kerry to King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan people on the occasion of Morocco’s July 30th National Day:

“On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I offer warm wishes to King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan people as you celebrate your national day this July 30.

“When Morocco granted American merchant ships safe passage after the outbreak of the American Revolution, it signaled the beginning of a strong and enduring friendship. We are also proud that the Moroccan city of Tangier is home to our oldest diplomatic property in the world.

“After more than 225 years of friendship and peace, we continue to work together to expand trade, promote stability in the region, and enhance mutual understanding between our nations.

“During this time of profound change in the region, the United States supports Morocco’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the rule of law, human rights, and good governance. We look forward to building on our long history of relations as we work together to advance common goals.

“As you gather with family and friends on this special day, the United States wishes you a future of peace and prosperity. Ramadan Mubarak.”



Morocco: a “mobile theater” for villagers “thirsty” for culture – AFP

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The "nomadic theater" troupe presents pieces that touch on a range of social issues. (Photo: AFP)

The “nomadic theater” troupe presents pieces that touch on a range of social issues. (Photo: AFP)

(Article in French)

AFP (Missour, Morocco, August 1, 2013) –  “It’s a thirsty public,” says Shafiq Bisbis, one of the actors of the “nomadic theater,” which this summer takes place outdoors in front of hundreds of spectators in Missour, a village in southeastern Morocco, where cultural activities are lacking.

Established in 2006 by Mohammed El Hassouni, the nomadic theater troupe “goes to the people” who do not have access, he notes.

This is especially the case in remote areas of Morocco, light years away from large coastal cities like Casablanca or Tangier.

In a public garden in the heart of the Berber village of Missour, some 500 km south-east of the capital Rabat, there are nearly 300, of all ages, watching from start to finish this completely free show that combines humor, acrobatics and dance.

“The piece is titled Tqerqib Ennab (“Gossip”) and covers all issues from everyday life, with a simple Arabic dialect accessible to all. It’s totally raw,” says director Mohammed El Hassouni.

The show begins after the daily “Moghreb” prayer, in the early evening.

Standing or squatting, forming a tight circle around the presentation, the audience seem absorbed in the piece, which covers essentially social issues.

“This show touches us,” said Soukaina Azzawi, a young resident of Missour.

“It deals with topics that are close to us, relevant to all social classes and all ages,” she confirms.

[To Continue Reading in French, Click Here]


Mouna Hachim: “The Moroccan story one of mixed heritages”– Jeune Afrique

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Mouna Hachim is a specialist in Moroccan surnames.

Mouna Hachim is a specialist in Moroccan surnames.

(Article in French)

Jeune Afrique, by Youssef Ait Akdim (August 12, 2013) — According to Mouna Hachim, a specialist in Moroccan surnames, family mythologies of the Alawite kingdom are subject to many questions.

Jeune Afrique: Moroccans seem to show a growing interest in genealogy. Is this a new phenomenon?

Mouna Hashim: Arabs in general have always been fond of genealogy, known as ‘ilm al-Ansab ["the science of filiation"]. It was prominent during the Jahiliyyah [pre-Islamic era] with the Bedouins, who loved to recall the movements of their ancestors. After the Prophet’s death, this scholarly tradition continued in the Sharif families. For some time now in Morocco, many books have been written about it, especially among families claiming prestigious lines: companions of the Prophet, leaders of guilds and brotherhoods, scientists and scholars. Among the general population, family heritage is often passed down orally, but is still very rich.

Your dictionary of Moroccan surnames, covering 1,354 surnames, is a bestseller. How have your readers reacted?

I receive many requests from people whose name does not appear in the book. Others were intrigued by entries that did not match their particular family’s mythology, or that broke taboos– from contested Sharif heritage to controversial ancestors to the Jewish origins of now-Muslim families, etc. But in general, it has been enthusiastically received.

[To Continue Reading in French, Click Here]


Morocco: Toward holistic living spaces – Aujourd’hui Le Maroc

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The Economic, Social and Environmental Council has called for a project to investigate and move toward holistic living spaces.

The Economic, Social and Environmental Council has called for a project to investigate and move toward holistic living spaces.

(Article in French)

Aujourd’hui Le Maroc, by Atika Haimoud (Rabat, Morocco, August 19, 2013) — In an effort to advance the living conditions of young people, the Economic, Social and Environmental Council is focusing on the question of living spaces and cultural activities in Morocco.

Living spaces in cities and towns do not offer the conditions necessary to ensure citizen participation in public affairs, nor do they provide public spaces that facilitate development and liberation from the constraints of everyday life through cultural and artistic enrichment, according to a report of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council.

To remedy this, the Council stressed the need for a joint effort to build the foundations of a project to determine the means and conditions necessary for well-being. Thus, the Council identified six catalysts of change to upgrade and expand living spaces.

First, there is the institutional axis relating to, essentially, the availability of spaces that can frame different segments of the population in a healthy way. This may include boosting the role of youth centers and mosques as authentic common spaces, and by supporting film clubs and theater groups.

[To Continue Reading in French, Click Here]


60 Years Ago, the Mohammed V-Guillaume Duel – Le Soir

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HM King Mohammed V returned from exile in 1955. That year, he declared Morocco's independence from France.

HM King Mohammed V returned from exile in 1955. That year, he declared Morocco’s independence from France.

(Article in French)

Le Soir, by Hassan Alaoui (Rabat, Morocco, August 20, 2013) — Sixty years already! In this month of August 2013, the celebration of the coup against Mohammed V, August 20, 1953, slips into the involuntary opacity of evanescent memory. Two or three generations have followed since that date when one of the most dramatic acts in the history of French colonialism in Morocco played out.  A mixture of the Machiavellism of the French Resident, General Guillaume, a decorated military man, and a will to destroy the monarchy, a fundamental institution to Morocco!

After several decades, we have become accustomed to celebrating this anniversary with the same fervor, certainly, but also a sort of reverence that almost makes us forget the object of this commemoration. How many of today’s youth are aware of the meaning of this event? How many of those who lived through the years of independence can still remember this major duel which put, face to face, King Mohammed V and the entourage of Resident Guillaume…?”

[To Continue Reading in French, Click Here]

For Additional Photos Relating to the Revolution of the King and the People, Check Out Our Facebook Page!


Culture: Morocco focuses on photography – The Art Newspaper

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A temporary exhibition space is due to open next month at the Badii Palace with a display of ten contemporary Moroccan photographers.

A temporary exhibition space is due to open next month at the Badii Palace with a display of ten contemporary Moroccan photographers. The Art Newspaper

* New Chipperfield-designed Marrakech Museum for Photography and Visual Arts to collect across genres of lens-based media *

The Art Newspaper, by Gareth Harris (August 21, 2013) — North Africa’s patchy museum scene is set to be enhanced with a new purpose-built museum dedicated to photography based in Morocco. The Marrakech Museum for Photography and Visual Arts, designed by the leading British architect David Chipperfield, is due to be built near the 12th-century Menara Gardens and is scheduled to open in 2016.

“The museum will focus its collecting across three genres of photography and lens-based media, both static and moving: architecture and design; photojournalism; fashion and culture,” says a press statement.

On the issue of funding, a project spokeswoman would only say that the museum would be supported by a number of “private and corporate backers.”

The museum plans to launch a scholarship program in partnership with the University of Arizona, enabling Moroccan students to take museum studies courses at institutions worldwide.

Meanwhile, museum officials have set up a temporary exhibition space that is due to open next month at the Badii Palace in the centre of Marrakech with a display of ten contemporary Moroccan photographers including Hicham Gardaf and Leila Sadel.

The show is sponsored by the luxury hotel chain Sofitel. An exhibition of works by photographers from the high-profile Magnum agency follows in early November.


Tourism shows no decline in Morocco, opportunities growing! – J. Abinader

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CNN recently named Morocco a top motorcycling destination.

CNN recently named Morocco a top motorcycling destination.

MATIC, by Jean R. AbiNader (Washington, DC, August 22, 2013) – In the past two weeks, the Morocco on the Move website has featured no less than nine major stories on topics related to the tourism industry in the kingdom. The news is overwhelmingly positive and is another indicator that Morocco is doing something right when it comes to attracting and satisfying demanding specialty travelers looking for something in addition to Morocco’s extraordinary geography, cuisine, and hospitality.

Jean AbiNader is Executive Director of the Moroccan American Trade and Investment Center.

Jean AbiNader is Executive Director of the Moroccan American Trade and Investment Center.

There was even a story last year that tourism companies and officials from Kenya had come to Morocco to study how it has developed destination sites for international and domestic visitors. In looking at how Morocco is doing, it’s instructive to look at the diverse offerings available in Morocco that greatly expand the definitions of “cultural” and “eco” tourism. Take the music and film scene, for example. Morocco hosts the Fez Sacred Music Festival, Gnawa celebrations in Essaouira and other sites, as well as the Tangier Jazz Festival and others. The Marrakech International Film Festival is approaching its 12th edition in December 2013, and Dakhla had its fourth international film festival this past spring.

Morocco’s tourism strategy

How is Morocco able to avoid the decline in visitors that has affected other Maghreb countries? Aside from aggressive marketing campaigns, one helpful factor is the increase in flights into Morocco from Europe and other destinations. Although budget flights from Europe have increased 25 percent this year, Driss Behima, chairman and CEO of Royal Air Maroc, says that there are major tourism destinations such as Quarzazate, Errachidia, Laayoune, Dakhla, and Essaouira with little or no air service, providing ample opportunities for growth. The year-on-year increase in commercial passengers was 3.55 percent for April, and overnight stays grew by 11 percent in Marrakech and 12 percent in Agadir during this time. Although convenient flights from the US are still limited, there continues to be hope for another connection in 2014. Linked to this growing airline network and the sea cruise tourism coming across from Gibraltar and Spain is the increase in mid-range and four and five star hotels to cater to diverse and demanding palates and needs of visitors.

Another factor is that Morocco is getting better at developing and promoting its myriad destinations and attractions for specialty travelers, including tours that combine cooking classes with site visits, and, for more traditional sports, an amazing number of golf courses. For those who like to travel the high road, Morocco has moved strongly into polo, attracting visitors to strategically placed locations with breathtaking backdrops, such as the Atlas Mountains near Marrakech. Another key factor in this growth is the willingness of international and local investors to develop projects that have strong commercial appeal, such as the polo field located within a classic residential and hotel complex, mirroring similar upscale projects in Europe. The heightened role of the private sector, benefiting from Morocco’s Plan Azul and other incentives for tourism development, is drawing quite serious international investments.

My favorite recent tourism news covers two fantastic opportunities: motorcycle riding across Morocco and kiteboarding in Dakhla. In the latest listing of world’s best motorcycle rides, Morocco tops the list according to CNN. What’s interesting is that this is not limited to hyper-adrenaline enthusiasts. It has also drawn in the over-60 crowd that is determined to check off another item on their bucket list (things one wants to do before they can’t manage it). Dakhla is fast becoming the jewel of eco and sport tourism in Morocco due to its fabulous beaches, prevailing winds, and still unspoiled terrain. For years, it has been a hidden gem of kiteboarding and now is drawing international attention and competitions.

What is especially grand about being a tourist in Morocco is that the opportunities for fun, excitement, visual and culinary treats, and hospitality all combine to provide a great experience for the visitor. There are challenges, however, because there is so much to see and so many opportunities to experience a country that has hundreds of years of heritage interlaced with contemporary attractions. So the nagging question is “Where to begin?”


Culture: From Morocco, ‘The Road To Jajouka’– Pop Culture Beast, Leavenworth Times

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Celebrating music from a village in the mountains of Morocco, “The Road To Jajouka is one of the most interesting and at times beautiful discs I’ve listened to this year,” says Garon Cockrell,  Pop Culture Beast.

Celebrating music from a village in mountains of Morocco, “The Road To Jajouka is one of the most interesting and at times beautiful discs I’ve listened to this year,” says Garon Cockrell, Pop Culture Beast.

CD Review

Leavenworth Times, Pop Culture Beast, by Garon Cockrell  (Aug. 21, 2013) — The Road To Jajouka is one of the most interesting and at times beautiful discs I’ve listened to this year. It’s a collection of music by The Master Musicians of Jajouka led by Bachir Attar, with lots of additional help from some well-known musicians such as Flea, Mickey Hart and Ornette Coleman. This is music from a village in the mountains of Morocco, with the traditional sounds intact and celebrated. The music is unique to that area, and is passed down from generation to generation.

The Road To Jajouka is a benefit album to help preserve and keep the music of Jajouka alive, and will provide health care for the musicians and their families. Close your eyes, and this music (or certain tracks, anyway) will transport you.

The first moments of “Hand Of Fatima” are almost eerie – but very quickly this track attains a beauty. And then a good drum beat comes in by Billy Martin. It’s so interesting to mix a somewhat modern beat with the otherworldly traditional sounds of the Master Musicians. What is surprising is how well it works. It doesn’t feel like one form was artificially tacked on to another. And yet this (as the other tracks) was recorded in various places at different times. This track includes a spoken word section by Bachir Attar – which is from the film Jajouka, Something Good Comes To You.

I was a huge Grateful Dead fan, and got to see Mickey Hart and Planet Drum in the very early 1990s. Mickey is a drummer who seeks (and finds) inspiration from all places on this planet, from all cultures and musical genres. So it’s not all surprising to find him involved in this project. It’s natural. What’s somewhat surprising is the combination of his sound with that of DJ Logic. So this track, “Baraka,” is more in the electronic realm than most of this collection’s tracks.

“Djebala Hills” is one of my favorites. This is so beautiful, so exotic, particularly due to the vocals by Falu. This track transports you out of your normal realm. It gets your mind working on levels it’s likely unused to. And it features Flea (from Red Hot Chili Peppers) on bass in the second, wilder section of the song. The journey this song takes is incredible and surprising. I absolutely love this music. Turn this one up and let it take over.

Falu provides some more wonderful vocals on “Sufi Hadra,” a track that also features some great percussion.

“Ghaita Blues” has a great groove on bass and drums, a groove that changes and feels like it’s slinking through the city alleys at night. The traditional instruments play over this groove, creating a great juxtaposition that makes the familiar seem unfamiliar. Or perhaps the other way around. Either way, it’s an interesting atmosphere. By the way, that’s Dave Dreiwitz on bass. You probably know him from Ween.

I first got interested in Ornette Coleman in the late 1980s when Jerry Garcia played with him (the first track I heard was “Singing In The Shower”). Right away I got his sense of playful exploration. So he’s a perfect choice for collaborator on this project. And the track he performs on, “Jnuin,” is one of my favorites. It’s wild how his saxophone blends in with the Master Musicians. His cries, his shouts of joy fit right in so beautifully, so perfectly. This is a magical track.

On an album full of interesting and surprising combinations of musical instruments and styles, “Al’Aita,” the final track, stands out. It features Howard Shore and The London Philharmonic Orchestra playing with the Master Musicians of Jajouka. “Al’Aita” has an intense build that really got right on top of me. And then it suddenly breaks, like coming upon a clearing in a jungle, where there is a sense of beauty but also danger. The track’s quiet moments are as intense as its louder moments.

CD Track List

  1. Hand Of Fatima
  2. Baraka
  3. Djebala Hills
  4. Boujeloudia      Magick
  5. Into The Rif
  6. Ghaita Blues
  7. Jnuin
  8. Sufi Hadra
  9. Al’Aita

The Road To Jajouka is scheduled to be released on September 10, 2013 through Howe Records.



Moroccans in WWI: Forgotten Heroes 14-19 Seeks Testimony

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brochureMACC (Washington, DC, August 23, 2013) — Memorials will be held across the globe next year to mark the one hundredth anniversary of the start of WWI, and North Africa is no exception. History books and popular culture often forget that Moroccans, Algerians, Tunisians and Egyptians fought and died by the thousands as colonial subjects during the Great War.

The Forgotten Heroes 14-19 Foundation (an independent Belgian NGO) is organizing an exhibition that will travel the world for five years, highlighting these individuals who served with great courage and valor, often far from their homes.  The exhibition will try to capture the daily lives of these soldiers.

To enrich the exhibit, Forgotten Heroes 14-19 is calling on the North African community.  They are looking for the children and grandchildren of Morocco’s WWI soldiers to share any memories that their forebears passed down. Stories, photos, records, letters… all are welcome to paint a picture of their heroism.

For further information or to contribute, visit www.forgottenheroes.eu.


New Sahel radio station to promote peace in five languages – Magharebia

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Newly launched radio station Studio Tamani broadcasts programmes in five languages of the Sahel. hirondelleusa.org

New radio station Studio Tamani broadcasts programs in 5 languages of the Sahel. hirondelleusa.org

 

Magharebia, by Jemal Oumar (Nouakchott, Mauritania, August 22, 2013) – A new-radio station aims to promote stability and reconciliation among the peoples of the Sahel.

Studio Tamani, based in Bamako, went live on Monday with shows and news segments in French, Bambara, Songhaï, Tamashek and Peulh.

All programs are directed toward development, stability and peace in the region of northern Mali and the Sahel.

Swiss organization Fondation Hirondelle funded the initiative. The aim of the European non-governmental organization is to partner with local Malian organizations to develop moderate discourse and a culture of peace among populations exploited by terrorist and extremist groups.

The Mali radio station broadcasts throughout northern Mali and some neighboring countries. Shows focus on sensitizing listeners to the dangers of terrorism, conflicts and ethnic wars. At the same time, it advocates for co-existence, harmony and co-operation in developmental and social fields.

Studio Tamani is relying on experienced journalists from the Sahel, according to Maliweb. They will use their expertise and experience in the service of Sahel citizens every evening.

“I think that the world is well aware of the seriousness of the message played by today’s media both in terms of its positive and negative influence on the minds and emotions of the people,” Malian journalist Moussa Coulibaly told Magharebia.

“When we go back to the beginning of the armed conflict that dismantled the Malian state and affected various Sahel countries, we realize that media was behind fuelling emotions and mutual incitement between different parties,” he added. “This continued until it blocked all prospects for dialogue and we ended up with a conflict, armed violence and terrorism.”

“The idea of launching a radio that fights extremism and violence is new and will confront al-Qaeda’s media discourse in the region,” Touareg expert Osman Ag Mohamed said.

“Terrorist groups, when they took control of northern Malian cities, took control first of local radios in order to control their content and direct their messages to the local population,” he added. “They also tortured and killed some journalists and owners of local radio stations when they refused to transmit their terrorist speeches on their radios.”

Radio has a greater impact, compared to other media, analyst Abdul Wadud Ould Salek said: “The programs that this station will broadcast will reach the audience directly at any time and without intermediaries, unlike television which requires a stable location. The same goes for newspapers.”

“The radio, however, adapts more to the population of the region of Azawad who are moving in a wide area; their way of life requires a media that adapts to their conditions,” he added.

“Radio is a main conductor and a real influence on the views of peoples of the Sahara,” radio journalist Mohamed Ahrimo said. “They depend on it in many aspects of life.”

“All you need to do is look at the great success achieved by local radio that adopted a proximity approach in regions such as Mauritania,” Ahrimo added.



Culture: Crafting Couscous – No Grain, No Gain – New York Times

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Leetal Arazi at NYShuk, the Smorgasburg booth she operates in Williamsburg with her husband, Ron. The couple makes their own fresh couscous. Liz Barclay, NY Times

Leetal Arazi at NYShuk, the Smorgasburg booth she operates in Williamsburg with her husband, Ron. The couple makes their own fresh couscous. Liz Barclay, NY Times

 

The New York Times, by Joan Nathan (August 26, 2013) — When I visited a small village in northwest Morocco this summer, I was enchanted by the sight of a group of women at a food cooperative, sitting on the floor with their legs outstretched, expertly mixing water with semolina, then raking the grain with their fingers in sweeping circular motions as they prepared couscous from scratch.

I returned home longing for the fresh wheaty flavor and light steamed texture of homemade couscous, superior to what you get from a box.

A few weeks later, I found myself in Brooklyn, at the Smorgasburg food market in Williamsburg, where I happened upon a booth emanating the fragrance of fresh couscous and stew. The booth, NYShuk, is operated by Ron Arazi and his wife, Leetal, chefs from Israel who run a company showcasing Jewish Middle Eastern food. Through them I learned how simple and satisfying it is to make your own couscous.

Lamb shanks with caramelized onions. Liz Barclay for The New York Times

Lamb shanks with caramelized onions. Liz Barclay for The New York Times

 

All it takes is some semolina, a little water, a sieve and a steamer. Once you have practiced it a few times to pick up the knack, it is easy, even magical. Not to mention a showstopping addition to the table at Rosh Hashana, which is early this year, beginning Sept. 4.

“Making couscous is not hard,” said Mr. Arazi, 32. “But it is labor intensive. For Leetal and me, couscous is craftsmanship. We are losing the battle of making it to industrial processed couscous.”

The two (she is 28) met while working as cooks in the Tel Aviv kitchen of Herbert Samuel, one of Israel’s top restaurants. Thinking good home cooking from Israel (not the typical hummus and falafel) was missing here, they relocated to spread the word and their cuisine, joining the ranks of a growing number of young chefs from Israel in recent years.

“We are actually trying to show another layer of Israeli cuisine, from Morocco, Turkey, and other places,” Mr. Arazi said. “We feel it is a shame that no one knows what it’s about.”

He learned to make couscous from his mother, who was born in Mogador, now Essaouira, a town in Morocco once known for its expert couscous makers. “I, the only son in my family, love to preach about it,” he said. “My sisters never made couscous in their life.”

“Making couscous is not hard,” said Mr. Arazi. “But it is labor intensive. For Leetal and me, couscous is craftsmanship. We are losing the battle of making it to industrial processed couscous.”  Liz Barclay for The New York Times

“Making couscous is not hard,” said Mr. Arazi. “But it is labor intensive. For Leetal and me, couscous is craftsmanship. We are losing the battle of making it to industrial processed couscous.” Liz Barclay, NY Times

 

Mr. Arazi taught me how to make couscous in the kitchen of his Crown Heights apartment. Watching him work with his hands was mesmerizing. He put about four cups of semolina in a large metal mixing bowl, and dampened it by spraying it with water. Holding the bowl in his left hand, he patted and circled his fingers gently over the semolina until the grain started to clump into tiny balls. Then he steamed it over water.

“Moroccan Jewish cooks always steam couscous over a stew,” he said, but “then you can’t taste the natural wheaty flavor of the semolina.” Transferring the couscous to a mesh sieve, he gently shook the grains through. Soon it was ready for a little salt and some oil, then it went back into the steamer, covered this time.

As it steamed, he put the last touches on roast lamb shanks with caramelized onions and tanzeya, a preserve made of dried fruits like sweet plums, apricots and figs, a Jewish Moroccan dish served for Rosh Hashana.

“Food like this gives you sasson and simcha — happiness and joy — something you need for the New Year,” he said.

Recipes


Casablanca music festival returns to stage, draws large crowds – Magharebia

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The Casablanca music festival re-opened following a two-year hiatus. Hassan Benmehdi

The Casablanca music festival re-opened following a two-year hiatus. Hassan Benmehdi

 

Magharebia, by Hassan Benmehdi (Casablanca, Morocco, August 27, 2013) – The Casablanca Festival came back after a two-year hiatus. Organizers, including city officials, were determined to bring the popular Moroccan event back from oblivion.

Efforts were made to ensure a lasting future for the 2-day event, “now restored to its former glory,” Mayor Mohamed Sajid said. The festival closed Monday (August 25th) after drawing big crowds.

“The re-launch was a huge challenge, but we managed to pull it off, thanks to help from all Casablancans. After all, it is their festival,” the mayor added.

The festival has remained true to its founding principles, namely promoting the cultural values of sharing and diversity, organizing committee member Mouna Yaâcoubi told Magharebia.

“With its guiding theme of greater unity and musical and artistic cross-fertilization between the Maghreb and the Machreq, this year’s event has been led by a range of local and Arab artists,” she added.

Organizers invited a wealth of Arab and Moroccan artists, including Elissa, Najwa Karam, Fares Karam, Melhem Zein, Najat Atabou, Saâd Lemjerad, Asmaa Lamnawar, Stati Abdelaziz and rapper Don Bigg.

Roula Saâd, who travelled from Lebanon, saw her involvement as a symbol of sharing and exchange between the East and the Maghreb.

Fellow Lebanese performer Najwa Karam shared that view: “I am honored to be a part of a festival which feeds into the principles of tolerance and openness towards other cultures.”

Young Moroccan performer Saâd Lamjarred talked of his great joy at appearing alongside some of the biggest names in Moroccan and Arab song.

Well-known popular singer Abdelaziz Stati thanked the Moroccan public for their support of the festival.

Efforts were made to ensure a lasting future for the 2-day event, "now restored to its former glory," Mayor Mohamed Sajid said. The festival closed Monday after drawing big crowds.

Efforts were made to ensure a lasting future for the 2-day event, “now restored to its former glory,” Mayor Mohamed Sajid said. The festival closed Monday after drawing big crowds.

“This is a young audience, but they are mature and very demanding in terms of musical quality,” Stati said.

In all, no fewer than twenty five artists took turns to appear on the three stages at Ben M’sick, Sidi Bernoussi and El Hank.

The Bidawi audience turned out in great numbers to share some moments of pure joy over the three days.

“I’m really happy, and I want to thank the organizers, who have managed to bring us some real Arab music superstars this year, particularly Najwa Karam and Elissa,” said communications student Aziza Ouannas, a fan of Lebanese song.

Her two friends, Lamia Nadiri and Salima El Malki think this year’s festival will have had something for everyone by including artists from both the East and the Maghreb.

“We couldn’t wait to go to the concerts by Mouskir, Stati and Merouan Khouri this weekend,” they said.

Hamza Erraiji, a school pupil in Casablanca, went along with his friends: “I’m a fan of popular song, and I’m here with my friends to attend Najat Aâtabou’s concert.”

By way of a closing ceremony, the festival held a concert featuring the rising star of Arab music, Palestinian singer Mohamad Assaf, winner of the 2013 “Arab Idol”.

“The festival’s return is a reaffirmation of the identity of a city going through immense change, a melting-pot trying to forge a new cultural identity for itself,” the organizers stated.


Miss Arab USA: Not Your Typical Beauty Pageant – Nadia Elboubkri

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Miss Arab USA is not a typical beauty pageant. It has a different agenda: promoting cultural awareness & leadership. Three Moroccan Americans are competing this year in Scottsdale, AZ on Aug. 31:  Nisrine Toumi from MA, Ymane Lakhlif from NY, & Majda Naanaa from FL.

Miss Arab USA is not a typical beauty pageant. It has a different agenda — promoting cultural awareness and leadership. Three Moroccan Americans are competing this year on August 31 in Scottsdale, Arizona:  Nisrine Toumi from MA, Ymane Lakhlif from NY, and Majda Naanaa from FL.

 

Nadia Elboubkri, Research Associate, MAC

Nadia Elboubkri, Research Assoc-MAC

MAC, Commentary by Nadia Elboubkri (Washington, DC, August 29, 2013) — Miss Arab USA is not a typical beauty pageant. It has a different agenda, that of promoting cultural awareness and leadership.

The pageant, according to Miss Arab USA official history, is “a charity event for the community, uniting Arabs and friends of Arabs in celebrating the Arab cultural heritage in this great nation of The United States of America.” The goal of the pageant is to provide a “non-political platform for young ladies to achieve personal growth and development, take pride in their heritage, discover their inner beauty in achieving their humanitarian goals in life and laying a strong foundation as leaders of the future.”

What really sets the Miss Arab USA pageant apart from other pageants is its general premise to showcase young Arab women who have a genuine interest in representing their cultures and nationalities. How do they do this? Well for one thing, in lieu of a swimsuit competition, contestants are able to show off their interpretation of ‘cultural dress’, and they have the choice of wearing the hijab or any other religious garb.

A former Moroccan-American contestant, Yossera Bouchtia, in an interview with Morocco World News, described the pageant as a way to “examine the identity of being an Arab immigrant and being a female living in that identity… [the pageant] was so different and so unique and kind of inspiring. [The contestants] weren’t trying to showcase specifically beauty like the perfection of beauty,” Boutchia said. “They were like your average girls in all shapes and sizes.”

This year, three contestants are representing Morocco in the pageant:

Ymane Lakhlif, 27, from New York;

 

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Majda Naanaa, 27, from Florida; and,

Nisrine Toumi, 23, from Massachusetts.

 

 

 

 

 

The pageant will be held on August 31st in Scottsdale Arizona.

Good Luck to Ymane, Majda, and Nisrine!


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