At one point in its history, Morocco was home to around 300,000 Jews and many Moroccans continue to embrace their Judeo-Moroccan heritage, as is evident by the hundreds of Jewish pilgrims who recently gathered in the Moroccan coastal town of Safi and were welcomed by local Muslims. With religious tensions reaching fever pitch in Jerusalem and other areas, this attitude of tolerance and acceptance, with Muslims and Jews praying together, is something out of the ordinary.
Moroccan contemporary artist, Fouad Bellamine, was born in Fez in 1950 and was raised amidst varied artistic and creative influences in the Medina of his home town. Bellamine came from a family of skilled craftsmen, and he learned many of his painting techniques from his father who was a talented artist. From an early age he was intensely interested in light and space, an interest which influences his work to this day.
Situated in the Kingdom of Morocco’s capital city, Rabat, the Royal Institute of the Amazigh Culture (IRCAM) is an academic institute devoted to the safeguarding and promotion of the Amazigh (Berber) culture and languages. The institute was founded with full legal capacity and financial independence, under the patronage of King Mohammed VI, on 17 October 2001.
The port city of Mohammedia in Morocco is located about 15 miles northeast of Casablanca. It is a popular holiday and leisure destination for Moroccans, especially from Casablanca, and for tourists. The city is renowned for its friendly, relaxed atmosphere and its superb beach.
The magnificent Beni-Snassen Mountains are located west of the city of Oujda and south of Berkane in eastern Morocco. These stunning limestone mountains reach a height of about 1,500 meters and are a geological continuation of the Rif Mountains to the west. The Beni-Snassen Mountains are one of five sites in north-eastern Morocco to have been identified as study sites of biological and ecological interest (SIBE). It was here in the Beni-Snassen Mountains that what is believed to be the oldest human skeleton in North Africa was found.
