Editing Morocco (section)

== Culture ==
{{main|Culture of Morocco}}
[[File:Moroccan frills.jpg|thumb|A living room with a traditional Moroccan interior]]
Morocco is a country with a rich [[culture]] and [[civilization|civilisation]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Travel |first=D. K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LQ55DQAAQBAJ |title=DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Morocco |date=2017-02-01 |publisher=Dorling Kindersley Limited |isbn=978-0-241-30469-3 |language=en}}</ref> Through [[History of Morocco|Moroccan history]], it has hosted many people. Culturally speaking, Morocco has combined its Arabic, Berber and Jewish cultural heritage with external influences such as the French and the Spanish and, during the last decades, the Anglo-American lifestyles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Morocco town's Hollywood connection |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2005/12/2008410151243996817.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028093251/http://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2005/12/2008410151243996817.html |archive-date=28 October 2017 |access-date=27 October 2017 |website=Al Jazeera}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Return to Morocco |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/aljazeeraworld/2015/01/return-morocco-2015120124346751467.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924061207/http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/aljazeeraworld/2015/01/return-morocco-2015120124346751467.html |archive-date=24 September 2017 |access-date=27 October 2017 |website=Al Jazeera}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Boujloud: Morocco's unique Halloween |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/10/boujloud-morocco-unique-halloween-20141013161059822274.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028092923/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/10/boujloud-morocco-unique-halloween-20141013161059822274.html |archive-date=28 October 2017 |access-date=27 October 2017 |website=Al Jazeera}}</ref> Since independence, painting and sculpture, music, amateur theatre and filmmaking have developed.<ref>e.g. Khalid Amine and Marvin Carlson, ''The Theatres of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia: Performance Traditions of the Maghreb'' (Dordrecht NL: Springer, 2011), 124–28. {{ISBN|0230358519}}</ref> The Moroccan National Theatre (founded 1956) offers regular productions of Moroccan and French dramatic works. Art and music festivals take place throughout the country during the summer months, among them the [[World Sacred Music Festival|World Sacred Music Festival at Fès]].

=== Architecture ===
{{main|Moroccan architecture}}
{{excerpt|Moroccan architecture|file=1}}

=== Literature ===
{{main|Moroccan literature}}
[[File:ChraibiDriss.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Driss Chraïbi]]]]
[[Moroccan literature]] is written mostly in Arabic, Berber, Hebrew and French. Particularly under the [[Almoravid dynasty|Almoravid]] and [[Almohad Caliphate|Almohad]] empires, Moroccan literature was closely related to the [[literature of al-Andalus]], and shared important poetic and literary forms such as ''[[zajal]]'', the ''[[muwashshah]]'' and the ''[[maqama]]''. Islamic literature, such as [[Tafsir|Quranic exegeses]] and other religious works such as [[Qadi Ayyad]]'s [[Al-Shifa bi Ta'rif Huquq al-Mustafa|''Al-Shifa'']], were influential. The [[University of al-Qarawiyyin]] in Fes was an important literary centre attracting scholars from abroad, including [[Maimonides]], [[Ibn al-Khatib]], and [[Ibn Khaldun]].

Under the [[Almohad]] dynasty Morocco experienced a period of prosperity and brilliance of learning. The Almohad built the [[Kutubiyya Mosque]] in Marrakesh, which accommodated no fewer than 25,000 people, but was also famed for its books, manuscripts, libraries and book shops, which gave it its name; the first book [[bazaar]] in history. The Almohad Caliph [[Yusuf I, Almohad Caliph|Abu Yakub]] had a great love for collecting books. He founded a great library, which was eventually carried to the [[Casbah]] and turned into a [[public library]].

Modern Moroccan literature began in the 1930s. Two main factors gave Morocco a pulse toward witnessing the birth of modern literature. Morocco, as a [[French Morocco|French]] and [[Spanish Morocco|Spanish protectorate]] left Moroccan intellectuals the opportunity to exchange and to produce literary works freely with the contact of other [[Arabic literature]] and Europe. Three generations of writers especially shaped 20th century Moroccan literature.<ref>Mohammed Benjelloun Touimi, Abdelkbir Khatibi and Mohamed Kably, ''Ecrivains marocains, du protectorat à 1965'', 1974  éditions Sindbad, Paris and Hassan El Ouazzani, ''La littérature marocaine contemporaine de 1929 à 1999'' (2002, ed. Union des écrivains du Maroc and Dar Attaqafa)</ref> The first was the generation that lived and wrote during the [[French protectorate of Morocco|Protectorate]] (1912–1956), its most important representative being [[Mohammed Ben Brahim]] (1897–1955). The second generation played an important role in the transition to independence, with writers like [[Abdelkrim Ghallab]] (1919–2006), [[Allal al-Fassi]] (1910–1974) and [[Mohammed al-Mokhtar Soussi]] (1900–1963). The third generation is that of writers of the sixties. Moroccan literature had writers such as [[Mohamed Choukri]], [[Driss Chraïbi]], [[Mohamed Zafzaf]] and [[Driss El Khouri]].

During the 1950s and 1960s, Morocco was a refuge and artistic centre and attracted writers as [[Paul Bowles]], [[Tennessee Williams]] and [[William S. Burroughs]]. Moroccan literature flourished with novelists such as [[Mohamed Zafzaf]] and [[Mohamed Choukri]], who wrote in Arabic, and [[Driss Chraïbi]] and [[Tahar Ben Jelloun]] who wrote in French. Other important Moroccan authors include: [[Abdellatif Laabi]], [[Abdelkrim Ghallab]], [[Fouad Laroui]], [[Mohammed Berrada]] and [[Leila Abouzeid]]. Orature (oral literature) is also an integral part of Moroccan culture, be it in Moroccan Arabic or Berber.

=== Music ===
{{main|Music of Morocco}}
Moroccan music is of Arabic, Berber and sub-Saharan origins. Rock-influenced [[chaabi (Morocco)|chaabi]] bands are widespread, as is [[trance music]] with historical origins in [[Islamic music]]. Amazigh people have also played music using a ''lotar'', a type of lute from the Rwais tribe in the High Atlas mountains. The lotar is usually played by a duo, which may also include a ''[[rebab]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hartenberger |first=Aurelia |date=2021-01-05 |title=Morocco 'Lotar' (A) |url=https://wmic.net/morocco-lotar-a-2kbfa/ |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=Hartenberger World Musical Instrument Collection |language=en-US}}</ref> The Berber music is usually [[Monody|monodic]] with a pentatonic scale system.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Blench |first=Roger |date=2021-01-01 |title=Reconstructing the history of Berber music |url=https://www.academia.edu/61777326 |journal=Approches pour l'histoire de la langue berbère: Mise en perspective d'une langue a travers les ages |url-access=registration |access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref> [[Malhun|Malḥūn]] poetry in oral form is also accompanied by traditional instruments, such as lutes, violins, rebabs and small drums.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNESCO - Malhun, a popular poetic and musical art |url=https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/malhun-a-popular-poetic-and-musical-art-01592 |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=ich.unesco.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ennahid |first=Said |date=2007 |title=The Archaeology of Space in Moroccan Oral Tradition the Case of "Malḥūn" Poetry |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25803019 |journal=Quaderni di Studi Arabi |volume=2 |pages=71–84 |jstor=25803019 |issn=1121-2306}}</ref>

[[File:Musicians Jilala music in Morocco, 1900.png|thumb|A group of [[Jilala]] musicians in 1900]]
''[[Aita (Morocco)|Aita]]'' is a [[Bedouin]] musical style sung in the countryside. [[Chaabi]] ("popular") is music consisting of numerous varieties that are descended from the multifarious forms of Moroccan folk music. Chaabi was originally performed in markets, but is now found at any celebration or meeting. Morocco is also home to [[Andalusian classical music]] that is found throughout Northwest Africa. It probably evolved under the Moors in [[Córdoba, Spain|Cordoba]], and the Persian-born musician [[Ziryab]] is usually credited with its invention.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=YEE |first=Choonwoo |date=2019-12-31 |title=Arab Andalusian music and cultural identity –around the myth of Ziryab- |url=https://doi.org/10.32961/jwhc.2019.12.53.29 |journal=World History and Culture |volume=53 |pages=29–64 |doi=10.32961/jwhc.2019.12.53.29 |issn=1598-2823}}</ref> A genre known as Contemporary Andalusian music is the brainchild of [[Morisco]] visual artist, composer and [[oud]]ist [[Al-Andalus Ensemble|Tarik Banzi]], founder of the Al-Andalus Ensemble. Artists like [[Nass El Ghiwane]] and [[Jil Jilala]] mix traditional styles with modern influences. Popular Western forms of music are also becoming increasingly popular in Morocco, such as [[Fusion (music)|fusion]], rock, [[Country music|country]], [[Metal (music)|metal]] and, in particular, [[Hip hop music|hip hop]]. [[Arabic pop]] artists such as [[Hatim Ammor]] and [[ElGrandeToto]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=ElGrandeToto (Monthly Listeners: 2,665,140) |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2003726/page_view_timing/session_trace/jserrors/aggregate |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=Arab News |language=en}}</ref> are well-known.

=== Media ===
{{main|Media of Morocco|Cinema of Morocco}}
Cinema in Morocco has a long history, stretching back over a century to the filming of ''Le chevrier Marocain'' ("The Moroccan Goatherd") by [[Louis Lumière]] in 1897. Between that time and 1944, many foreign movies were shot in the country, especially in the [[Ouarzazate]] area. In 1944, the {{ill|Moroccan Cinematographic Centre|fr|Centre cinématographique marocain}} (CCM), the nation's film [[regulatory agency]], was established. Studios were also opened in Rabat.

In 1952, [[Orson Welles]]' [[Othello (1952 film)|''Othello'']] won the {{Lang|fr|[[Palme d'Or]]|italic=no}} at the [[Cannes Film Festival]] under the Moroccan flag. However, the Festival's musicians did not play the [[Hymne Chérifien|Moroccan national anthem]], as no one in attendance knew what it was.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wellesnet.com/filming_othello.htm|title=Wellesnet: Filming Othello|website=www.wellesnet.com|access-date=21 July 2014|archive-date=17 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817155640/http://www.wellesnet.com/filming_othello.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Six years later, Mohammed Ousfour would create the first Moroccan movie, ''[[Le fils maudit]]'' ("The Damned Son"). In 1968, the first Mediterranean Film Festival was held in Tangier. In its current incarnation, the event is held in [[Tetouan]]. This was followed in 1982 with the first national festival of cinema, which was held in Rabat. In 2001, the first [[International Film Festival of Marrakech]] (FIFM) was held in [[Marrakech]]. Some of Moroccan television channels include [[2M (TV channel)|2M]], [[Al Aoula]] (Societe Nationale de Radiodiffusion et de Television) and [[Medi 1 TV]].

=== Cuisine ===
{{main|Moroccan cuisine}}
[[File:Couscous of Fes.JPG|thumb|Moroccan [[Couscous]]]]
Moroccan cuisine is considered one of the most diversified cuisines in the world. This is a result of the centuries-long interaction of Morocco with the outside world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fescooking.com/come-cook-with-us/the-art-of-moroccan-cuisine|title=The Art of Moroccan Cuisine|date=10 October 2007|access-date=18 July 2014|archive-date=5 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105070323/http://fescooking.com/come-cook-with-us/the-art-of-moroccan-cuisine|url-status=live}}</ref> The cuisine of Morocco is mainly a fusion of Moorish, European and Mediterranean cuisines. Spices are used extensively in Moroccan cuisine. While spices have been imported to Morocco for thousands of years, many ingredients such as [[saffron]] from [[Tétouan|Tiliouine]], [[Mentha|mint]] and [[olive]]s from [[Meknes]], and oranges and lemons from Fez, are home-grown.

Chicken is the most widely eaten meat in Morocco. The most commonly eaten red meat in Morocco is beef; [[Sheep|lamb]] is preferred but is relatively expensive.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-16 |title=The food in Morocco, a delight for the senses. |url=https://triumphadventure.es/en/the-food-in-morocco-a-delight-for-the-senses/ |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=Triumph |language=en-GB}}</ref> The main Moroccan dish most people are familiar with is [[couscous]],<ref>[http://maroccankitchenrecipes.blogspot.com/2014/05/moroccan-couscous.html "Moroccan Couscous Recipe"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531091005/http://maroccankitchenrecipes.blogspot.com/2014/05/moroccan-couscous.html |date=31 May 2014 }}. [http://maroccankitchenrecipes.blogspot.com/ Maroccan Kitchen Recipes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531104957/http://maroccankitchenrecipes.blogspot.com/ |date=31 May 2014 }} (Website). Retrieved 1 April 2014.</ref> the old national delicacy. Beef is the most commonly eaten red meat in Morocco, usually eaten in a tagine with vegetables or legumes. Chicken is also very commonly used in tagines; one of the most famous tagine is the tagine of chicken, potatoes and olives. [[domestic sheep|Lamb]] is also consumed, but as Northwest African sheep breeds store most of their fat in their tails, Moroccan lamb does not have the pungent flavour that Western [[lamb and mutton]] have. Poultry is also very common, and the use of seafood is increasing in Moroccan food. In addition, there are dried salted meats and salted preserved meats such as kliia/khlia<ref>{{cite web|url=http://moroccanfood.about.com/od/glossary/g/khlea_khlii.htm|title=klii|author=Benlafquih, Christine|publisher=About.com|access-date=20 July 2014|archive-date=11 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711003053/http://moroccanfood.about.com/od/glossary/g/khlea_khlii.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> and "g'did" which are used to flavor tagines or used in "el ghraif", a folded savory Moroccan pancake.

Among the most famous Moroccan dishes are [[Couscous]], [[Pastilla]] (also spelled Bsteeya or Bestilla), [[Tajine]], [[Tangia|Tanjia]] and [[Harira]]. Although the latter is a [[soup]], it is considered a dish in itself and is served as such or with [[date (fruit)|dates]] especially during the month of [[Ramadan]]. Pork consumption is forbidden in accordance with [[Sharia]], religious laws of Islam.

A big part of the daily meal is bread. Bread in Morocco is principally from durum wheat semolina known as [[Khubz|khobz]]. Bakeries are very common throughout Morocco and fresh bread is a staple in every city, town and village. The most common is whole grain coarse ground or white flour bread. There are also a number of flat breads and pulled unleavened pan-fried breads. The most popular drink is "atai", [[green tea]] with mint leaves and other ingredients.

=== Sport ===
{{main|Sport in Morocco}}
[[File:Morocco vs Algeria, June 04 2011-10.jpg|thumb|Moroccan football fans]]
Football is the country's most popular sport, popular among the urban youth in particular. In 1986, Morocco became the first Arab and African country to qualify for the second round of the [[FIFA World Cup]]. Morocco hosted the [[Africa Cup of Nations]] in [[1988 African Cup of Nations|1988]] and will host it again in [[2025 Africa Cup of Nations|2025]] after original host Guinea was stripped from hosting rights due to inadequacy of hosting preparations. Morocco was originally scheduled to host the [[2015 Africa Cup of Nations]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/872480/morocco-to-stage-the-2015-african-nations-cup?cc=5901 |title=Morocco to stage the 2015 African Nations Cup – ESPN Soccernet |publisher=ESPN FC |date=29 January 2011 |access-date=1 August 2011 |archive-date=29 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429011957/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/872480/morocco-to-stage-the-2015-african-nations-cup?cc=5901 }}</ref> but refused to host the tournament on the scheduled dates because of fears over the [[Ebola outbreak]] on the continent.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30004279|title=Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco will not host finals over Ebola fears|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=11 November 2014|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-date=8 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108050911/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30004279|url-status=live}}</ref> Morocco made six attempts to host the FIFA World Cup but lost five times to the United States, France, Germany, South Africa and a Canada–Mexico–United States joint bid, however Morocco will co-host it in [[2030 FIFA World Cup|2030]] along with [[Portugal]] and [[Spain]] having finally won the bid in their sixth attempt. In [[2022 FIFA World Cup|2022]], Morocco became the first African and Arab team to reach the semifinals and finished 4th in the tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ronald |first=Issy |date=2022-12-10 |title=Morocco becomes first ever African team to reach World Cup semifinals with historic victory over Portugal |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/10/football/morocco-portugal-quarterfinals-world-cup-2022-spt-intl/index.html |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

At the [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Olympic Games]], two Moroccans won gold medals in track and field. [[Nawal El Moutawakel]] won in the [[400 metres hurdles]]; she was the first woman from an Arab or Islamic country to win an Olympic gold medal. [[Saïd Aouita]] won the [[5000 metres]] at the same games. [[Hicham El Guerrouj]] won gold medals for Morocco at the [[2004 Summer Olympics]] in the [[1500 metres]] and 5000 metres and holds several [[List of world records in athletics|world record]]s in the [[mile run]].

[[Spectator sports]] in Morocco traditionally centred on the art of [[horsemanship]] until European sports—[[association football|football]], [[polo]], [[swimming (sport)|swimming]] and [[tennis]]—were introduced at the end of the 19th century. Tennis and [[golf]] have become popular.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/06/356114/morocco-emerges-as-top-class-golf-destination|title=Morocco Emerges As 'Top-Class' Golf Destination|last=Hamaan|first=Jasper|newspaper=Moroccan World News|date=June 24, 2023|accessdate=June 14, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2024/05/362609/moroccan-tennis-teams-triumph-at-african-championships-despite-talent-oversight|title=Moroccan Tennis Teams Triumph at African Championships, Despite Talent Oversight|last=El Kanouni|first=Zakaria|newspaper=Moroccan World News|date=May 12, 2024|accessdate=June 14, 2024}}</ref> Several Moroccan professional players have competed in international competition, and the country fielded its first [[Davis Cup]] team in 1999. Morocco established one of Africa's first competitive leagues in basketball.<ref>{{cite news |first=Lee |last=Nxumalo |title=Basketball's next frontier is Africa |url=https://www.newframe.com/basketballs-next-frontier-is-africa/ |access-date=11 January 2021 |work=New Frame |date=20 December 2020 |archive-date=16 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116062357/https://www.newframe.com/basketballs-next-frontier-is-africa/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Rugby football|Rugby]] came to Morocco in the early 20th century, mainly by the French who occupied the country.<ref name=Completerugby>Bath, Richard (ed.) The Complete Book of Rugby (Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997 {{ISBN|1-86200-013-1}}) p71</ref> As a result, [[Rugby union in Morocco|Moroccan rugby]] was tied to the fortunes of France, during the first and second [[World War]], with many Moroccan players going away to fight.<ref name=Completerugby/> Like many other Maghreb nations, Moroccan rugby tended to look to Europe for inspiration, rather than to the rest of Africa. [[Kickboxing]] is also popular in Morocco.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://research.vu.nl/en/publications/kickboksen-een-marokkaanse-route-naar-succes|title=Kickboksen, een Marokkaanse route naar succes?|author=F.H.M. van Gemert|journal=Tijdschrift voor Veiligheid|date=October 1, 2019|volume=18 |issue=3–4 |pages=56–74 |doi=10.5553/TvV/187279482019018304004|hdl=1871.1/879c2ee1-a047-4286-94bb-fbb3e2ed01bf |hdl-access=free}}</ref> The Moroccan-Dutch [[Badr Hari]], heavyweight kickboxer and martial artist, is a former K-1 heavyweight champion and K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 and 2009 finalist.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2011/09/28/badr-hari-to-retire-from-kickboxing-k-1-world-gp-possibly-in-je|title=Badr Hari to Retire From Kickboxing|last=Herbertson|first=Daniel|publisher=Vox Media, LLC|date=September 28, 2011|website=MMAFighting.com|accessdate=June 14, 2024}}</ref>