By Mohammed Amine Qasserras

Morocco News Tribune

Kenitra, Morocco| Recent study made by the Foundation of Marrakech Festivals revealed in a meeting with the press the danger which threatens the extinction of folk arts in Morocco, which includes the history of musical traditions, folk dancing and a variety of Morocco songs along with their different dialects and traditions.

The meeting came as a preparation for the Fiftieth Session of the National Festival of Folk Arst which the city of Marrakech will host next summer, as well as to announce that this festival has joined the European Forum of Music Festivals of the world.

Ibrahim Alemzend, the festival’s technical staff and an expert at popular music, said in a statement to the press that ‘the Moroccan folk art is facing now the risk of extinction and the succession is no longer guaranteed and such art is for sure moving towards death. “

Alemzend continued talking about the aspects extinction, stressing on the absence of women that becomes clearly noticeable within the folk art groups and this, in his view, is due to the coming of conservative values from the city to the village, the origin of those arts, which was much open to those arts.

The expert added that musical instruments makers are in continuous extinction all over the country and only one maker of Rabab Banjo-like instrument was left even though such craft-ship is an ancient heritage since centuries.

He also pointed out that the vacuum caused by the extinction flute machine makers pushes musicians to have Turkish and Omani -made instruments.

The spokesman noted that only three makers were left for other machines, highlighting that the values of the culture of globalization has threatened this culture and the arts which are not supported and they are included within the immaterial heritage which resisted loss thanks to the values of respect, coexistence and modernity that such arts embrace, stressing at the same time that “we Moroccans and citizens of the world will lose everything if such culture disappeared.

In the same context, Alachak, the head of Marrakech Festivals Foundation, said in a statement to the press” The manifestation of the effects of globalization and urbanization brought some significant changes to Moroccan society and weakened to some extent folk arts progress.

Karim sees the necessity of educating citizens and decision-makers of the threats which face this heritage as well as working together to enhance the level of these arts that shape Morocco culture and consider it a priority for the country’s identity.

He also added this art holds a great opportunity to enhance economic and social development through cultural tourism, explaining that his organization has developed a project which will work in the long term to maintain these arts, including the founding of a Folk Art city.

He explained that the city will include a conference center, theater, training and recording studios, art complex, documentation center, archive, media library, hotel, and digitally museum or even a museum dedicated to fashion and machinery.

Some fans of this traditional art who attended the conference denied the extinction which threatens such arts and at the same time they insisted on a serious interference from the government to protect and save what they called ‘Morocco heritage’ from loss and extinction.

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By Mohammed Amine Qasserras

Morocco News Tribune

Kenitra, Morocco | A single mother was arrested by the police in Sidi Sliman City (north of Rabat) for selling her baby to a beggar.

To get rid of her female baby that she had out of wedlock, the single mother tried to sell her for approximately 500 dirhams (45 dollars) to one of beggar who is well-known in the area for using kids for begging.

Morocco daily newspaper “Sabah” reported that the mother is accused of selling her baby and putting the child’s life at risk.

The mother was arrested along with some people attended the process of negotiationing over the baby’s sale price.

Reports say that the mother was planning to leave the city of Sidi Sliman immediately after the completion of the transaction.

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By Mohammed Amine Qasserras

Morocco News Tribune

Kenitra, Morocco |Some Morocco media outlets reported that a young woman from Demnat (South of Morocco) died as a result of serious health complications due to consuming a large amount of pills known in Moroccan culture as “Drdek”, which some women resort to in order to enlarge and make their buttocks bigger.

The sources stated that the victim was admitted rapidly to the emergency room in Ibn Sinna hospital in Rabat after her health condition deteriorated, but she died shortly under the influence of materials making up in the pills.

The preliminary investigations showed that the victim got these pills from a person, who is is right now wanted by the justice, is known in the area for selling these types of pillls.

It is note that a large buttock is considered a symbol of woman beauty in Morocco as well as Arab world and Africa.

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By Samira Arabi

Morocco News Tribune

Agadir, Morocco | A report issued by the Moroccan Ministry of Health revealed that 15% of students whose average age is 14 are facing health problems due to smoking, according to the Arabic wesbite Alarabiya.

The same source said the percentage of drug and alcohol consumption reached 8% among males and 4% among females, according to a study presented recently Najat Belarbi, director of the Center for Strategic Research.

Belarbi explained that a high portion of those who pursue their education at universities smoke and use drugs, and the number of youngsters who suffer from psychological and neurological diseases exceeded 14%, added the Alarabiya.

The Moroccan Association for the fight against smoking and drugs revealed in the last study that 13% of smokers in Morocco are under 15 years of age , which is about half a million of children in Morocco.

The association showed that about 48% of young people between 15 and 19 years old smoke, which is about one and a half million young men, while figures show that 36% of those over 20 years old are smokers.

Moroccan specialists attribute the high rates of drug abuse among youth and adolescents to the inadequacy of the laws and legislation in force with the sophisticated trafficking methods of narcotics among students.

In this context, a study released two years ago showed that 63% of smokers are victims of the pressures from their family situations, but they are aware of the health risks caused by smoking.

The latest statistics indicate that the national consumption of cigarettes amounted to 16.2 billion cigarettes in 2010, of which 14.65 billion in the market and the rest by smuggling, which constitutes 10% of the market.

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By Mohammed Amine Qasserros

Morocco News Tribune

Kenitra, Morocco|Moroccan Interior Minister Mohand Laenser announced at the House of Representatives that the ministry has sent a memorandum instructing Moroccan civil registry services across the kingdom to start accepting applications for registration with Amazigh names.

The Interior Ministry sources said that the number of requests for changing names has reached more than a thousand requests.

“The number of applications received for registering births with Amazigh names has reached 2156 applications, and only 1631 applications were presented to the Supreme Committee for Civil Status,” Sabah Moroccan daily newspaper reported

Moroccan government refused two years ago to issue birth certificates with Berber names under the pretext that they contradict Moroccan identity.

The Moroccan Ministry of Interior through civil registry rejected some specific Berber names considered in violation of law 99-37 that determines names fit for males and females.

The names list was was distributed in Moroccan embassies and consulates abroad.

This move was seen by Human rights organizations part of an exclusion policy against the mother culture of Morocco.

A number of activists protested against such racism and marginalization adopted by the government against the them.

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By Moroccan Chef Alia*

Morocco News Tribune

Ingredients

1 couscous box

• 2 Onions
• 3 Carrots
• 1 Zucchini
• 1 Parsnip
• 1 Potato / Sweet Potato
• 1 piece of pumpkin / butternut squash
• ½ Cup of chopped Parsley
• ½ Cup of chopped Coriander
• 1 Tbsp of minced Garlic
• 1 can of chickpeas
• ½ Tsp Cumin
• ½ Tsp Paprika
• ¼ Tsp Saffron
• 1 ½ Tsp Salt (to taste)
• ½ Tsp Pepper (to taste)
• 3 Tbsp of Olive Oil
• 2 Tbsp of tomato paste
• 2 cups of vegetable broth
• 6 Cups of Water (or more)

Directions

1- Peel and slice all the vegetables in large pieces.
2- On medium heat, add the olive oil and put the onions in the cooking pan, stir the onions for a couple of minutes then add the garlic, parsley and coriander.
3- Add to the onions half the amount of paprika, cumin, saffron, salt and pepper. ( if you are cooking a couscous with meat, add the meat in this step and seal it with the onions/spices.)
4- Add the vegetable broth and close the lid of the pan.
5- When the vegetable broth is boiling, add the potato pieces.

Note: Cook the harder vegetables first then when they are half cooked add the softer vegetables
5- After 10 minutes, add the carrots.
6- After 15 minutes, add the Parsnip.
7- After 10 minutes, add the zucchini.
8- After 10 minutes, add the butternut squash.
9- Add the rest of the spices and the tomato paste.
10- After 10 minutes, add chickpeas.
11- All vegetables are cooked when you can easily poke them with a fork.

1. Steps to make the Couscous:
   Prepare the couscous following the instructions on you couscous box (usually instructions includes cooking couscous in boiled water with olive oil and salt).
   Tip: for better flavor, fluff the couscous with a little bit of butter.
2. Serving the Couscous:
   Serve the couscous by setting the couscous grains first in a dome, adding some sauce to the couscous, then adding the vegetables on the top of the ‘dome’ and around.
3. Note:
   1- If you are adding meat or chicken to the couscous, double the amount of spices.
   2- You can add vegetables such as cabbage. Make sure to let the harder vegetables half cook before adding the softer vegetables. This way you will get evenly cooked vegetables at the end.

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By Samira Arabi

Morocco News Tribune

Agadir, Morocco | Morocco’s main Islamist opposition group said the the country is run by a shadow government and warned that the kingdom may be seeing “an explosion” among youths due to the social and economic conditions, AFP reported this week.

In an interview with AFP, Fathallah Arsalane, spokesperson for Al-Adl Wal-Ihsan (AWI) – or Charity and Justice – told the news agency that his movement is willing to be part of Morocco’s democratic transition.

“We believe in democracy and we believe that we could become a political party but the government does not allow it,” Arsalane quoted by AFP.

The Islamist added that Benkirane’s government which was hoped to bring change in Morocco has not done anything so far since it came to power following the introduction of a new constitution.

“There is a shadow government that controls everything, and the members of the current government are nothing more than a front,” Arsalane said.

spokesperson for Al-Adl Wal-Ihsan also said that the government did not live up to its promises to improve living conditions in the country where poverty and unemployment are so widespread.

“The economic and social situation in Morocco is getting worse by the day,” said Arsalane.

It is worth mentioning that in a previous interview with the Associated Press in Feb 6, 2013, Fathallah Arsalane warned that Morocco is at serious risk of a popular revolt if the state doesn’t recognize the demands of the Arab Spring and implement real democratic reforms.

“We can’t predict when the social situation will explode, but what is certain is that all the ingredients already exist,” he added.

Al Adl wal Ihsan, when founded, was calling for the restoration of an Islamic caliphate, but over the years the group has changed its political discourse to be similar to other Moroccan Islamist parties, whose messages are based on the call for democracy and a civil state.

Al Adl wal Ihsane was founded by Cheikh Abdesslam Yassine, the charismatic leader who died at the age of 84, on 13 December 2012 and was succeeded by Mohammed Abbadi.

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By Mohammed Amine Qasserros

Morocco News Tribune

Kenitra, Morocco | A strong explosion occurred this morning in a fish factory in the industrial area of the southern city of Morocco Layoune.

The explosion as was reported local news outlets by killed two factory workers and left many others injured.

The civil protection teams and ambulances headed Immediately after the incident toward the explosion scene to transfer the injured to Moulay Al Hassan belmahdi hospital in the city.

Reports said that the Royal Gendarmerie and the local authority started investigations to determine the causes of the incident.

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