VERY IMPORTANT: DRESS

0 comments Posted by Knightkrm at 10:40 PM

Though Moroccans are advancing fast, they are still for the most part a very traditional nation. This is clearly reflected in their dress. As tourists, it would be wisest to pay attention to your own dress as what you wear could offend locals or cause harassment. Legs and shoulders are considered to be ‘private body parts’ in most parts of morocco, and men and woman should do their utmost to keep these areas covered. Woman are generally covered from wrist to ankle and men are covered elbow to below the knee. This sort of covering will be accepted in most areas of Morocco and woman not covered sufficiently will often get harassed.

It may be that some women in the cities will tend towards more modernized dress and don short-sleeved tops with knee lengths skirts, but it is not suggested that you follow this trend since these woman often get unwanted attention. Both sexes should stay away from sleeveless T-shirts, ordinary T-shirts (worn as underwear in Morocco) and shorts. They should also avoid tight clothing.

If a man does approach you and gets too friendly, it is suggested that you keep conversation polite but very formal. Stay confident and never tolerate bad and rude behavior. If you feel that the man has crossed the line, you should make a scene and shout “shooma!” (shame on you!). Usually, other people will then come to your aid and the situation will not go any further. It is also wise to avoid smoking in public.

 

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Things to Expect

0 comments Posted by Knightkrm at 10:39 PM

Though you might feel as though you are inundated with offers and deals in many Moroccan souks, it would be wisest if you avoid rude or aggressive behavior. If you are genuinely not interested in making any purchases at the time, a friendly decline and your body language will likely tell them this. In general, never keep silent if you are offered something. Silence is considered to be rude and can be offensive. Rather talk your way out of the situation.

You will often find yourself confronted by numerous Tour Guides in the bigger cities. Some of these are official and can really enhance your trip. Many more, however, are unofficial. You need to be cautious. If you do not have an official guide and you would like someone to show you around, try to determine if the person is genuinely interested in showing you around. Some guides prey on tourists and take you into unsavory areas or pester you into hotels or cafés which are not appealing. Always avoid people offering to take you to a hotel or restaurant. They usually have a deal with the people at these establishments which results in you being charged more. Also, avoid offers for a ‘tour of the town’ – especially if you do not know where they intend to take you. In general, it is best to affirm that this is your second visit and to give the feel that you know what you are doing. If you get this right, most bargain hunters will decline and leave you alone. Never allow a guide to bully you into using his services and if you are interested, you could suggest sharing a cup of tea to get to know them better before hiring them. If you decide to go ahead, you should get an idea of what rate you will pay and what your guide is planning to show you before you actually hire him. You should also have a look at our Getting There and around section before deciding.

Also beware of conmen. These individuals take advantage of unwitting tourists by conning them into giving them money, or taking them into a shop where they drive a sale down your throat. Their stories can be anything from 'please translate this letter for me' to 'I need money to help get a passport/help a sick relative'. Some even act as though you are racially prejudiced to act on your conscience. Don’t allow yourself to fall victim to these scams. If a guide ‘just wants to take you to his uncles for tea’, decline politely. Or if someone wishes you to ‘take a parcel to a relative in your country’ you will likely be unwittingly smuggling drugs.

Often you might encounter begging children. Their demands can get quite overwhelming and you can even feel as though you are being harassed. Always try not to give them anything, as this only encourages them. Instead, keep your sense of humor, smile, laugh and find a way to brush them off.

Always watch for pickpockets in market areas as these are rife in certain parts of the country. Rather leave you money in a safe place when going out, and take only what you need with you. Also, mugging, although rare, is not unheard of. Do not go to areas that you are unsure of.

British Passport holders do not need any visas to get into Morocco. Your stay as a visitor is restricted to 3 months, but may be extended at a Moroccan police station. The Currency of Morocco is the dirham (dh). It is divided into 100 centimes (c). Centimes exchange hands at market places more often than dirhams. This money is available in 10c, 20c, 50c, 1dh, 5dh, 10dh (all coins) and 10dh, 20dh, 50dh, 100dh and 200dh (all notes). Because of the various potential dangers to your life and Health while visiting Morocoo, full health Insurance is recommended.

 

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Moroccan Music

0 comments Posted by Knightkrm at 10:24 PM

Moroccan Music
This vibrant fusion of traditions, beliefs, and history has given Morocco a brilliant tapestry of music, intricately woven with the rich, multi-colored threads of her diverse peoples.
Berber music is a highly percussive art, joining complex rhythms with limited melodic lines that are often repeated. Whether it is the tradition of the Tarafite Berbers of the Rif Mountains, the Tamazhirte of the Middle Atlas, the Tachelhite of the High Atlas, or the Soussi of the Anti-Atlas, the effect of Berber music is to harmonize all the participants into a unified whole.
With their conquest in the 8th century, the Arabs introduced a musical style far different in its aim to enlighten the individual with philosophical reflection, using sound to embellish words and ideas.
Sufi brotherhoods - mystical orders of adepts such as the Gnawa, Aissaouia, Jilala, Hmadsha, Deroqa, and the now forbidden Haddaoua - perform music in the service of Islam so that those present may become united to Allah, the Prophet Mohammed, the founder of Islam, and the saints, by attaining a state of ecstasy through trance.
The Andalusian heritage came to Morocco by way of the Arab Moors of Cordoba, Spain, and flourished between the 10th and 15th centuries. Very stylized in melody and poetry, these medieval Iberian suites are preserved in the classical style in which they were originally performed.
For centuries, cities in the south of Morocco served as trading posts for caravans dealing in gold, salt, spices, and slaves, which traveled the desert. Music, the arts, and the customs of the nomadic peoples with roots in the Sahara have a distinctive influence on Moroccan culture.
At one time, a thriving Jewish community populated Moroccan cities, from Marrakech to Tangiers. Their numbers have diminished throughout the centuries, but the Sephardic melodies of modal blues remain a testament to an exquisitely archaic Iberian form of Hebrew.

Into these diverse musical traditions are interlaced the cyclical constants that influence Moroccans’ lives. Foremost is the enduring presence of the Islamic faith, which, though it discourages displays of singing and dancing, provides the regular refrains of Qur’anic recitation. This melodious chant can be heard in every city and village quarter - inside the mosque when the Imam offers the Muslim holy verse and from the minaret tower when the Muezzin calls the faithful to prayer five times a day.
The cycle of seasons establishes a timetable of recurring rites that correspond to changes in the earth, from summer to winter, from planting to reaping. These annual events inspire music that synchronizes labor and celebrates seasonal festivals during periods of leisure.
The phases of the moon inspire events that are distinctive from those based on cycles of the sun. Many Muslim festivals follow a lunar calendar that is shorter than the solar cycle. Religious celebrations rotate through the seasons arriving nearly 11 days earlier each year.
In the daily rhythms of the family are found those liminal musical experiences that become imprinted in the subconscious of all Moroccan lives – the familiar melodies sung by mother to baby, socializing games of children, songs that welcome guests, spontaneous chant that breaks the monotony of long days of labor.
Finally come those pivotal passages – birth, initiation, marriage, and death – commemorated in music and ritual, which define a new phase in the existence of every individual. These are the momentous occasions that are cherished and recounted time after time in life and will be for generations to come. From a baby in the womb until its last living breath, music is ever-present and important on life's journey.

“The Music of Morocco and the Cycles of Life” travels from mountains to desert to fertile river valleys, from imperial souks to remote villages, to witness rites of passage embedded in memory, heralded by ancient melodies: birth and infancy, courting and marriage, work and play, thanksgiving, healing and mysticism, death and life everlasting. From the very first breath until the last, music surrounds and shapes the lives of all Moroccans.

 

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