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Theculture of Morocco is a blend ofArab,Berber,Andalusi cultures, withMediterranean,Hebraic andAfrican influences.[1][2][3][4] It represents and is shaped by a convergence of influences throughout history. This sphere may include, among others, the fields of personal or collective behaviors, language, customs, knowledge, beliefs, arts, legislation, gastronomy, music, poetry, architecture, etc. WhileMorocco started to be stably predominantlySunni Muslim starting from 9th–10th century AD, during theAlmoravid period, a very significant Andalusi culture was imported, contributing to the shaping of Moroccan culture.[5] Another major influx of Andalusi culture was brought by Andalusis with them following their expulsion from Al-Andalus toNorth Africa after theReconquista.[3] In antiquity, starting from the second century A.D and up to the seventh, a ruralDonatistChristianity was present, along an urban still-in-the-makingRoman Catholicism.[6][7] All of the cultural super strata tend to rely on a multi-millennial aboriginal Berber substratum still present and dating back to prehistoric times.
The linguistic landscape of Morocco is complex. It generally tends to be horizontally diverse and vertically stratified. It is though possible to broadly classify it into two main components: Arab and Berber. It is hardly possible to speculate about the origin of Berber languages as it is traced back to low antiquity and prehistoric times.[8] TheSemitic influence, on the contrary, can be fairly documented by archaeological evidence.[9] It came in two waves:Canaanite, in itsPunic, Carthaginian andHebrew historic varieties, from the ninth century B.C and up to high antiquity, andArabic, during the low Middle Ages, starting from the seventh century A.D. The two Semitic languages being close, both in syntax and vocabulary it is hard to tell them apart as to who influenced more the structure of the modernMoroccan Arabic dialect.[10] The Arab conquerors having certainly encountered large romanized urbanPunic population as they advanced.[11] In any case, the linguistic and cultural identity of Morocco, just as its geography would predict, is the result of the encounter of three main circles: Arab, Berber, and Western Mediterranean European.
The two officiallanguages of Morocco areModern Standard Arabic andStandard Moroccan Berber. According to the 2024 general census, 92.7% of Moroccans speakMoroccan Arabic, while 24.8% speak aBerber language, in itsTarifit (3.2%),Central Atlas Tamazight (7.4%), orTashelhit (14.2%) varieties.[12] The census also indicated that 80.6% of Moroccans consider Arabic to be their native language, while 18.9% regard any of the various Berber languages as their mother tongue.[12][13]
Modern Standard Arabic andStandard Moroccan Berber are the official languages of Morocco,[14] whileMoroccan Arabic is the nationalvernacular dialect;[15] Berber languages are spoken in some mountain areas, such asTarifit, spoken by 3.2%,Central Atlas Tamazight, spoken by 7.4%, andTashelhit, spoken by 14.2%.[12][13] According to the 2024 census, 99.2%, or almost the entire literate population of Morocco, could read and write in Arabic, whereas only 1.5% of the population could read and write in Berber.[12] Varieties ofJudeo-Arabic have also traditionally been spoken in Morocco.[16] Foreign languages, particularly French, English, and Spanish, are also spoken in urban centers such asTangier orCasablanca. With all of these languages,code-switching is an omnipresent phenomenon in Moroccan speech and media.[17]
Classical Arabic, a formal rather thannatural language, is used primarily in formal, academic, and religious settings.[18]Moroccan Arabic, in its various regional and contextual forms, is used more often in casual situations, at home, and on the street.[19]Hassaniya is anotherdialect of Arabic spoken in the south of Morocco.[20]
There are three main varieties of Berber languages spoken in Morocco.Tashelhit (also known locally asSoussia) is spoken in southwest Morocco, including the High Atlas and the Sous valley.Central Atlas Tamazight is spoken in theMiddle Atlas and southeast Morocco; for example, aroundKhenifra andMidelt.Tarifit is spoken in theRif area of northern Morocco in towns likeNador,Al Hoceima, andAjdir.[21][22]
Moroccan literature is the literature produced by people who lived in or were culturally connected toMorocco and the historical states that have existed partially or entirely within the geographical area that is now Morocco. Most of what is known as Moroccan literature was created since thearrival of Islam in the 8th century.[23] Moroccan literature was historically and mainly written inArabic.[24]
Moroccan music is characterized by its great diversity from one region to another. It includesArabic music genres, such aschaâbi andaita in the Atlantic plains (Doukkala-Abda,Chaouia-Ouardigha,Rehamna),melhoun in the cities associated withal-Andalus (Meknes,Fes,Salé,Tetouan,Oujda...), andHassani in theMoroccan Sahara. There is alsoBerber music such as theRifreggada, theahidus of theMiddle Atlas and theSoussahwash. In the South there is alsodeqqa Marrakshia andgnawa. In addition, young people synthesize the Moroccan spirit with influences from around the world (blues, rock, metal, reggae, Moroccan rap, etc.).
Tarab al-āla [ar] (طرب الآلة lit. "joy of the instrument") is a celebrated musical style in Morocco, a result of a large migration of Muslims fromValencia to Moroccan cities and especiallyFes.[25] The Fessiāla style uses the Moroccan forms of theAndalusinubah melodical arrangements.[26] While this musical style is sometimes popularly referred to asAndalusi music, specialists prefer the nameāla (آلة "instrument") to differentiate it from the Sufi tradition ofsamā', which is purely vocal, and to deëmphasize its relationship with Europe.[27]Mohammed al-Haik's 18th century songbookKunnash al-Haik, is a seminal text of theāla tradition.[27] Traditional songs such as "Shams al-'Ashiya" are still played at celebrations and formal events.[28]Dar ul-Aala in Casablanca is a museum and conservatory dedicated to this musical heritage. Another style of music derived from the musical traditions ofal-Andalus isGharnati music.[29][30]
A genre known as Contemporary Andalusian Music and art is the brainchild of Morisco visual artist/composer/oudist Tarik Banzi, founder of theAl-Andalus Ensemble.
Chaabi ("popular") is a music consisting of numerous varieties which are descended from the multifarious forms of Moroccan folk music. Chaabi was originally performed in markets, but is now found at any celebration or meeting.
Popular Western forms of music are becoming increasingly popular in Morocco, such as fusion, rock, country, metal and, in particular, hip hop.
Morocco participated in the1980 Eurovision Song Contest, where it finished in the penultimate position.
Thedecorative arts have a long and important history in Morocco. One of the traditional elements of artistic expression in Morocco isMaghrebi-Andalusian art and architecture.[31] Carved plasterArabesques,zellige tilework, carved wood, and other expressions ofIslamic geometric patterns are typical features of this style.[32]Maghrebi Arabic script is an important feature of the history of visual art in Morocco.[33] While some aspects of Maghrebi script are codified and prescribed, there have also been innovations, such as those by the 19th century calligrapherMuhammad al-Qandusi.[34]Muhammad Ben Ali Rabati was one of the first Moroccans to paint in a European style.[35]
Hamid Irbouh identifies three groups within Moroccan modernism: the Populists, the Nativists, and the Bipictorialists. Among the Populists—usually self-trained artists who received support from French and American patrons and depicted everyday vernacular life—were artists such asAhmed Louardighi,Hassan El Glaoui,Ahmed Drissi, andFatima Hassan El Farouj.[36] The Nativists—active in the 1960s and led byFarid Belkahia and other members of theCasablanca School, such asMohamed Melehi andMohamed Chabâa—sought to break entirely with the West in general and with France in particular.[36][37] The Bipictorialists, includingAhmed Cherkaoui andJilali Gharbaoui, entered in dialog with Moroccan, French, and Western influences, working toward a reconciliation of the various dimensions of postcolonial Moroccan identity.[36]
Contemporary art in Morocco is still developing. with considerable potential for growth. Since the 1990s–2000s Moroccan cities have welcomed institutions that contribute to the diffusion of contemporary art and the visual arts: L'appartement 22 and Radio Apartment 22 in Rabat,[38][39] theCinémathèque de Tanger in Tangier,La Source du Lion in Casablanca, Dar Al-Ma'mûn residency and center, the Marrakech Art Fair, and theMarrakech Biennale, all in Marrakech.
Local art galleries such as Galerie Villa Delaporte, Atelier 21, Galerie Matisse and Galerie FJ are also platforms showing contemporary artwork and contributing to its development.[40]
The global art market also influences the development and visibility of contemporary art in Morocco; international exhibitions such as "Africa Remix" (2004) and "Uneven Geographies" (2010) featured contemporary artists from North Africa, including Moroccan ones. Regional events such as theDakar Biennale (or Dak'Art – Biennale de l'Art Africain Contemporain), a majorcontemporary African art exhibition, gives greater visibility to artists from the African continent.
Artists born in Morocco or with Moroccan origins includeMounir Fatmi, Latifa Echackhch, Mohamed El Baz, Bouchra Khalili,Majida Khattari, Mehdi-Georges Lahlou, and Younes Baba-Ali.[42]
Moroccan artists have devised several initiatives to help develop a contemporary art market in the country. For example, Hassan Darsi created La Source du Lion in 1995, an art studio that welcomes artists-in-residence, and Bouchra Khalili andYto Barrada founded the Cinémathèque de Tanger in 2003, which is dedicated to promoting Moroccan cinematographic culture.[43] A group of seven Moroccan artists, among themAmina Benbouchta, Hassan Echair, Jamila Lamrani,Safâa Erruas and Younès Rahmoun, formed "Collectif 212" to exhibit their work at Le Cube, an independent art room. Their first major show was in 2006 at the exhibitionUn Siècle de peinture au Maroc [A century of painting in Morocco] when the new premises of the French Institute of Rabat (L'Institut Français de Rabat) were officially opened.[44] They committed to creating artistic experiences in the context of Moroccan culture, as well as collaborating with other artists such as Hicham Benohoud.
The young local artists Batoul Shim and Karim Rafi participated in the "Working for Change" project, which aims to create art expressive of Moroccan culture, during the 2011Venice Biennale.[45]
There is a burgeoning market for modern & contemporary art. The art movement began over 50 years ago at the center of Marrakech, in the bustling market place ofJemaa el-Fna, when a group of abstract artists[46] got together and exhibited their work. The exhibit lasted for 10 days and is considered the beginning of a movement in modern and contemporary art. It has been gaining recognition throughout the African continent and globally ever since.
Marrakech has emerged as the "art capital" of Morocco. It houses numerous art museums including the Farid Belkahia Museum, named after one of the leadingJemaa el-Fna artists who died in 2014. Marrakech is home to theYves Saint Laurent Museum and hosts the annualMarrakech International Film Festival.
Tangier is another center for art, producing renowned artists likeAhmed Yacoubi andAbdellatif Zine and Mohamed Hamri whose works are displayed around the world.
Tattooing was once a popular tradition in theMaghreb, particularly among ruralBerber populations.[47]
Joseph Bouhsira, active in Fes, was one of the firstMoroccan photographers.[48]
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Moroccan cuisine is generally a mix ofArab,Andalusi,[49]Berber andMediterranean cuisines with slight European and sub-Saharan influences.Berbers had food staples such asfigs,olives anddates and prepared lamb and poultry dishes frequently. This has heavily influenced Moroccan cuisine as all of these are used in abundance. Morocco is known for dishes such ascouscous,tajine, andpastilla. Moroccan cuisine uses many herbs, includingcilantro,parsley, andmint; spices such ascinnamon,turmeric,ginger,cumin, andsaffron; and produce such as tomatoes, onions, garlic, zucchini, bell peppers, andeggplant. One of the defining features of Moroccan cuisine is the interplay between sweet and savory flavors, as exemplified bytfaya, a mix of caramelized onions, butter, cinnamon, sugar, and raisins often served with meat.[50]
Historically, couscous has been the staple of the Moroccan diet. On special occasions, more complex meals like the traditional Moroccanpastilla and some special pastries such asgazelle ankles andbriwates are served for guests.[51] Mint tea, calledatay in Morocco, is commonly regarded as the national beverages. Coffee is also universally enjoyed from espresso to cappuccinos.
Morocco' official religion isIslam. The rhythm of life for Moroccans is dictated by religious celebrations throughout the year, such asRamadan andEid Al Adha. During these celebrations, most of them being public holidays, Moroccans focus on praying and spending time with their family. Moroccans also celebrateal-Mawlid al-Nabawi, the birthday ofMuhammad, and theIslamic New Year.
Other religious celebrations include theFriday weekly prayer where most Moroccans go to the mosque for the Friday mid-day prayer.[52]
Morocco has long had a significant Jewish population, distinguished by traditions particular toMoroccan Jews. For example,Mimouna is a characteristicallyMaghrebi holiday celebrated the day afterPassover.[53]Mahia is traditionally associated with MoroccanPurim celebrations.[54]
Yennayer, the Amazigh new year, has been celebrated from January 12 to January 13, the beginning of theJulian calendar, since antiquity.[55]
Other celebrations include Ashura, the tenth day of the Islamic year, andBujlood, a folk carnival celebrated afterEid al-Adha.
Taburida, ormawsam orfantasia, is a traditional exhibition of horsemanship in theMaghreb performed during cultural festivals and for Maghrebi wedding celebrations.[56] There are also several annual festivals that take place in Morocco, such as theBetrothal Festival inImilshil, the rose festival inQalaat Megouna, or the saffron festival inTaliween.
Carpet weaving is a traditional craft in Morocco. Styles vary dramatically from region to region and from tribe to tribe. Among the more popular varieties there are:
Some Atlas tribes, such as the Beni Ouarain, also weavehendiras, which are ornate woven cloaks for use in the winter. When it is snowing, they can be overturned and the loose loops of wool help snow fall off to keep the cloak dry.[58]
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The traditional dress for men and women[59] is calleddjellaba (جلابة); a long, loose, hooded garment with full sleeves. The djellaba has a hood that comes to a point called aqob. Theqob protects the wearer from the sun or in colder climates, like the mountains, theqob keeps in body heat and protects the face from falling snow. For special occasions, men also wear a red cap called abernousse, more commonly referred to as aFez. Women wearkaftans (قفطان) decorated with ornaments. Nearly all men, and most women, wearbalgha (بلغة) —- soft leather slippers with no heel, often dyed yellow. Women also wear high-heeledsandals, often with silver or goldtinsel.
The distinction between adjellaba and akaftan is the hood on thedjellaba, which akaftan lacks. Most women'sdjellabas are brightly colored and have ornate patterns, stitching, or beading, while men'sdjellabas are usually plainer and colored neutrally.
Among other cultural and artistic traditions,jewellery of the Berber cultures worn byBerber women and made of silver, beads and other applications was a common trait of Berber identities in large areas of the Maghreb up to the second half of the 20th century.[60]
In the first half of the 20th century, Casablanca had many movie theaters, such asCinema Rialto,Cinema Lynx andCinema Vox—the largest in Africa at the time it was built.[61][62][63]
The 1942 American filmCasablanca is supposedly set in Casablanca and has had a lasting impact on the city's image, though it was filmed entirely in California and doesn't feature a single Moroccan character with a speaking role.[64]Salut Casa! was a propaganda film brandishing France's purported colonial triumph in itscivilizing mission in the city.[65]
Mostafa Derkaoui's 1973 filmAbout Some Meaningless Events (Arabic:أحداث بلا دلالة) was screened twice in Morocco before it was banned under Hassan II.[66]
Love in Casablanca (1991), starringAbdelkarim Derqaoui andMuna Fettou, was one of the first Moroccan films to deal with Morocco's complex realities and depict life in Casablanca with verisimilitude.Bouchra Ijork's 2007 made-for-TV filmBitter Orange achieved wide support among Moroccan viewers.[67]Nour-Eddine Lakhmari'sCasanegra (2008) depicts the harsh realities of Casablanca's working classes.[68][69] The filmsAli Zaoua (2000),Horses of God (2012),Much Loved (2015), andGhazzia (2017) ofNabil Ayouch—a French director of Moroccan heritage—deal with street crime, terrorism, and social issues in Casablanca, respectively.[70] The events inMeryem Benm'Barek-Aloïsi's 2018 filmSofia revolve around an illegitimate pregnancy in Casablanca.[71]Hicham Lasri andSaid Naciri also from Casablanca.
Atlas Studios inWarzazat is a large movie studio.[72]
Some directors have set films in Morocco. In 1952Orson Welles choseEssaouira as the setting for several scenes in his adaptation of Shakespeare's "Othello", which had won the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film at that year'sCannes Film Festival. In 1955,Alfred Hitchcock directedThe Man Who Knew Too Much and in 1962,David Lean shot theTafas Massacre scene ofLawrence of Arabia in the city of "Ouarzazate", which housesAtlas Studios.Aït Benhaddou has been the setting of many films. The filmHideous Kinky was filmed in Marrakech.
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Aqsar (Arabic:قصر), (p.qsur) is a North African fortified village.[73] There are over 300qsur andqasbas theDraa Valley, particularly in the area betweenAgdz andZagora.[73]
Anagadir, not to be confused with the cityAgadir, is a communalgranary traditionally found inShilha communities in southern Morocco.[74][75]
Andalusi gardens, inherited fromMorisco refugees who settled in Morocco, are a prominent feature ofMoroccan architecture.[76] These have been used in building palaces such as theBahia Palace in Marrakesh. The Andalusi garden, which usually features a burbling fountain, has an important role in coolingriads: the evaporation of water is anendothermic chemical reaction, which absorbs heat from the area garden and surrounding rooms.
Morocco has many beautiful gardens, including theMajorelle Garden inMarrakech and theAndalusian Garden in theKasbah of the Udayas inRabat.
Dar (Arabic:دار), the name given to one of the most common types of domestic structures in Morocco, is a home found in amedina, or walled urban area of a city. Most Moroccan homes traditionally adhere to theDar al-Islam, a series of tenets on Islamic domestic life.[77]Dar exteriors are typically devoid of ornamentation and windows, except occasional small openings in secondary quarters, such as stairways and service areas. These piercings provide light and ventilation.[78]Dars are typically composed of thick, high walls that protect inhabitants from thievery, animals, and other such hazards; however, they have a much more symbolic value from an Arabic perspective. In this culture the exterior represents a place of work, while the interior represents a place of refuge.[79] Thus, Moroccan interiors are often very lavish in decoration and craft.
Consistent with mostIslamic architecture,dars are based around small open-air patios, surrounded by very tall thick walls, to block direct light and minimize heat.[78] Intermediary triple-arched porticos lead to usually two to four symmetrically located rooms. These rooms have to be long and narrow, creating very vertical spaces, because the regional resources and construction technology typically only allow for joists that are usually less than thirteen feet.[78]
Upon entering adar, guests move through a zigzagging passageway that hides the central courtyard. The passageway opens to a staircase leading to an upstairs reception area called adormiria, which often is the most lavish room in the home adorned with decorative tilework, painted furniture, and piles of embroidered pillows andMoroccan rugs. More affluent families also have greenhouses and a seconddormiria, accessible from a street-level staircase. Service quarters and stairways were always at the corners of the structures.[78]
Ziliij (Arabic:الزليج), colorful geometric mosaic tile work, is adecorative art and architectural element commonly found in Moroccan mosques, mausolea, homes, and palaces. These probably evolved fromGreco-Roman mosaics, which have been found in cities such asVolubilis andLixus.[80]
In the mid to late 20th century, architects such asElie Azagury,Jean-François Zevaco,Abdeslam Faraoui,Patrice de Mazières, andMourad Ben Embarek marked thearchitecture of Casablanca and other parts of Morocco with significant works ofmodernist andbrutalist architecture.[81]
كما أن سيطرة المرابطين على الاندلس قد كانت سببا في ظهور حضارة مغربية أندلسية حيث اختلطت المؤثرات الاندلسية بالمؤثرات المغربية وساعد ذلك على تقدم الفن والثقافة والحضارة والعلوم في المغرب .
تظل العربية اللغة الرسمية للدولة. وتعمل الدولة على حمايتهاوتطويرها، وتنمية استعمالها. تعد الأمازيغية أيضا لغة رسمية للدولة، باعتبارها رصيدا مشتركا لجميع المغاربة بدون استثناء.
