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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MOBILITY TO/FROM MOROCCO
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Morocco’s mobility channels are determined
mainly by its geographic positioning and diplomatic
ties. At the North-West corner of Africa,
Morocco is at the juncture of North Africa and
West Africa, and at the doors of Europe.
Until recently, it was Europe that drew
Moroccan artists most eagerly, especially neighbouring
Spain, for its geographical proximity
and historical ties, and France, which retains an
important place in Moroccan society. However,
the drastic restrictions placed on visas for Moroccan
citizens have reconfigured young Moroccans’
travel perspectives. In tandem with the
closing of Europe, the Arab Spring has brought
a refreshed sense of solidarity and curiosity toward
other countries in the Maghreb and Arab
world. Respondents reported that the desire to
travel East and South is getting as strong, if not
stronger, than the typical desire to travel North.
In North Africa, exchange with Tunisia
is most active, facilitated by visa-free travel
between the two countries and the wealth of
cultural activity in both. Ties with Algeria are
more complex due to the closed border and
high cost of air travel. Several respondents expressed
frustration in this regard. Morocco has
close ties to West Africa, especially Senegal but
also Mauritania, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and
Niger. These connections have been explored
by practitioners in all fields, most prominently
in music, where Gnawa music has inspired a
wealth of musical exchanges and festivals across
borders. Essaouira’s Gnawa Music Festival is
one of the major events on the music calendar.
One of the most significant developments
in mobility to / from Morocco is the extensive development
of Royal Air Maroc’s network in recent
years, with a hub in Casablanca. The company
is now second only to Ethiopian Airlines in terms
of coverage on the continent and is poising itself
for greater growth, in line with Morocco’s policy
of economic overtures to Africa.
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QUOTE:
« It’s time to turn our eyes from
Europe to Africa. We learn from Europe,
but we learn more from Africa.
There’s an attitude that seems to
say “We know but they don’t.” We
have to see and value ourselves
as Africans. »
Hosni Almoukhlis
Theatre practitioner, founder
and artistic director, Théâtre de
l’Opprimé,
Casablanca*
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QUOTE:
« We wondered what had
happened to the question of the
Greater Maghreb, which seemed
to have somewhat disappeared,
which was raised in the 1990s
but stayed more or less on paper
without being reactivated. We
wondered how culture could
compensate for the lacks that are
part of today’s reality. »
Laila Hida
Photographer, co-founder,
Le18 derb el ferrane,
Marrakech*
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