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On the border between Africa and Europe and home to 35 million people, Morocco is a complex, cultural mosaic of varied cultures and civilisations. It has been cradled throughout its two thousand years of history by diverse influences and inhabited since at least Palaeolithic times by a series of independent dynasties and powers. Some powers controlled and influenced over centuries, Romans, Vandals and Visigoths in the early 7th century CE. The Arabs arrived in the late the 8th century and conquered much of the coastal region. They established dynasties in Morocco and together with native Moroccan Berbers, extended control to what is now Spain and Portugal.
The Nomination
The word Morocco is derived from the name of the city of Marrakesh, which was its capital under the Almoravid and Saadian dynasties. The origin of the name Marrakesh comes from the Berber phrase amur n Yakuš, where amur can have the meanings “part, lot, promise, protection” and Yakuš (and its variants Yuš and Akuš) means “God”. The modern Berber name for Marrakesh is Mṛṛakc (in the Berber Latin script). In Turkish, Morocco is known as Fez, a name derived from its ancient capital of Fes. However, in other parts of the world, for example in Egyptian and Middle Eastern Arabic literature before the mid-20th century, the name commonly used to refer to Morocco was Murrakush. The English name Morocco is the Anglicisation of the Spanish name for the country, Marruecos.
Population and Origins
The Berbers are the original inhabitants of Morocco. There are many Berber groups with different dialects and customs, including the Drawa, the Shilha, the Riffia, and the Sanhaja. They all use the general name Amazigh, meaning free people, to denote their identity as indigenous Moroccans. Berbers have mixed throughout the history with Jews and nomadic tribes from the south of the Kingdom. The latter have carried a unique language, Hassani. The Arabs conquered the country between the 8th and 11th centuries, when it was populated mainly by Berbers and Romano-Berbers.
Sub-Saharan came from what was once the empire of Ghana, which covered Senegal, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Gambia and Mali. Descendants of Europeans joined Morocco after the Arabs withdrew from Europe in the 15th century. Morocco has a significant Jewish population, but many migrated to Israel and other countries. Only a few thousand Jewish Moroccans still live in the country. There are also a few hundred thousand Christians living in Morocco, mostly of European descent.
Berber culture and influence
People tend to associate North Africa primarily with Arab culture, since Arabic is the official language and most Moroccan people follow Islam. However, Berber culture remains a very strong, and perhaps in many ways the primary influence on Moroccan culture. Since the Arabs focused their conquests on the coastal regions, certain parts of the interior were less affected, and retained a stronger sense of indigenous identity.
Language and Religion
There are a number of languages in Morocco, but the two official languages are Standard Arabic and Standard Moroccan Berber. Moroccan Arabic (known as Darija) is by far the primary spoken vernacular. French is the the language of administration and serves as a second language for approximately 33% of Moroccans. All official documents are bilingual. To fill or request an administrative document, Moroccan citizens can choose between, French, Arabic or both.
Cultural Diversity and Coexistence
There are many different ethnic groups coexisting peacefully in Morocco, The Jewish, the Amazigh, and Arabs and a small community of Christians. All have coexisted for generations, have contributed to the country’s rich history. This cultural variety is celebrated via art and festivals, which promotes tolerance and understanding among people.
Modern lives are developing as a result of urbanization and technology improvements in cities like Casablanca and Rabat. Digital channels such as social media are essential for influencing trends and bridging groups. For young people, employment and educational prospects are expanding their horizons.
Conclusion
The way of life in Morocco is evidence of its variety and togetherness. Its warmth, artistic excellence, diverse landscapes, historic monuments and colourful cities enthrals visitors from all corners of the globe. It is a charming location that creates an impact on everyone who visits thanks to the blend of old and contemporary.
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