Art Moves Africa – Retracing Roots and Tracing New Routes: Mobility and Touring in North Africa

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Country-Specific Information
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GENERAL INFORMATION
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Located on the northwestern edge of Africa,
Morocco has been inhabited by Amazigh tribes
for as long as there are written records. After Arabization,
it was the only northwest African country
to avoid Ottoman occupation. The Alaouite
dynasty, which rules to this day, seized power in
1631. In 1912, Morocco was divided into French
and Spanish protectorates, with the French taking
the majority of the territory and instituting a
system of acculturation, namely via the schooling
system and administration. Morocco regained
its independence in 1956.
Morocco is a constitutional monarchy
with an elected parliament. The King of Morocco
holds vast executive and legislative powers.
While Morocco has been relatively stable since
independence, its recent history has been marked
by economic and social crises, which erupted
in the 2011 movements. Joining in the chorus
of revolution to the East, Moroccans called
for greater social justice, freedom and dignity.
King Mohamed VI responded by shifting some
authority to the legislature and passing a new
Constitution. However, these moves have been
criticized as cosmetic more than structural: the
King maintains dominance through a combination
of formal powers and informal lines of influence
in state and society, and most ministries are run
by technocrats loyal to the monarchy.
In the last 5 – 6 years, Morocco has invested
considerably in economic and commercial
ties with African countries across the continent.
It reintegrated the African Union in 2017 and has
asked for membership in the Economic Community
of West African States. It has invested
considerably in flight connections with Africa
via the main carrier, Royal Air Maroc. In 2015,
42% of trade was with Sub-Saharan African
countries, most in West Africa. Morocco had 13
intra-African investments, mostly in banking and
telecommunications. Attijariwafa Bank Group
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operates in 10 Sub-Saharan African countries;
Banque Marocaine du Commerce Exterieur has
18 country operations. Last year, the King went
on official state visit to East Africa, with his usual
entourage of businessmen, signalling a desire
to expand his reach beyond areas of culturallinguistic
connection.
It should finally be noted that Morocco
has taken on a leadership role on migration. It
is a member of the International Organization
for Migration, was co-president of the Global
Forum of Migration in 2018 and may be the seat
of an African Migration Observatory for the EU.
Morocco is making efforts to regularize immigrants
arriving in the country, thereby complying
with European wishes to curb travel on the
Mediterranean. While endearing Morocco to the
EU, this approach also serves diplomatic objectives
with African countries and contributes to
existing efforts to portray Morocco as a tolerant
society (Malka, 2018).
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QUOTE:
« To this day, there hasn’t been
any dialogue between the Ministry
of Culture and cultural actors.
And when I look at the results of the
Ministry’s calls for applications,
the beneficiaries do not reflect
the dynamism of the cultural
scene. »
Bouchra Salih
Independent cultural operator and
designer,
Rabat*
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