Oujda (Arabic:وجدة,romanized: wajda,pronounced[ˈwa(d)ʒda]) is a major city in northeastMorocco near theborder withAlgeria. Oujda is the capital city of theOriental region of northeastern Morocco and has a population of 506,224 people (2024 census).[1] It is located about 15 kilometres (9 miles) west of theMoroccan-Algerian border in the south of theBeni Iznassen Mountains and about 55 km (34 miles) south of theMediterranean coast.
There is some evidence of a settlement during the Roman occupation, which seems to have been under the control ofBerbers rather than Romans.[3]
The city was founded in 994 byZiri ibn Atiyya, Berber chief of theZenataMaghrawa tribe. Ziri was, with his tribe, authorized to occupy the region of Fas, but feeling insecure in that region and that town, and wishing to be nearer to the central Maghrib homeland of his tribe, he moved to Oujda, installed there a garrison and his possessions, appointing one of his relatives as governor.[4]
In the mid-11th century, a new quarter with a wall was allegedly added to the primitive core.Yusuf ibn Tashfin occupied the city in 1079, and in the next century, it came underAlmohad control, with its fortifications repaired and strengthened under the Almohad caliphMuhammad al-Nasir.[4]
Oujda played an important strategic role between theMarinids, based inFes, and theAbdalwadids of theKingdom of Tlemcen.[4] The Marinid sultanAbu Yusuf Yaqub destroyed the city when he defeated SultanYaghmorasan in 1271. When his successorAbu Yaqub Yusuf conquered the city again in 1296, he destroyed the remaining fortifications but then rebuilt the town with the new walls, a palace, and aGreat Mosque (the current one). The town continued to change hands, however. Around 1325, SultanAbu al-Hasan took the city again during a series of campaigns which extended Marinid control into the central Maghreb for a brief period.[4]
Because of its frontier position, the city was frequently contested between theSharifian dynasties of Morocco – theSaadis, followed by theAlaouites – to the west and theOttoman Empire to the east, from the 16th century onward.[4] It was often attached to the province or region of Tlemcen, which itself also changed hands several times in this period. During the long reign ofMoulay Isma'il (1672–1727), Oujda was firmly under Alaouite control and defended by new fortifications and garrisons built by the sultan. After Isma'il's death, however, political instability returned. It was only in 1795 that the city was retaken by the Alaouite empire and permanently incorporated into Morocco.[4]
The French occupied it in 1844 and again in 1859. To the west of the city is the site of theBattle of Isly which occurred in 1844. In 1907-1908, Oujda was reconquered by General Bugeaud and MarshalLyautey and used as a French military base to control eastern Morocco. The modern city owes much of its present form to the French, who developed along the roads built at that time.[citation needed]
The Moroccan border with Algeria is just east of Oujda; on the other side of the border is the Algerian town ofMaghnia. The border has been closed since 1994.[7]
In 2010, Rod Solaimani chronicled his trip to Oujda forMTV.
The city is located 60 km (37 mi) south of the Mediterranean sea and 15 km (9 mi) west of Algeria, with an estimated altitude of 450 metres (1,476 feet).
The city has acold semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classificationBSk). Rainfall is between 300 mm (11.8 in) and 500 mm (19.7 in) per year. It rarely snows in winter; last snowfall was on 5 February 2012. Weather in Oujda is cool but still tepid and wet in winter, hot and dry in summer.
Climate data for Oujda (Oujda Airport) 1991–2020, extremes 1910–present
The main characteristic of the city is having the old city in the centre. The old city maintains traditional features of the Moroccan architecture with its narrow, winding alleys which lead to the houses and markets such as the jewelry market and the leather market. TheGrand Mosque of Oujda is one of its historically most important mosques.
Bled el Gaada is aRoman era ruins just outside ofOuijda.[citation needed] The ruins consist of a Roman fort measuring 175 by 210 metres (574 by 689 ft).[13]
Gharnati refers to a variety ofAndalusi music,[14] named after the city ofGranada. Its traditional center in North Africa isTlemcen in western Algeria, but in the 20th century it also spread to Morocco, with Oujda being one of its main Moroccan centers.[15] Each year, the city hosts an International Festival of Gharnati Music.[16]
Reggada Music is a major traditional music movement. Its a Moroccan Amazigh ancient musical genre and traditional war dance from the Beni Znassen/Aït Iznasen tribes of north-east Morocco (Provinces of Oujda, Berkane and Taourirt), more precisely coming from the village called Ain-Reggada. This dance used to celebrate and emulate victory of a battle. This music has now become part of the global music sphere.[17]
Tourists aiming at Saïdia, bordering the Mediterranean, transit to Oujda's airport. The city is served byAngads Airport, which has connecting international flights to Lisbon, Brussels, Madrid, Marseille or Paris for example, as well as domestic flights to Casablanca.
The city is the endpoint of the main railroad fromCasablanca viaFes and Taourirt before the border withAlgeria. There are several day and night trains to and from the city, linking it to the western part of the country.
TheOriental Desert Express was originally built in the 1920s and 1930s as part of theMediterranean–Niger Railway. One of its cars, the historical "prince's wagon" passenger car runs now twice annually. Outside camera shots of the Oriental Desert Express were featured in the 2015 James Bond filmSpectre.[19]
Oujda has a strategic importance because of its location on the border. There are many economic and natural resources, however, the city struggles historically with an unemployment rate higher than the national average, standing on average at 20% compared to the 10.3% national average.[20][21]
Oujda relies heavily on trading given its location near the borders of Algeria. The economy of the city is directly related to the border's condition as it represents a passage for businesses directed towardsFes in the west, Talmasan in the east,Figuig in the south andMelilla in the north.[22]
On 18 March 2003, KingMohammed VI indicated the importance of reviving the economy of the Eastern regions of Morocco. As a result of this effort,Technopole Oujda was established and the region witnessed road improvement, airport expansion and other projects.[23][24]
The sports infrastructure in Oujda is composed of a municipal stadium, an Olympic venue, theHonneur Stadium of Oujda, built in 1976, the sports complex 'Rock' including arugby stadium, a complextennis in the park Lala Aicha, agolf course and two sports halls.
In 1957,MC Oujda (MCO) became the first football club to win the Throne Cup of Morocco, defeating theWydad of Casablanca, a feat the club repeated the following year. In 1959, in its third successive appearance in the final, the club lost againstFAR of Rabat. However, in MC Oujda's fourth successive final, the club defeatedFUS Rabat. In 1962 MCO won its last Throne cup against theKawkab Athletic Club of Marrakech.[25]
Trowbridge, UK, (2009)[27] Trowbridge has the largest Moroccan community in the UK outside London, and is the first UK town to be twinned with a place from a Muslim country. At the time, Trowbridge had approximately 80 resident families who had roots in Oujda.[28]
^"Klimatafel von Oujda / Marokko"(PDF).Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved14 October 2016.
^"Station Oujda" (in French). Météo Climat. Retrieved14 October 2016.
