The collective work "The Lovers of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun" was presented on Tuesday evening at the Maison du Maroc in Paris, in the presence of a plethora of researchers, academics and historians.
Born from the contribution of about fifteen authors and artists, painters and poets, passionate, this work, published in May 2024, is entirely dedicated to the city of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun. It explores the multiple facets of a city rich in its history and captivating in its charm.
Published by "Afrique Orient" editions, this 126-page book reveals, through the writings of its authors in particular, the cultural depth and the singular attraction of this emblematic city of the Kingdom, offering an unprecedented look at its heritage treasures.
"The texts reflect the diversity of the contributors. Each one tries to celebrate in their own way a city, of which we all carry, with tenderness and pride, indelible traces.
A sweet nostalgia takes hold of us, every time we remember the places, the characters, the scents, the flavours and the colours that make the singularity of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun. A city whose alchemy leaves no one indifferent, including those who discover it for the first time", we read in the book's presentation text.
From painting to poetry, through prose and autobiographical narrative, the collection offers the reader "a journey into an emotional universe", which says a lot about the intensity of the relationships maintained by the authors with the city.
According to its authors, the collection can be envisaged as "an ethnographic narrative". "It takes the reader on a journey into a disconcerting cultural universe. Sometimes the reader will let themselves be carried by testimonies with a descriptive vocation, sometimes they will appreciate the analytical look at a culturally kaleidoscopic city", they underline.
In a statement to MAP on the occasion of the presentation of the book, which was moderated by the writer KĂ©bir Mustapha Ammi, Abdellah Chbihi, co-author of the work, indicated that this event constituted an opportunity to make Parisians and members of the Moroccan diaspora in France discover "the richness of the cultural heritage" of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, "the spiritual charge" and "the greatness of the history of this city".
The book "The Lovers of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun" is not an academic work, but "a work of memory", nourished by the stories of the inhabitants, their childhood memories, their emotions and their feelings, he specified.
"It is a true anthology imbued with nostalgia, a sincere expression of the attachment to this city that motivated this project", maintained Mr. Chbihi.
For his part, Abdellah Ben Mlih, coordinator of the work, stressed that this initiative was intended to be a modest but essential contribution to preserve the traces of a precious cultural memory, while recalling the central importance of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun in the Moroccan political and religious imagination.
He also indicated that this work has inspired other people to initiate similar projects for other Moroccan cities.
And to add that this initiative also makes it possible to raise awareness of the importance of preserving and further enhancing the exceptional heritage of the city of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun.
Born from the contribution of about fifteen authors and artists, painters and poets, passionate, this work, published in May 2024, is entirely dedicated to the city of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun. It explores the multiple facets of a city rich in its history and captivating in its charm.
Published by "Afrique Orient" editions, this 126-page book reveals, through the writings of its authors in particular, the cultural depth and the singular attraction of this emblematic city of the Kingdom, offering an unprecedented look at its heritage treasures.
"The texts reflect the diversity of the contributors. Each one tries to celebrate in their own way a city, of which we all carry, with tenderness and pride, indelible traces.
A sweet nostalgia takes hold of us, every time we remember the places, the characters, the scents, the flavours and the colours that make the singularity of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun. A city whose alchemy leaves no one indifferent, including those who discover it for the first time", we read in the book's presentation text.
From painting to poetry, through prose and autobiographical narrative, the collection offers the reader "a journey into an emotional universe", which says a lot about the intensity of the relationships maintained by the authors with the city.
According to its authors, the collection can be envisaged as "an ethnographic narrative". "It takes the reader on a journey into a disconcerting cultural universe. Sometimes the reader will let themselves be carried by testimonies with a descriptive vocation, sometimes they will appreciate the analytical look at a culturally kaleidoscopic city", they underline.
In a statement to MAP on the occasion of the presentation of the book, which was moderated by the writer KĂ©bir Mustapha Ammi, Abdellah Chbihi, co-author of the work, indicated that this event constituted an opportunity to make Parisians and members of the Moroccan diaspora in France discover "the richness of the cultural heritage" of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, "the spiritual charge" and "the greatness of the history of this city".
The book "The Lovers of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun" is not an academic work, but "a work of memory", nourished by the stories of the inhabitants, their childhood memories, their emotions and their feelings, he specified.
"It is a true anthology imbued with nostalgia, a sincere expression of the attachment to this city that motivated this project", maintained Mr. Chbihi.
For his part, Abdellah Ben Mlih, coordinator of the work, stressed that this initiative was intended to be a modest but essential contribution to preserve the traces of a precious cultural memory, while recalling the central importance of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun in the Moroccan political and religious imagination.
He also indicated that this work has inspired other people to initiate similar projects for other Moroccan cities.
And to add that this initiative also makes it possible to raise awareness of the importance of preserving and further enhancing the exceptional heritage of the city of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun.
