Rabat – The feature film “Myopia” by Moroccan filmmaker Sanaa Akroud has won one award and one honorable mention at the 36th “Vues d’Afrique” (Views of Africa) film festival.
The film festival ceremony took place virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual festival normally takes place in Montreal, Canada, which is under a local state of emergency.
The Moroccan Canadian film won the “Views From Here” award, awarded by the French television channel TV5 and Akroud, also an actress, earned an honorable mention “for female interpretation” in the acting category.
Akroud, who is also an actress, told Maghreb Arab Press she is proud of the awards and the recognition for the “long-term” project.
“It is also a good start for the film on the level of participation in international festivals” she added.
Myopia tells the story of a pregnant woman who lives in a village in the mountains. The woman goes on a journey to get glasses for an elder in the village, the only literate person in the village, who reads letters the villagers receive from their families in the city.
“Views of Africa” announced the winners and special mentions of its competition during a virtual closing ceremony accessible live on April 27 via its Facebook page.
Rabat – Authorities in the Saiss neighborhood in southern Fez have collaborated with local artists to create a series of mural paintings paying tribute to the people on the frontlines of Morocco’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We want to thank and show solidarity with those on the frontlines, including security officers, local authorities, royal gendarmerie, the army, auxiliary forces, civil protection, doctors, nurses, and cleaning workers, who are putting their lives at risk to help the country overcome this crisis,” said Khadija Fassih, vice-president in charge of green spaces in Saiss.
Several artists participated in painting the artworks on several locations across the district.
Amine El Mathen, a graduate of Fez’s Beaux-Arts Institute, created three murals urging the city’s residents to stay home. Two of the artworks depict doctors surrounded by the novel coronavirus, in recognition of the dangers they face at work. The third shows a caricatured coronavirus molecule walking around the streets.
الفنان أمين المطحن، ابن حي النرجس و خريج معهد الفنون الجميلة، صاحب جدارية حربة العملاقة بشارع الوفاء، يبدع في جداريات تحسيسية ضد الكورونا بشراكة مع مجلس مقاطعة سايس.
#الفنان المواطن#
Another mural, drawn on the wall of the Fez University Hospital, shows a lady wearing a Moroccan flag as a face mask. According to its author, Imad Amour, the artwork pays tribute to the medical staff at the hospital and celebrates the recovered patients who leave the facility.
The Moroccan flag also represents how the country is shielding and protecting its citizens and residents from the COVID-19 pandemic.
مجلس مقاطعة سايس يواصل حملته التحسيسية ضد الكورونا برسم جداريات عبر تراب المقاطعة.
هذه الجدارية رسمت على جدار المستشفى…
The Fez-Meknes region has registered a total of 619 cases of the novel coronavirus as of 10 a.m. May 4.
Other artists who took part in the initiative include painters Bilal El Alami and Amine Lekhal.
“The goal of the murals is also to raise awareness about the importance of respecting the quarantine regulations,” said Fassih.
After thanking Moroccan citizens for respecting the lockdown and showing “a great sense of responsibility and patriotism,” the public servant urged them to remain home. “Please stay home! Only go out if it is really necessary and, when you do, please wear face masks.”
Under the lockdown, leaving home without a face mask or for anything but essential work, grocery shopping, and medical emergencies is illegal.
Rabat – American actor Tom Cruise is in early talks with NASA and Space X to shoot an action-adventure movie in outer space.
Cruise would be the first actor in history to star in a movie filmed in space, and would receive full training to become an astronaut.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine confirmed the project in a May 5 tweet, indicating that it would be filmed at the International Space Station (ISS).
The station is situated 250 miles above Earth and hosts scientists carrying out research and conducting a number of cutting-edge experiments.
NASA is excited to work with @TomCruise on a film aboard the @Space_Station! We need popular media to inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists to make @NASA’s ambitious plans a reality. pic.twitter.com/CaPwfXtfUv
“We need popular media to inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists to make NASA ’s ambitious plans a reality,” Bridenstine emphasized, commenting on such a film’s potential to contribute to the public good.
The space mission is scheduled for May 27, and counts several timing challenges related to the actor’s preparation for travel. The evaluation process that includes medical tests, screenings, and extensive trainings usually takes two years to accomplish.
Cruise has physically distanced experience with the space station, as narrator of a 2002 IMAX documentary that was filmed on board the ISS.
Although Cruise, NASA, and SpaceX are reportedly partnering on the film, “no studio is in the mix at this stage,” according to Deadline.
There is no official declaration as of yet saying how or when Cruise will travel to the ISS, or who will accompany him as crew members.
With Russia now being the only country to fly humans to and from outer space under a government program, private American aerospace manufacturers SpaceX and Boeing have been working for years to acquire the ability.
Dozens of countries collaborated in building the ISS, but the US and Russia remain its primary operators.
Maintaining and supporting the ISS consumes approximately $3 to $4 billion annually,
approximately half of NASA’s annual human spaceflight budget, according to the aeronautics agency.
There comes a time when even a pyrophobe would like to be creative or is forced to use the kitchen to survive.
The kitchen has no religion, and I myself feel sometimes that exploring the culinary arts of other countries is a must to inspire taste buds bored of repeated meals.
Today I share a recipe for the famous Moroccan harcha, the semolina pan-fried flatbread.
Harcha is really low-cost, and several ingredients might be already available in your kitchen.
Ingredients:
1/2 kilogram of fine semolina flour
1/2 cup of melted butter
1/2 cup of cooking oil
1/2 tablespoon of granulated sugar
1/2 tablespoon of salt
1 cup of milk
1 tablespoon of fresh yeast
1.5 cups of warm water
1 teaspoon of salt
30 grams of black olives
Cottage cheese (Moroccan fresh cheese or “jben” in Moroccan Darija) or cheesy cream
1/2 tablespoon of thyme
The list of ingredients might scare you. But don’t judge a book by its cover as this might be the easiest recipe for a new dish.
In a medium-sized pot, put your semolina along with the oil and melted butter. Separately, mix the milk with the fresh yeast, and add it to the pot with granulated sugar, and salt.
When all the ingredients are in the pot, slowly add warm water to mix all the ingredients. Do not add all the water at once; pour it in little by little until you get a light mixed dough. Add more water if the dough is still hard.
You will need to let the dough sit for 30 minutes.
During that period, cut the black olives into small pieces and mix them with half a packet of cheesy cream or cottage cheese and a tablespoon of thyme.
You can also use mozzarella cheese if you wish. If you do not have any of those cheeses, you could simply use 100 grams of processed cheese (five triangles of Laughing Cow).
Once your dough is ready, prepare to create magic with your hands. Using your hand, shape the dough into small balls.
Take each ball and make a small hole in it. Fill the hole with the cheese and olive mixture before reshaping the dough into a small ball again.
Then press the ball with your hand to shape it into a flattened circle.
Put a medium frying pan on the stove, and once it is hot, be ready to put your little harcha rounds in.
Don’t take your eyes off the pan; it takes a little while for them to be ready.
Once the semolina dough turns golden, be ready to prepare your plate for the delicious harcha. You can serve them during iftar, suhoor, or breakfast on regular days with a cup of mint tea or milk.
Documentaries are nonfiction films that attempt to record real events, real people, real catastrophes, and real nature to spread knowledge through the medium of film.
Many are intense factual stories told by the people who lived the experience.
Watching documentaries is the perfect way to expand your knowledge and learn about different aspects of the world, including different cultures, languages, and global issues.
Documentaries are also a way to open your heart by experiencing empathy, appreciation, and compassion. This can help you connect to others, especially those who are unfamiliar.
Watching these films can also help you develop critical thinking skills and they are entertaining, relaxing, and an excellent way to decrease anxiety.
Here is a list of intriguing, entertaining, and educational documentaries that you need to watch during your lockdown hours.
“This series is about how those in power have used Freud’s theories to try and control the dangerous crowd in an age of mass democracy,” said Adam Curtis, the documentary’s writer and producer, commenting on the first episode.
If you have questions about corporate marketing and how advertising influences rational choice, then this is the documentary for you.
“The Century of the Self” four-part documentary series explores consumer culture and the dominant forces of the economy. It examines what motivates people to buy products they were never interested in before encountering advertisements.
The documentary series explains how Freud’s family “ran with” his theories and created the first personal relations firm. This paved the way for corporations to use psychology to manipulate consumers’ desires through advertising and politics.
‘Philosophy: Guide to Happiness’
Philosophy, or the “love of wisdom,” has been an important field of study since its inception in ancient Greece. The study helps us, as human beings, approach fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, the mind, and language.
Presented by the popular British philosopher and author Alain de Botton, “Philosophy: Guide to Happiness” is a six-part documentary series featuring six of history’s greatest philosophers and their ideas about the pursuit of happiness.
The philosophers include Socrates (on self-confidence), Epicurus (on happiness), Seneca (on anger), Montaigne (on self-esteem), Schopenhauer (on love), and Nietzsche (on hardship).
De Botton shows how philosophy can guide in pursuing a happy life, visiting the cities that produced these great thinkers and explaining and relating their histories with the modern world as he visits relics from their times.
‘Planet Earth II’
David Attenborough presents this BBC nature documentary series as a sequel to “Planet Earth.”
There are so many reasons to watch “Planet Earth II.” Along with David Attenborough’s soothing narrating voice, the series captures unbelievable cinematic shots exploring the lives of animals around the globe.
The documentary evokes strong emotions and gives viewers the opportunity to learn about ecosystems that are dramatically changing due to human behavior. It shows animals’ struggles and cruelty in their fight to survive.
Wildlife is precious and is rapidly depleting. “Planet Earth II” allows us to share an appreciation for the environment, so we can all protect this magical place called Earth.
‘Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things’
Minimalism is a lifestyle that requires downsizing possessions and keeping only those things that truly bring value to your life.
“Minimalism: A Documentary About Important Things” is a Netflix original documentary presented by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, two of the most well-known advocates for minimalism and value-based living.
The documentary examines the many aspects of minimalism by taking the audience inside the lives of minimalists from all walks of life: Entrepreneurs, architects, artists, journalists, scientists, and even a former Wall Street broker, all of whom are attempting to live simpler, more meaningful lives. The series delves into their varied motivations for choosing this path.
The minimalist advocates shed light on consumerism’s adverse effects on humans, and how minimalism can have a positive impact on anyone’s life by freeing them from the binds of modern culture.
Joseph Campbell and ‘The Power of Myth’
“The Power of Myth” is a six-part series of one-hour conversations between mythologist and storyteller Joseph Campbell (1904–1987) and journalist Bill Moyers.
In the documentary, Campbell presents his ideas about comparative mythology and the ongoing role of myths in human society.
Throughout the six episodes titled “The Hero’s Adventure,” “The Message of the Myth,” “The First Storytellers,” “Sacrifice and Bliss,” “Love and the Goddess,” and “Masks of Eternity,” Campbell focus on characters and themes found in cultural and religious mythologies. He argues that these timeless archetypes continue to have a powerful influence on the choices we make and the way we live.
“Follow your bliss and doors will open where there were no doors before,”said Campbell. According to the mythologist, there is a hero in us all. To find that hero, all you have to do is follow your bliss.
‘Baraka’
The name “Baraka” comes from the Sufi word that translates to “breath of life” or “blessing.” “Baraka” is a non-verbal documentary directed by Ron Fricke.
The powerful film explores themes via a compilation of natural events, life, human activities, and technological phenomena, shot in 24 countries on six continents over a 14-month period.
“Baraka” is an exotic and inspiring documentary with amazing visuals and beautiful music. It will help you reflect on life and look at the world in an entirely different light.
Ron Fricke succeeds in capturing the essence of life through visually stunning images of the intricate web of rituals in which we humans are embedded. Fricke shows how every person in every culture is part of the collective consciousness.
The greatest trait of “lazy cooks” is their ability to adapt. To quote my sister on this particular tiramisu recipe, “If you remove coffee from the ingredients list you could even call it a Black Forest cake.”
No truer words have been spoken–clearly, the “lazy” adaptive kitchen flair runs in our family. Despite my unconditional love for cake, each attempt at baking one from scratch felt like a game of Russian roulette. My cakes either turned out too dry, too bitter, or too runny. Then I adapted. I found an alternative for tiramisu to give you–and myself–a delicious reason to brag.
Dip the biscuits in coffee, use either water or milk. (Photo credits: Asmae Habchaoui for Morocco World News)
The recipe checks all the boxes: You can count its ingredients on your fingers, and it only takes a quick five minutes to prepare.
Ingredients
8 individual packs of tea biscuits
1 boxes of whipped cream powder
1 large glass of milk
2 tablespoons of instant coffee
1 cup of cocoa powder
First, make your whipped cream by mixing the cold glass of milk with the store-bought whipped cream powder. Use an electric or manual mixer until you get a fluffy and smooth consistency.
Make sure the utensils and container you use for the whipped cream are cold by pre-chilling them in the freezer for a few minutes at least. Even though I am an ardent defender of free-style cooking, a chill temperature is where I put my foot down. This step is key to reaching a fluffy consistency.
Coffee dipped biscuits spread evenly in the container under a layer of whipped cream. (Photo credit: Asmae Habchaoui for Morocco World News)
Pro tip: Be careful, too much milk can ruin the could-like consistency we are reaching for.
Second, prepare a cup of black coffee–whether or not it is instant is your call. Then dip your biscuits in the lukewarm coffee and spread the moist biscuits in a single layer in the serving container. Lady fingers could also work. They might even taste better and can help us pretend we are going all-in with tiramisu.
Spread a layer of the whipped cream on top of the biscuits, then repeat the two-step process. As the finishing touch, add a final layer of whipped cream and sprinkle some cocoa powder. Voila, your desert is ready!
Photo credits: Asmae Habchaoui for Morocco World News
Pro tip: Only add the cocoa powder when you are ready to serve, otherwise the whipped cream will wet the powder.
A cold orange juice would compliment this treat well, but I will probably have mine with mint tea like a good Moroccan.
Photo credits: Asmae habchaoui for Morocco World News.
Rabat – Moroccan designer Hicham Lahlou has joined the prestigious Art Edition catalogue of the internationally renowned French luxury brand “DAUM” with his limited edition work “Oryx.”
“With this Oryx I wanted to honor my African origins through an emblematic animal of the savannah,” Lahlou said. “To present it in a limited edition in the prestigious Art Edition catalogue of the great French brand DAUM is a real recognition.”
Oryx is a genus consisting of four large antelope species called oryxes, of which three are native to Africa while the fourth is native to the Arabian Peninsula.
Lahlou’s small and large amber oryx sculptures retail between €3,000 and €12,500. Only 375 of each are available in the collection.
With his Art Edition debut, the Moroccan designer joins other great artists such as Salvador Dali, Armand, Richard Orlanski, Romuald Hazoume, Carlos Mata, Hilton MacConnico, and Pedro Ramirez Vazquez.
The Moroccan designer is one of the leaders of African and Arab design and has earned the nickname “the spearhead of contemporary design in Morocco.” Lahlou is one of the world’s top designers for prestigious brands and hotels.
Lahlou has had great success as an artist, urban designer, interior designer, product designer, and graphic designer. He has contributed to commercial architecture as well as strategic design.
Lahlou has signed major projects and collections published by prestigious international brands such as Ecart International, Lip, Aquamass, CITCO Italy, and HAVILAND.
In 2014, he founded the Africa Design Award & Days (ADA, ADD) project and directs as one of the leaders of African Design.
His creations are regularly exhibited in museums such as the Vitra Design Museum in Berlin, Germany; the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain; the Kunsthal art museum in Rotterdam, the Netherlands; the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia, USA; and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England.
In 2016, Hicham Lahlou received the French distinction of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
He is an elected member of the Board of Directors of the World Design Organization (WDO), making him the first designer from Morocco, the MENA region, West Africa, and Francophone Africa elected to the board in the history of WDO.
The foundation will use the budget to purchase artwork from the artists most affected by COVID-19 and display them in museums across the country. An independent committee will be in charge of selecting artists and pieces of art.
A report announced that FNM is planning exhibitions for Moroccan artists, revolving around Morocco’s cultural heritage, after museums reopen.
The move left thousands of Moroccan artists unable to exhibit their talents and generate income.
While FNM’s initiative will support Moroccan plastic artists, it cannot benefit thousands of other artists, including singers, actors, and street performers.
On May 9, Moroccan artists launched a social media campaign under the hashtags “Stop,” “Baraka” (Darija), and “Youda” (Tamazight) to denounce their precarious living situation amid the COVID-19 crisis and to ask the government for help.
Artists shared photos of themselves flipped upside-down with the caption “I am an artist and I protest.”
Compilation of artists denouncing their precarious living situation. Credit: Le360
The campaign led Moroccan citizens to sympathize with compatriot artists, sharing the photos hundreds of times.
The majority of professional artists in Morocco work independently and do not benefit from social security.
One of the most affected regions by the suspension of cultural activities is Ouarzazate, in southern Morocco, which hosts one of the largest movie sets in the world.
The region is a regular destination for international moviemakers, creating hundreds of job opportunities for Moroccan youth as technicians, actors, extras, and stuntmen.
On May 1, Morocco’s Minister of Culture and Youth Othman El Ferdaous announced the allocation of MAD 13.3 million ($1.35 million) for cultural projects that would support Moroccan artists.
However, the projects will serve mainly to revive the country’s cultural scene after the COVID-19 crisis and do not benefit artists during the pandemic.
In past articles of this series I have introduced you, my dear “lazy cooks,” to two great cooks in my family, my mom and oldest sister. This time, to make a no-oven-needed mug cake, meet my friend of 12 years, Meryem. She is not the greatest cook, but she made “chebakia” with her mom this year, which is more than I can say for myself. She and I will be making a chocolate microwave mug cake.
Because of the ongoing lockdown due to the novel coronavirus, Meryem and I have decided to video call our cooking session. This is a more glamorous way of saying my own microwave is broken, and I am using hers instead.
To say baking is not my forte is an understatement, so mixing everything into a mug and shoving it into a microwave is the second greatest cooking trick after store-bought whipped cream.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons of flour
1 tablespoon of sugar
1/4 tablespoon of vanilla extract powder
1/4 tablespoon of baking powder
½ an egg
1 tablespoon of cocoa powder
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
1 tablespoon of water
Let’s get started
Add all ingredients in your serving mug and mix well. Then put your mug in the microwave for two minutes at its highest temperature. Your mug cake is ready.
Yes, that is all there is to it. Isn’t cooking so much fun when you minimize efforts?
This mug was relatively on the larger side, use a smaller mug for a better result (Photo credits: Meryem Ftouhi for Morocco World News)
Pro tip: Use a relatively small mug, similar to the one in the below photos, to allow the cake to take a nice fluffy shape.
Though not necessary, you could add small chocolate pieces on top for the extra chocolate taste. Once melted, the chocolate gives a lovely fondant sensation.
A scoop of vanilla ice cream is an even better add-on, but if you wish to stick to our “lazy cook” motto, just bring a spoon and dig into your mouth-watering chocolate microwave mug cake.
Photo credits: Meryem Ftouhi for Morocco World NewsPhoto credits: Meryem Ftouhi for Morocco World NewsPhoto credits: Meryem Ftouhi for Morocco World News
Rabat – Tucked away from the busy streets of Morocco’s capital, Rabat’s only all-English bookstore is a hidden gem. You can only really recognize the store by a discreet sign and its business hours, handwritten in both Arabic and English. It is hard to not be amazed by the sheer number of books on sale, carefully placed in categories such as fiction, women’s studies, media, or human sciences.
Muhammed Belhaj opened the bookshop in 1985. Saddened by the sudden death of his father, he returned to Morocco from London, where he was completing his studies.
Belhaj, the sole owner of the bookstore, is originally from Fez. Born in 1941, his studies took him to Rabat at the end of the 1950s. At first reluctant to leave his hometown and the city’s vibrant medina in which he grew up, Belhaj said his options were somewhat limited when choosing where to continue his education. At the time, Morocco’s only modern university was in Rabat, where Belhaj studied political science.
His interest in politics developed at the historic moment when King Mohammed V of Morocco was forced into exile by the French colonial authorities.
“At that time, everyone was talking about the independence and colonialism. I happened to be in Rabat at the moment when King Mohammed V was exiled. That inspired me to learn more about the society and how it functions,” Belhaj explained to Morocco World News.
This is also when he started learning English, an unusual undertaking for the majority of Moroccans at the time. “I realized that French is not an international language,” said Belhaj.
“English is not important itself. It is also not better than any other language. It is simply a reference for human knowledge. It is a pool of knowledge,” he added.
He started taking English classes at the British Council in Rabat. This eventually led him to London, where he spent two years studying the language. He also traveled extensively throughout Europe at this time, a part of his life which he considers to be particularly formative.
After decades of running the bookshop, he noticed a drastic change in the type of customers that he sees on a daily basis. “At first foreigners, mostly Europeans that did not speak French, came to my store. Over the years this has changed dramatically,” said the owner.
Young Moroccan university students are currently his main customers. Belhaj jokingly added, “I think that explains why my English has been getting rusty,” given that he now spends most of his time talking to people in Moroccan Arabic as opposed to English.
He also sells books in other languages at the store, such as Spanish and German.
A photo of the English Bookshop. The bookstore was opened in 1985 and has maintained the same look. Photo: Nejra Kravic/Morocco World News
The process of ordering books can occasionally be tedious, he continued. Determined to always make his purchases directly from the publisher as opposed to resellers in Morocco, as a way to support the original businesses, Belhaj said the import duties on foreign books can be quite expensive.
Even with the extra costs, Belhaj is determined to keep the bookstore running. “There is a need for learning English. The government desperately wants to keep French as the second foreign language, but Moroccans are more and more interested in English,” said the owner.
He measures interest by the number of people requesting certain books. Belhaj feels strongly about the kind of literature he has at the store, but is also very open to suggestions from young Moroccans. He keeps track of each request by a customer on a sheet of paper, noting down the name of the book and the author.
The owner added that his own personal interest in politics, anthropology, Islamic studies, and Sufism eventually prevails when choosing which types of books he sells at the store.
“I like to think that I influence what people read, but I also take notice of what they want. It is expensive to get books, so all of my decisions are calculated,” said Belhaj.
He also feels strongly about the recent trend of turning books into movies. “I don’t go to the movies. Ever. A movie is just one interpretation of the book. Reading an actual book can give you endless interpretations,” said Belhaj.
He also makes sure to update the categories of books that he sells. Belhaj recently added a self-help and a business section, seeing an increase in interest in literature from those fields.
Belhaj cheerfully said, “Selling books is not like selling tomatoes.” His humor, warmth, and good intentions are something that the customers like about the store, which is why they keep coming back. When a couple of university students studying English at Mohammed V University approached him with specific book requests, he jokingly responded with: “Selling books to students is so boring. They ask way too many questions.”
In the contest’s Quran psalmody category, nearly all of the prizewinners were Moroccan.
The Moroccan Fatima-Zahrae Mrabet won the first prize in the women’s “All Nationalities” category, and her compatriots Kaoutar Zribi and Chaimae Lchab ranked second and third, respectively.
Moroccan men also demonstrated strong talent with two wins in the same category. Anas Mhamdi ranked first in the men’s “All Nationalities” category and Abdellah Bela ranked third behind the Yemeni Majd Ghamdan Abdeslam.
Readers representing the UAE, Yemen, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Jordan were all present in the global competition.
The Quran psalmody competition has one section devoted to Emirati nationals and another open to all nationalities.
Moroccans have previously earned multiple wins in the Abu Dhabi competition. Three Moroccan women won prizes in 2019 during the fifth installment of the world’s biggest web-based Quran reciting competition.
نبارك للفائزة بالمركز الثالث فئة أجمل ترتيل (كافة الجنسيات – إناث)
المتسابقة/ شيماء لشهاب من المغرب في جائزة التحبير للقرآن الكريم وعلومه والتي تقام برعاية سمو الشيخ #سيف_بن_زايد آل نهيان نائب رئيس مجلس الوزراء – وزير الداخلية pic.twitter.com/a8GmHG5nzW
— جائزة التحبير للقرآن (@TahbeerQuran) May 16, 2020
Rabat – Consumers and brands are redefining the role of luxury in today’s society as the world battles through the COVID-19 pandemic. While some say the latest financial downfall could cripple luxury brands’ frontline spenders, others suggest it is only a matter of time before the high-end industry reaches new heights.
Luxury brands are strategizing by hiking up prices, investing in benevolent crowdfunding campaigns, and even developing products to protect consumers from COVID-19 in the most fashionable of ways.
Recent unemployment rates are staggering and unless you are in the business of luxury loungewear, let’s face it, there has not been a huge demand for non-essential buying.
Leading brands such as Chanel, Louis Vitton, and Tiffany & Co. have raised their prices anywhere between 10% and 20% in hopes of making up for lost revenue. Nearly all luxury brands have seen a dip in sales — some have lost as much as 80%, a hit that could spell the end of business without a prompt recovery.
Other luxury brands have attempted the opposite approach, moving their inventory at all-time-low prices. Brand strategists suggest that lowering prices could reduce opportunities for building lasting customer relations, negatively impact companies’ long-term pricing approach, and harm their brand equity. Temporary price reductions have yet to show success. Total profits are still declining with such hopeful brands.
The millennial generation, particularly in the United States, has been recognized for their coming of age in back-to-back recessions, living in a near-constant state of economic cataclysm whilst in their peak employment years. Luxury brands targeting this audience will need to find innovative solutions to face the challenges marked by frugal spending and a lack of conspicuous consumption.
Evaluating options moving forward, some luxury brands are seizing the opportunity to rethink their approach, expand their digital presence, and invest in their connectivity with customers.
Do good and stay safe, but make it fashion.
Many consumers are gravitating toward a growing expectation that companies will act responsibly and “do good” amid hard times.
Gucci, the Italian luxury fashion brand ranked number one by Luxe Digital’s Most Popular Luxury Brands Online in 2020, has teamed up with the United Nations and transformed the home page of its website into a COVID-19 giving campaign. The brand calls on its customers to follow its lead and contribute to a fundraiser supporting those impacted by the global health crisis.
“Gucci has created a world, open and free: a Gucci global community. We ask all of you to be the Changemakers in this crisis, to stand together with us in the fight against the Coronavirus. We are all in this together,” said Gucci’s CEOs, Alessandro Michele and Marco Bizzarri.
Forbes Magazine recently published an article highlighting more than 30 luxury brands in the business of designing stylish protective face masks. From pink sequined or lace masks to black leather or eco-friendly tree fiber masks, the industry has not wasted time appealing to those who may be willing to spend up to $100 for a mask a few grades above what one might find in a hardware store.
The potential of ‘revenge spending’
Fortunately for luxury brands, research shows that consumers do not readily adjust their buying habits. Brands savvy enough to create a perceived value in a person’s life are likely to prove resilient despite the changing economy.
For many consumers, online shopping does not deliver the same satisfaction as wandering through a mall or indulging in high-end dining and shopping atmospheres. “Revenge spending,” a term used to describe a spending frenzy which usually follows a significant interruption in normal spending habits, is what most businesses are banking on to bounce back from their lockdown lows.
China, the first majorly impacted country to lift lockdown measures and reopen businesses when COVID-19 cases slowed, saw an impressive rush toward non-essential and luxury spending.
In the city of Guangzhou alone, French luxury fashion brand Hermes brought in approximately $2.7 million on their first day reopening. Just-in hand bags were sold out before 10 a.m. and shoppers flocked to enjoy the newly renovated consumer spaces.
Some commentators claim that the US may not experience revenge spending in the same way China has. For one, China’s unemployment rate rose to 6.2% during the country’s state of emergency, compared to the US’ rise to nearly 19%. In Europe, the level of impact from lockdowns has varied, making it difficult to predict future spending on luxury goods.
Overall, the general trajectory is a decrease in luxury spending and plunging profits for most brands. Some may see a decent turnaround once spenders are relieved of their duty to stay home and governments give businesses the green light to open.
Luxury brands, like many other components of our precarious lives, are discovering a need for more sustainable and innovative solutions to their business and branding models.
Most people interested in Islamic and Moroccan histories have heard of Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque in Fez, one of the oldest mosques in the Maghreb and home to the oldest continually-operating university in the world. However, the glory of Al-Qarawiyyin may have cast a shadow over Al-Andalus Mosque, a building also of great importance in the history of Fez, Morocco’s oldest imperial city.
The story of Al-Andalus Mosque dates back to the 9th century when Fez was still a young city establishing its foundations. Built in the year 860, only one year after the completion of Al-Qarawiyyin’s foundation, Al-Andalus Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Morocco and North Africa.
Al-Andalus Mosque is located inside the old Medina of Fez. Photo credit: Morocco World News
Sister buildings
The histories of Al-Andalus and Al-Qarawiyyin mosques are so entwined that the two monuments share the same blood. While Al-Qarawiyyin was built by historical figure Fatima al-Fihriya, her sister Maryam al-Fihriya built Al-Andalus.
The two sisters, originally from Kairouan, in modern-day Tunisia, inherited a fortune after their father Muhammad al-Fihri, a successful merchant in Fez, passed away. To promote the teaching of Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and Hadith (teachings of Prophet Muhammad), which they had extensively studied, the sisters decided to invest their new fortune into building mosques that would also serve as spaces to exchange knowledge.
Many cats live near Al-Andalus Mosque. Photo credit: Morocco World News
Al-Andalus Mosque takes its name from the Andalusian refugees who fled Cordoba, in modern-day Spain, after their rebellion against the Umayyads ruling the Andalusian city. In the year 818, Fez welcomed approximately 800 Andalusian families who both helped to build the mosque and used it as a place of worship after its completion.
Through its more than 1,000 years of existence, Al-Andalus Mosque underwent a series of renovations and upgrades. The original construction was modest: It consisted of arcades with seven vaults, two libraries, and a small Sahn, or courtyard, in the middle. Several trees were planted in the mosque’s courtyard, which had access to abundant water through a channel.
Al-Andalus Mosque’s courtyard underwent several renovations.
Renovations and additions
A few years after its initial completion, the Andalusian migrants built a minaret for the mosque. The square-shaped minaret has simple decorations on its frame and was built to resemble the minaret of Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque. Today, the minaret is one of the few parts of the mosque that remain unaltered from their original construction.
Approximately 100 years after it was built, Al-Andalus Mosque gained importance in Fez after the city’s governor at the time, Obaidullah, made it the city’s site for khutbah, the religious sermon given during the Friday prayer. At the time, the khutbah was not only a religious speech, but had political and social dimensions. It served to unite the people and bring their attention to current issues.
Before Al-Andalus Mosque became a destination for Friday prayers, the khutbah used to be given in Al-Ashyakh Mosque, the first mosque ever built in Fez. The decision to move the khutbah to Al-Andalus was mainly due to the growing population of Fez and the relatively small size of the old mosque.
During the Almohad Dynasty (1147-1248), Al-Andalus Mosque saw the construction of a large gate that overlooks its northern facade. The gate, built between 1203 and 1207 under the orders of the fourth Almohad caliph, Muhammad al-Nasir, is topped by two domes. One dome is made of carved plasters, while the second is built of cedarwood. The gate was also ornamented with a combination of wooden zellige, a form of mosaic tile work, and Persian Qashani decorations.
Under Al-Nasir’s rule, the mosque underwent a complete overhaul. The caliph ordered a series of renovations including the replacement of old stone-made pillars with new ones made of bricks. Only the minaret remained as it was.
Al-Andalus Mosque’s gate dates back to the 13th century.
Academic destination
During the Marinid Dynasty (1248-1465), a period known as the Golden Age of Fez, Al-Andalus Mosque became a branch of Al-Qarawiyyin University and served as a school to teach the Maliki school of Fiqh.
Between the 13th and the 14th centuries, new schools appeared in the surrounding space, such as the Sahrij Madrasa, which was built to accommodate students who came from distant places to study at Al-Andalus, or the Sab’in Madrasa, which was dedicated to teaching the seven different styles of Quran recitation.
Al-Andalus Mosque remained a destination for knowledge-seekers for several centuries. The landmark gained more significance as a place of education during the Saadi Dynasty (1549-1659). However, it did not undergo any renovations because of the Saadis’ focus on military strength to prevent foreign invasions.
The next wave of renovations waited until the Alaouite dynasty, which started in 1666. The mosque’s rooftops, which had sustained much damage since the 13th century, were completely refurbished.
Moulay Ismail, who ruled between 1672-1727, ordered the addition of new decorations and architectural works to Al-Andalus Mosque, including a fountain in the building’s northern facade and an apartment made of stones for the mosque’s imams (prayer leaders) on the second floor. The mosque’s new decorations included mosaics in the courtyard, colorful glass windows, and a bronze chandelier with engraved ornaments.
Al-Andalus Mosque’s minaret maintained its original shape for more than 10 centuries. Photo credit: Mapio
Artistic showcase
In addition to its religious and academic roles, Al-Andalus Mosque was home to a set of artifacts that represent the artistic creativity of the Islamic civilization. Dar Batha Museum of Fez currently hosts the majority of the artworks, but many have previously appeared in exhibitions across the world. Museums that exhibited the artifacts include the Arab World Institute in France, the Sao Paulo Museum in Brazil, and the National Museum of World Cultures in the Netherlands.
One of the most impressive artifacts in Al-Andalus Mosque is the mosque’s Minbar, the pulpit where the imam stands to give khutbah. The Minbar, sculpted in 925, is the second oldest Minbar in the Maghreb region, after that of the Great Mosque of Kairouan, the oldest mosque in Africa.
The Minbar was used for over 1,000 years, from its creation until 1934. The sculpted cedar structure consisted of several steps on which the imam would stand. The Minbar’s side walls were created in 979, while its back was made in 985. Woodwork is one of the most widespread crafts in Fez, mainly due to the cedar forests surrounding the city, and Al-Andalus Mosque’s Minbar is a fine example of Fassi carpentry’s quality.
The wooden artifact merges Oriental, African, and Andalusian styles. The Minbar’s side walls were mainly influenced by Egyptian woodwork, with Kufic calligraphy carved in the wood. Meanwhile, the decorative carvings had Abbasid influences and greatly resemble plaster and wood decorations from Samarra in modern-day Iraq, the capital of the Abbasid caliphate between 836 and 892.
The internal carvings illustrated vegetation, including palms and coniferous trees, reminiscent of African artifacts that draw inspiration from nature. Finally, the Minbar’s back contained decorations based on symmetric geometric shapes, similar to the ones found decorating Andalusian palaces and mosques.
The cedar wood Minbar was decorated with carvings in various styles.
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Photo credit: Qantara-Med
Photo credit: Qantara-Med
Photo credit: Qantara-Med
Photo credit: Qantara-Med
Despite being in the shadow of Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque in recent centuries, Al-Andalus Mosque has never lost its value. While it has forfeited its academic role in the last century to modern universities and schools, the mosque continues to fulfill its religious and spiritual role, a role that it has successfully maintained for more than one millennium.
Hamza El Moutadir is a 23-year-old Moroccan writer, entrepreneur, self-help coach, and English teacher. After earning his B.A. in English Literature at the University of Hassan II in Casablanca, he pursued his master’s degree in General Psychology and Sexology at Moldova State University in Chisinau.
Despite his challenging life, Hamza has found a way to express himself through writing.
Inspired by his own truths, desires, motivations, and the cumulative experiences that define his life, the young writer dedicates his pages to sharing what it means to be human in today’s world. Hamza hopes to help others navigate life’s unexpected challenges and find their way along rocky paths.
Hamza became the youngest Moroccan writer to publish a book in English in 2019. His first book, titled “The ABC’s Of Personality Typing,” explores the classifications of human psychology andhow each individual’s personality type is defined.
According to Hamza, it is easy to determine a person’s personality type through the use of personality typing tools.
Publishing personal truths
The young writer was excited to see his second book published on March 13. In “The Good Guy She’d Never Date,” Hamza revealed intimate life stories in order to help others in similar situations.
“I was frustrated and needed to refocus my life,” said the writer in an interview with Morocco World News, explaining his motivation in authoring his second book.
Hamza was proud of being a “good guy” until his early twenties, when he faced social, financial, and sexual crises. His own father kicked him out of the house when he was 18. He was socially ignored, and the only person he truly loved betrayed him.
He then started coaching the younger generation and decided to write a book to help them understand and satisfy their needs.
“’The Good Guy She’d Never Date’ is a young adult diary developed to give a proven plan based on reality to get a man’s needs satisfied without being a jerk or a player!” Hamza explained to MWN.
Hamza believes that the love of a particular language plays a fundamental role in writing. If someone loves and writes in a specific language, that love reflects the image of the author in the folds of the book’s pages.
His choice to write in this language also took into consideration that English is an international language and would allow a high percentage of readers to explore the book.
“My academic expertise and the knowledge I gained in my study experience were in English as well, which explains my attraction to this language,” Hamza told MWN.
Despite his challenging life, Hamza has found a way to express himself through writing.
Reflections and advice on writing as a career
When asked what he has learned about writing, he quoted New York Times bestselling author Austin Kleon: “Lots of people want to be the noun without doing the verb.”
Hamza shared an experience where he told his best he wanted to be a writer, but had not yet written anything.
She thoughtfully responded that while she did not know much about the subject, she did know that if he wanted to pursue this passion, he would have to actually write.
With that, he realized that he wanted the status without putting in the hours. “That’s not how it works. Writers write,” he said.
Hamza would like to tell young Moroccan writers that their journey might not be easy, and they might face many critics, obstacles, and skeptics along the way.
“Do it anyway and believe in yourself because the regret of not taking actions is much worse than taking actions and not receiving results you expected!” the young author advised.
The Moroccan writer delightfully shared advice for MWN readers interested in pursuing a career in the field:
“Establish balance in your life socially and health-wise before you start the process of writing.
“Write for fun and entertainment–don’t do it if you don’t enjoy the process (or for money).
“Go into writing the book deeply. Make it say something that affects life in the world in a good way. Work as hard as you can to perfect it.
“Don’t expect to support yourself with your book sales (until it happens).
“Seek help from books, teachers, colleges, grant programs, friends, colleagues, and the internet.
“Persevere if you believe in yourself and your story.”
The young Moroccan author stressed one mantra for aspiring writers and fans alike: “The only person who knows exactly what you truly need is you.”
Hamza regularly uses social media to post updates about his work. He interacts with his over 16,000 followers on Instagram and also provides the latest content related to his work on his official website.
We cannot live eating desserts alone–alas, if only life were so sweet–but that does mean we can entertain our taste buds with many savory, mouth-watering culinary experiences, including this easy-to-make creamy potato, chicken, and mushroom casserole.
I love potatoes, I love cheese, I love chicken, and I love mushrooms. If you share these sentiments, there is no need for me to sell you on this casserole recipe.
Although I know you are on board, I will still stress how easy this creamy potato, chicken and mushroom casserole recipe is to prepare–after all you and I are “lazy cooks.”
Ingredients
1 kg of potatoes (about 10 small- to medium-sized potatoes)
2 boxes of sour cream
1 small can of mushrooms
½ of a leftover chicken
1 clove of garlic
100 g of edam cheese (roughly 7 slices)
Salt and pepper to taste
Adding a layer of potato puree and a layer of chicken and mushroom (Photo credits: Asmae Habchaoui for Morocco World News)
The potato puree
First, thoroughly rinse your potatoes and boil them in salted water. There is no need to peel the potatoes beforehand: Doing so afterwards will save you a good 15 minutes, which fits right in with our “lazy cook” mentality.
When you have peeled the cooked potatoes, put them in a large container. Then add crushed garlic, one box of sour cream, salt, and pepper. The key here is seasoning your potatoes really well–I even added parsley to mine just to spice things up.
Mash the ingredients until you achieve a creamy and uniform consistency.
Pro tip: For extra-creamy potatoes you can add cheese and one egg.
Voila, the puree is ready! Set it aside and let us move on to the chicken filling.
Creamy chicken & mushrooms
I tried this recipe the day after my mom had prepared roasted chicken, so I took advantage of a “lazy cook” shortcut and used the leftovers. You can do the same or use minced meat: Either way, it will be delicious.
One-half of a chicken is the minimum quantity you will need. For us non-vegetarians, this dish recognizes no such thing as too much meat.
First, break the chicken into relatively thin strips or cut it into small pieces. In a pan, add the chicken, the remaining sour cream box, the mushrooms, and some salt and pepper.
Despite my sister’s objection I added corn because I was curious about the taste. She is not the one doing the cooking: This task is for you and me, so we can get as creative as we want.
Once again, you can add cheese if it fits your fancy.
Stir the mixture on the stove for a few minutes over low to medium heat and your filling is ready.
(Photo credits: Asmae Habchaoui for Morocco World News)
Fire up the oven
Butter your serving container before spreading a layer of the potato puree, followed by a layer of the chicken and mushrooms, then one more layer of the potato puree. A final layer of edam cheese is optional but recommended.
Then put your dish in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese melts or your top layer changes to a golden color.
Prepare this comfort creamy casserole and the chocolate microwave mug cake for a full meal to make your taste buds very happy.
(Photo credits: Asmae Habchaoui for Morocco World News)(Photo credits: Asmae Habchaoui for Morocco World News)
Rabat – “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling announced yesterday the release of a free children’s book online. The first chapter of “The Ickabog” is now available on a new website to entertain children during the novel coronavirus lockdown.
Rowling announced on her website that she would be posting a new chapter every weekday until July 10 on “the Ickabog” website.
The British novelist said that she wrote the book 10 years ago while she was still working on the “Harry Potter” saga.
“A few weeks ago at dinner, I tentatively mooted the idea of getting ‘the Ickabog’ down from the attic and publishing it for free for children in lockdown,” said the 54-year old writer, explaining that she had used the book as a bedtime story for her kids.
Suitable for 7- to 9-year-olds to read by themselves, “the Ickabog” is a story about the abuse of power, said Rowling. “The themes are timeless and could apply to any era and any country.”
Rowling is known for being the first billionaire author in history, selling over 400 million copies of the “Harry Potter” saga around the world.
Also a philanthropist, Rowling lost her billionaire title due to her donations to support several causes, including children’s welfare, anti-poverty, and the treatment of multiple sclerosis disease.
The English writer pledges more donations after publishing her book. “I’m pledging all author royalties from ‘the Ickabog,’ when published, to help groups who’ve been particularly impacted by the pandemic. Further details will be available later in the year.”
In addition to her donations, Rowling also launched an illustration competition to fill her unpublished book. “I thought how wonderful it would be if children in lockdown, or otherwise needing distraction during the strange and difficult time we’re passing through, illustrated the story for me.”
“There will be suggestions about the illustrations we might need for each chapter on the Ickabog website, but nobody should feel constrained by these ideas. I want to see imaginations run wild!” added Rowling.
With Ramadan now over and Mother’s Day coming up on Sunday, it is the perfect time to dive right back into your breakfast routine with a nice twist to your morning coffee. Celebrate your mom’s enduring love on May 31 with a dalgona coffee and breakfast in bed.
With origins in the Korean street food scene, dalgona coffee is a sweet treat for coffee lovers of all ages. The coffee does not actually contain any dalgona (honeycomb toffee), but derives its name from the visual resemblance.
You also do not want your mom to drink coffee on an empty stomach, so you will serve the coffee with a poached egg and an orange and cinnamon salad.
Photo: Asmae Habchaoui for Morocco World News
I am sharing the recipe for the coffee and the accompanying breakfast because it ticks all boxes for “lazy cooks.” If this is your first time reading the series, the rules are: Only use a couple of ingredients, Look like you made more of an effort than you truly did, and do not be a stickler for details.
Ingredients:
-Dalgona Coffee
2 tablespoons of instant coffee
2 tablespoons of sugar
2 tablespoons of water
1 cup of milk
-Breakfast
1 orange
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
1 egg
2 tablespoons of vinegar
Dalgona Coffee
Heat the milk in a saucepan. Put the coffee, sugar, and hot water in a bowl, then whisk well until a thick caramel-colored foam forms. You might want to consider using an electric mixer since there will be plenty of whisking at this stage.
Pour the hot milk into a serving cup, and add the dalgona mixture on top. You can decorate with cocoa powder or coffee grains, and voila, it is as easy to make as any other coffee!
You can also serve it as iced coffee. In this case, all you need to do is replace the hot milk with a cold one and add ice cubes.
Pro tip: By now you know that my goal is not only to prepare something delicious, but to equally make the process effortless. In this case, however, replacing instant coffee with ground coffee will not work, the coffee must dilute in the water.
Photo: Asmae Habchaoui for Morocco World News
Poached egg
In a saucepan, boil the water and add salt, then add the vinegar. The vinegar is an important ingredient to keep the egg together.
Hold the saucepan at a 45-degree angle to combine the water on one side. Then crack the egg into the pan while maintaining the angle.
Once the egg white has cooked in the boiling water, remove the egg, without breaking it, onto a serving plate. Sprinkle a teaspoon of salt and black pepper.
Orange and cinnamon salad
Peel the orange without damaging the fruit, and use a sharp knife to cut it into circles. Place the orange on a plate and sprinkle the cinnamon on top of it. If your mom has a sweet tooth, sprinkle a bit of sugar as well and it’s best served cold.
Place everything on a tray and you will be ready to surprise your mom!
I am personally more of a tea person than a coffee person. In fact, my notion of good coffee is hot chocolate. Yes, I am aware it is not coffee, and that is exactly my point, but for self-proclaimed coffee addicts, this dalgona coffee is a sweet warm hug in a cup. It is the kind of coffee moms deserve on their special day.
Moroccan-British author Saeida Rouass’s book “Assembly of the Dead”is soon to turn into a film or mini-series. The book, originally published in 2017 by Impress Books, captured the attention of Hollywood producer Ronald L Carr shortly after its release.
“The time wasn’t right for me then because I had so many other projects going on,” said Carr to Morocco World News. “But it’s such a powerful story I couldn’t forget it. When the publisher told me at the start of this year that it was still available, I couldn’t believe my luck and jumped at the chance to work on it.”
“Assembly of the Dead” is set in Morocco in 1906, a time when the country was caught between growing European influences and domestic instability. Farook Al-Alami, a detective from Tangier, is sent to Marrakech to solve the disappearances of many young women. Farook enters Marrakech on the orders of the sultan to investigate crimes in a country without a police force. With the city under siege from famine and fear, he must rely on his own intuition and skill to uncover the mystery.
Saeida spent six months living in the heart of Marrakech as part of her research to help get a “feel” for the place. As it has not changed much in the last 120 years, she feels that experience added authenticity to her meticulously-studied novel about the murders of 36 women at the start of the 20th century.
“I am really excited at the prospect of ‘Assembly of the Dead’ becoming a film or mini-series. The story of the Moorish Jack the Ripper and the women he targeted has captured my imagination for a while, along with the story of Morocco at the turn of the 20th century. I hope this project brings that moment in history, set in the alleyways of Marrakesh, to a wider audience,” Saeida told MWN.
Saeida is currently working on the sequel to “Assembly of the Dead.” “Library of Untruths”will be the second book in what she plans to be a trilogy. Ronald L Carr already hopes to be able to bring that story to the screen as well. His next film – Turkish-French production “Scent of My Daughter” – is set to have its US premiere in Beverly Hills at Method Fest on August 16.
In an attempt to recreate the taste of home over the weekend of Eid al Fitr, I had to learn to cook roast sea bass with mixed peppers like a Moroccan.
It all started because of a craving. What do you miss most when you are away from home?
Usually, when I am in Morocco with my husband and son, I crave English tea and cheddar cheese. When my parents and friends visit, I make sure to always request a large box of Yorkshire tea bags and then try my hardest to eke out the bounty for as long as possible, using each tea bag for two mugs and slicing the cheese so thinly I nearly cut myself.
Since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown, I have been “at home” in the UK staying with my parents and all the cups of tea I can drink, while my Moroccanhusband waits out the pandemic at our house in Essaouira.
Honestly, the months are dragging on and it is becoming increasingly difficult to stay cheerful while my 14-month-old points at my wedding photos on the windowsill chanting “DADDA, DADDA, DADDA!”
Despite being in my “home” country and having unlimited supplies of both cheddar cheese and Yorkshire tea, I am beginning to miss home more and more. I must admit I was surprised by how sorry I was to be missing out on my mother-in-law’s Eid al Fitr treats, though I managed to hide my food-envy as my husband showed me the Eid breakfast over a WhatsApp call.
Then, to my surprise, I realized that I miss more than just my husband. I miss my home, Morocco, and I am craving the taste of breakfast batbout, my mother-in-law’s cornes de gazelles, and my husband’s roasted sea bass.
Mr. Handaji’s roasted fish with peppers and roe made in our Essaouira kitchen. Photo: Madeleine Handaji/Morocco World News
While I could not recreate the taste of fresh fish from Essaouira’s port, or the warm buzz of sharing a meal with my husband, I could cook roast sea bass with peppers like a Moroccan dad!
So, for Eid, my son and I shared a delicious meal with his “Dadda” over video call and enjoyed a little taste of home.
So, here is my husband’s recipe for fresh Moroccan-style sea bass with vegetables and a healthy dollop of love.
First you will need:
Three large gutted sea bass
Two courgettes
Two large potatoes
Two peppers (yellow, red, or a mix)
Two lemons
A healthy bunch of coriander
A handful of parsley
Plenty of garlic
Paprika
Ground ginger
Cumin
Two crushed cardamom pods
Turmeric
Black pepper
A pinch of saffron
Plenty of salt
Olive oil
Time to start cooking:
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
Slice up all of your vegetables into round discs. Cover the bottom of a roasting dish with a mosaic of courgettes and potatoes and then place the pepper rounds over the potato layer.
Drizzle some oil over your vegetables and sprinkle on some salt and black pepper.
Throw in the peeled garlic and make sure the cloves are spread across the tray.
Now mix all of the spices with the finely chopped herbs with a glug of olive oil. Rub your fish in the mixture and stuff each one with the remaining herbs and spices and a slice of lemon.
Drizzle any remaining oil/spice mixture over your veggies and then place the fish on top of your vegetable mosaic.
Place slices of lemon on top of the fish and roast in the oven for 45 minutes. You will be able to see when the fish is cooked through as the eyes will turn white.
Serve with fresh lemon and some freshly baked bread.
Roast the sea bass in the oven for 45 minutes. Photo: Madeleine Handaji/Morocco World News
Chaibia’s door was open and candles lit up the entrance, lining the way to the garden under the night sky. Dressed in white, strange men entered her room and offered her paintbrushes and a canvas, explaining that their offerings were the tools that would color her future.
Chaibia Talal was in her 30s when she awoke from the dream of strangers greeting her with art materials and inspiring her to paint. It was this dream that would change her life and lead her toward becoming an internationally renowned painter.
The artist, whose colorful and abstract works have been likened to those of Pablo Picasso and the CoBrA artists of Northern Europe, is considered one of the greatest Moroccan painters of the 20th century. Chaibia’s unique style depicting women through vibrant displays of color and flowing lines eventually established her as one of Morocco’s most well-known and respected artists.
As her dreamy entrance into the art world suggests, Chaibia’s career as an artist was extraordinary and materialized despite the countless odds stacked against her.
Chaibia’s life before she became an artist
Born in the small village of Choutka, near El Jadida, Morocco in 1929, Chaibia spent her early childhood living in a tent with her family. The local river, trees, and vast fields of daisies and poppies ignited Chaibia’s imagination, inspiring her to forgo her chores for afternoons spent playing in the sand and creating flower wreaths. Villagers nicknamed her “mahbula,” the holy fool, for her playful and imaginative nature, for which she was often reprimanded.
At the age of 13, Chaibia’s parents sent her to Casablanca and she forcibly married a 70-year-old man. Within one year, she gave birth to their child and by the age of 15, she was widowed after her husband died in an accident.
Chaibia Talal, Mon Village, Chtouka, 1990.
Chaibia spun wool and took work as a housekeeper in French households to support herself and her son, Hossein. She was determined that Hossein would receive an education and encouraged him to put down his crayons and focus on developing academic literacy.
Chaibia never went to school and remained illiterate throughout her life.
There were two significant events that led her to her career as an artist. The first was when Chaibia met with a holy person who predicted that she would be a grace upon her village and that she possessed a hidden talent. The second was her 1963 dream of the strangers offering her painting supplies.
She considered her dream symbolic and a couple of days later purchased paints and began experimenting, using her fingers to swirl colors onto pieces of paper and wood.
From couscous to exhibitions, Chaibia’s entrance in the art world was immediate and lasting
Despite Chaibia’s early efforts to discourage Hossein’s playful colorings, her son became an artist. In 1965 Hossein invited Moroccan painter Ahmed Cherkaoui and the director of the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, Pierre Gaudibert to his mother’s home for couscous. Following their meal, Chaibia spontaneously showed off her nascent paintings alongside her son’s.
Pierre Gaudibert was particularly interested in Chaibia’s art and went on to support her creations and encourage her growth as an artist.
By 1966, Chaibia’s works were exhibited at the Goethe-Institut in Casablanca, the Solstice Gallery in Paris, and the Museum of Modern Art in Paris. These early exhibitions were just the start of the countless displays of her work to come.
At the time, Morocco’s male-dominated field of artists rejected her work and considered it a contribution to the underdeveloped image of Morocco. Meanwhile, Western art critics admired the artist’s use of bright colors and imaginative portrayal of women.
Self-taught and known for breaking traditional boundaries, critics have categorized Chaibia’s as part of an art brut or raw art movement. This categorization typically refers to art made outside of the conventional dictates of the art world. Also known as “outsider art,” the style illustrates considerably unconventional ideas by those outside of mainstream art movements.
Chaibia Talal, La femme bleu, 1967Chaïbia Talal, Personnage, 1966.
Throughout her career Chaibia explained that her paintings often told the story of her love for nature, recounting the sea, the fields where she grew up, rivers, flowers, and the smell of hay and fresh rain.
Chaibia’s portraits seemed to be of integral concern to her artistic endeavors, reflecting her ways of perceiving people and expressing elements of culture through bold, figurative designs.
As the only Moroccan painter to be listed in the stock market, with art enthusiasts willing to invest upwards of MAD 1 million ($100,000) for her paintings, Chaibia’s unique style eventually positioned her as a leading artist of her time. She has since gained the long-overdue respect from her Moroccan counterparts and her work is widely exhibited and praised throughout the country.
In 2004 and at the age of 75, Chaibia died of a heart attack in Casablanca. Not only did she leave an abundance of joyful art, residing in both state and private collections worldwide, she also left a legacy of hope and perseverance.
Moroccan filmmaker Youssef Britel directed a documentary called “Chaibia, the Peasant of the Arts.” He produced the 2015 film to send a message of hope to all women, encouraging women to overcome obstacles and challenges stacked against them.
The Mohammed VI Museum of Contemporary Art in Rabat recently displayed Chaibia’s art alongside works of female artists Fatima Hassan El Farrouj and Radia Bent Lhoucine. The honorary exhibition was organized by the National Foundation of Museums and named the three artists pioneers of spontaneous artistic expression in Morocco.
Merci à l organisation exceptionnelle du festival international du cinéma vue d'Afrique
