Morocco

In April of 2021, I travelled to Morocco as part of a study abroad cultural immersion program. I visited many cities and villages across the country, including Marrakech, Ouarzazate, and Essaouira. I also had the chance to stay with an indigenous Berber community. The following photographs and interviews were conducted during my stay in this village, Zaouiya Ahansal.

Ali and Hasan, Zaouiya Ahansal

“This is my father and my uncle. My father used to have a restaurant, but when he was diagnosed with diabetes he shifted to butchery to live a more active life. Now, he gets more exercise.

COVID was challenging. People had no money to buy meat. But the trouble was not only for butchers. Everyone had troubles. Now, it is much better. These days, people get to work, make money, and travel. The government supports us and pays us money to keep us open.”

— Hasan and Ali Barda, as translated by Ismail Barda

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Ibrahim, Zaouiya Ahansal

“This is a family job. My father was the previous owner of this shop. I inherited the shop from my father. The shop is five years older than me; I began working here in 1990. A long time ago, we sold just the necessities: sugar, tea, spices, olive oil, candles, and batteries. Before, we didn’t have electricity here and needed large batteries for radios. Now, most people do not buy batteries. Candles are only used in case the electricity goes out. No one even cares about radios.”

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"Right now, SIM cards and recharges are my most popular items. Now that the village has been modernized, people want technology accessories. These rubber shoes and slippers are also very popular, though they are not Moroccan.

“My sons are studying in school. The quality of life is not like it was before. When I was a kid, I didn’t go to school. It was too far to go from here to Azilal, the city with the closest school. If I wanted to go to school on Monday, I had to start walking on Friday. I hope my son will study and work in a different sector. If he wants to work here, that’s fine. But I hope he will go into a different domain of work.”

— Ibrahim, as translated by Ismail Barda

  • This was my room in Zaouiya Ahansal. I slept here with two other roommates.

  • Attached to my room was a common living space with two sinks. This was one of them.