Art Moves Africa – Retracing Roots and Tracing New Routes: Mobility and Touring in North Africa
A study by Lara Bourdin for Art Moves Africa, October 2019
A study by Lara Bourdin for Art Moves Africa, October 2019
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80<br />
Country-Specific Information<br />
—<br />
MOBILITY TO/FROM MOROCCO<br />
—<br />
Morocco’s mobility channels are determ<strong>in</strong>ed<br />
ma<strong>in</strong>ly by its geographic position<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> diplomatic<br />
ties. At the <strong>North</strong>-West corner of <strong>Africa</strong>,<br />
Morocco is at the juncture of <strong>North</strong> <strong>Africa</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
West <strong>Africa</strong>, <strong>and</strong> at the doors of Europe.<br />
Until recently, it was Europe that drew<br />
Moroccan artists most eagerly, especially neighbour<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Spa<strong>in</strong>, for its geographical proximity<br />
<strong>and</strong> historical ties, <strong>and</strong> France, which reta<strong>in</strong>s an<br />
important place <strong>in</strong> Moroccan society. However,<br />
the drastic restrictions placed on visas for Moroccan<br />
citizens have reconfigured young Moroccans’<br />
travel perspectives. In t<strong>and</strong>em with the<br />
clos<strong>in</strong>g of Europe, the Arab Spr<strong>in</strong>g has brought<br />
a refreshed sense of solidarity <strong>and</strong> curiosity toward<br />
other countries <strong>in</strong> the Maghreb <strong>and</strong> Arab<br />
world. Respondents reported that the desire to<br />
travel East <strong>and</strong> South is gett<strong>in</strong>g as strong, if not<br />
stronger, than the typical desire to travel <strong>North</strong>.<br />
In <strong>North</strong> <strong>Africa</strong>, exchange with Tunisia<br />
is most active, facilitated by visa-free travel<br />
between the two countries <strong>and</strong> the wealth of<br />
cultural activity <strong>in</strong> both. Ties with Algeria are<br />
more complex due to the closed border <strong>and</strong><br />
high cost of air travel. Several respondents expressed<br />
frustration <strong>in</strong> this regard. Morocco has<br />
close ties to West <strong>Africa</strong>, especially Senegal but<br />
also Mauritania, Côte d’Ivoire, Burk<strong>in</strong>a Faso <strong>and</strong><br />
Niger. These connections have been explored<br />
by practitioners <strong>in</strong> all fields, most prom<strong>in</strong>ently<br />
<strong>in</strong> music, where Gnawa music has <strong>in</strong>spired a<br />
wealth of musical exchanges <strong>and</strong> festivals across<br />
borders. Essaouira’s Gnawa Music Festival is<br />
one of the major events on the music calendar.<br />
One of the most significant developments<br />
<strong>in</strong> mobility to / from Morocco is the extensive development<br />
of Royal Air Maroc’s network <strong>in</strong> recent<br />
years, with a hub <strong>in</strong> Casablanca. The company<br />
is now second only to Ethiopian Airl<strong>in</strong>es <strong>in</strong> terms<br />
of coverage on the cont<strong>in</strong>ent <strong>and</strong> is pois<strong>in</strong>g itself<br />
for greater growth, <strong>in</strong> l<strong>in</strong>e with Morocco’s policy<br />
of economic overtures to <strong>Africa</strong>.<br />
—<br />
M<br />
O<br />
R<br />
O<br />
C<br />
C<br />
O<br />
—<br />
—<br />
QUOTE:<br />
« It’s time to turn our eyes from<br />
Europe to <strong>Africa</strong>. We learn from Europe,<br />
but we learn more from <strong>Africa</strong>.<br />
There’s an attitude that seems to<br />
say “We know but they don’t.” We<br />
have to see <strong>and</strong> value ourselves<br />
as <strong>Africa</strong>ns. »<br />
Hosni Almoukhlis<br />
Theatre practitioner, founder<br />
<strong>and</strong> artistic director, Théâtre de<br />
l’Opprimé,<br />
Casablanca*<br />
—<br />
—<br />
QUOTE:<br />
« We wondered what had<br />
happened to the question of the<br />
Greater Maghreb, which seemed<br />
to have somewhat disappeared,<br />
which was raised <strong>in</strong> the 1990s<br />
but stayed more or less on paper<br />
without be<strong>in</strong>g reactivated. We<br />
wondered how culture could<br />
compensate for the lacks that are<br />
part of today’s reality. »<br />
Laila Hida<br />
Photographer, co-founder,<br />
Le18 derb el ferrane,<br />
Marrakech*<br />
—