African Folklore: An Encyclopedia - Marshalls University

African Americans 511
which still seeks its independence, but has been appropriated by Morocco. Morocco’s
western and northern borders are the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean, respectively;
Algeria is to the east.
More of North Africa’s original inhabitants, the Berbers, live here than anywhere else
on the continent, as they were pushed westward by the Arab invasions starting in the
seventh century. It was the Almoravid movement, coming out of Mauritania and
Morocco, that conquered North Africa and southern Spain by 1056 CE. The only country
in North Africa not controlled by the Ottoman Turks, Morocco was one of the earliest
independent nations, having fought off the Portuguese, as well, in 1578. Pushing their
control further south, the Moroccan army destroyed the great Songhay Empire in 1591.
The eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries saw the prominence of the infamous
Barbary Pirates. Although the French had general control over the area in the nineteenth
century, France and Spain formally divided the country in 1912, with Tangier becoming
an international zone. Nevertheless, Morocco’s military powers remained, and it defeated
the Spanish army in 1921. This arrangement stayed in place until the mid 1950s, when
the country became an independent kingdom under Mohammed V. Throughout the late
twentieth century, Morocco grew increasingly democratic, setting up a constitutional
monarchy.
There remain two areas of contention. Spain still controls the cities of Ceuta and
Melilla on the Mediterranean, and Morocco continues to fight the Polisaro, the freedom
fighters of western Sahara. While Morocco occupies most of this territory (despite a
United Nations referendum in 1990), there has not been a final resolution.
Reflecting their early dominance, Berber is still the first language for 30 percent of the
country, while 75 percent speak Arabic, and, as elsewhere, French is the language of
commerce and government. Spanish is still spoken in parts of the country, and
increasingly, English is used. Berbers continue to press for more recognition, especially
in the schools; since 1994, Berber has been a permitted language in the schools.
While Fez and Marrakesh are still recognized as traditional capitals, Rabat is the
international capital, with Casablanca as the financial center. Although Morocco has no
oil deposits, it exports a wide range of minerals (phosphate, lead, zinc, and silver, among
others). The nation has some of the richest farm land in Africa, as well as good fishing.
Moroccan wines are sold worldwide. It has also become highly industrialized with busy
air and sea ports. A thriving tourist industry welcomes many visitors who come for the
beautiful old cities, ceramics, woodwork, and rugs.
Although a constitutional monarchy and firmly Muslim (98 percent of the population),
Morocco has developed as a relatively “liberal” society, with sizeable, and very old,
Jewish and Christian communities. Morocco continues to play an important mediating
role between Europe and the United States, and the Arab world of North Africa and
southwestern Asia.
PHILIP M.PEEK