Brief Summary
This video explores the presence and significance of the French language in Morocco, focusing on cities beyond the major French-speaking centers. It highlights the unique cultural blend and historical connections that have allowed French to thrive in various regions. The journey spans from Meknes, an imperial city, to Ben Guerir, a modern city of innovation, and finally to Laayoune in the Moroccan Sahara, showcasing the diverse ways in which French is integrated into Moroccan life and education.
- French language in Morocco beyond major cities.
- Cultural and historical significance of French.
- Education and innovation in French-speaking environments.
Meknes: A French-Speaking Journey Off the Beaten Track
The host introduces Meknes, one of Morocco's four imperial cities, noting the unique position French has carved out there. He meets with Sarah Jabri, a journalist for Moroccan national television, to explore the city. Sarah, a native of Meknes, embodies the attachment to her roots and uses French professionally in her reports for 2M, a Moroccan national channel. Despite opportunities in larger cities, Sarah returned to Meknes to cover local news in French, becoming a French-speaking voice in the city.
Exploring the Medina of Meknes
Sarah welcomes the host to LIM Square, the heart of Meknes's UNESCO-listed medina, a commercial, historical, and cultural hub that transforms into an open-air theater at night. Meknes, once the capital under Sultan Mu Ismail, boasts historical monuments. Sarah expresses her hope that Meknes will be recognized as a cultural destination in its own right, rather than just a stopover for tourists.
A Taste of Meknes: Markets and Pastries
Sarah guides the host through the market in Placeim de la Medina, where locals shop for spices, cakes, and handicrafts for special occasions. The market is filled with the scents of spices, olives, dates, and traditional cakes, including rose flowers from the Sahara and saffron. They then visit one of the oldest traditional pastry workshops in Meknes, where women prepare emblematic Moroccan cakes, preserving ancestral techniques passed down through generations.
Preserving Tradition: The Art of Moroccan Pastry
The host and Sarah visit a traditional pastry workshop run by Mr. Nabil, who is preserving his family's legacy. The women in the workshop use gestures passed down through generations to create traditional cakes. Mr. Nabil emphasizes the importance of ancestral recipes, product quality, and transmission of knowledge in his pastries.
The French Institute in Meknes: A Cultural Hub
The video shifts to the French Institute in Meknes, a place that has been promoting French culture since the 1960s. The institute, one of the largest in Morocco, offers a media library, theater, concerts, exhibitions, and screenings. Fabrice Monga, the director, emphasizes the institute's role as a meeting place where French and Moroccan cultures interact and enrich each other, providing a space for young people to discover the world and understand the importance of culture in education.
Modern Meknes: Urban Art and Heritage
Sarah showcases the new city of Meknes, a dynamic space where urban art enhances the city's heritage. The first Moroccan graffiti artists were from Meknes, and their creations pay homage to the city's cultural heritage and traditions. The city is presented as a blend of authenticity and modernity.
Farewell Meknes: Reflections on a City of Beauty
The final stop in Meknes is the Sarge Swani basin, built by Sultan Moul Ismail, which still serves as a water reservoir. Sarah expresses her love for Meknes, highlighting its blend of modernity and authenticity, its impressive yet understated beauty, and its deep connection to history and heritage. She discusses how French allows her to express and share the stories, hopes, and initiatives of Meknes. Sarah defines Meknes as "eternal" and expresses her pride in being Moroccan.
Ben Guerir: A City of Knowledge and Innovation
The host travels to Ben Guerir, a modern city of knowledge dedicated to sustainable development and innovation. The city is home to the Mohamed 6 Polytechnic University (M6P), inaugurated in 2017, which focuses on applied research, entrepreneurship, and innovation. M6P is an international university with a significant number of students from sub-Saharan Africa. Martial, an architecture student from Burkina Faso, praises the university's pan-African vision and innovative framework.
UM6P's African Vocation and Local Impact
Khalid Badou, Director of Institutional Relations, explains that UM6P has a purely African vocation, aiming to attract students from sub-Saharan Africa to foster trust and support the continent's development. The establishment of UM6P has revitalized the local area, leading to new infrastructure, services, and schools. The Majorelle School, created in collaboration with the French secular mission, offers a multilingual education with a focus on secularism and intercultural openness.
The Majorelle School: Multilingual Education
The Majorelle School in Ben Guerir provides education in French, English, and Arabic. Abdel, a university employee, values the French language education for his children, citing its importance in Moroccan administration and its role in their future. Peggy, the school's educational coordinator, emphasizes that multilingualism is an asset for students, preparing them for studies and opportunities in various parts of the world.
French Secular Mission's Perspective
Jean-Marc Merriot, general manager of the French secular mission, views the project as emblematic of the development of French-speaking countries in Morocco. He emphasizes the importance of reaffirming France's role in innovation and culture, beyond just language. The school serves as a model for future educational developments in Morocco and worldwide.
Laayoune: A French-Speaking Dynamic in the Sahara
The host travels south to Laayoune in the Moroccan Sahara, where French is experiencing a boom. He meets with Alia, the director of the future Alliance Française in Laayoune. Alia describes Laayoune as a prosperous and generous city in constant evolution, emphasizing its remarkable hospitality. She gifts the host a "theme," a symbol of brotherhood and Moroccan hospitality, and invites him to visit Tarfaya and its museum.
Paul Pascon School: A Driving Force in Laayoune
Since France officially recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in July 2024, a new French-speaking dynamic has emerged in Laayoune. The Paul Pascon school, part of the Azoui French secular mission network, plays a driving role in this growth, educating students in a 100% French-speaking environment while also teaching Arabic and English. The school values personal expression and creativity through projects like web radio and collective editions of Haiku.
Promoting French Language and Culture in a Non-French-Speaking Region
Yan Cordonniier, the school's director, is proud of supporting students to reach the baccalaureate level and open doors to studies in Europe and worldwide. Despite the region not being traditionally French-speaking, the school has successfully integrated the French language and culture into families. The school is preparing to move to larger, more modern premises, with the Moroccan authorities and the French ambassador closely monitoring the construction.
French as a Perspective for Development
The French language is seen as a key factor in the region's human and professional development. The French-speaking world represents a perspective of human and professional development. Morocco's ambition to be a link between Europe and Africa will be realized through French and the Francophonie.
Tarfaya: Between Sea and Sand
The host and Alia arrive in Tarfaya, a place between the sea and the sand with a rich history as a port. Tarfaya played a significant role in commerce and was once an airmail stopover where Antoine de Saint-Exupéry lived for about two years. They plan to visit the Saint-Exupéry museum.
The Saint-Exupéry Museum: A Tribute to The Little Prince
The host and Alia visit the Saint-Exupéry museum in Tarfaya, where they meet with Mr. Sadette, the museum's director. Sadette explains that Saint-Exupéry lived in Tarfaya for two years and that it was here, between the desert and the sea, that he began to write "The Little Prince." The museum works closely with the Ministry of Education to promote the story of "The Little Prince" to future generations.
Casa del Mar: A Jewel in Tarfaya
The video highlights the Casa del Mar, a sea house in Tarfaya bought by Hassan the First to end the English presence. The landscape evokes reverie and a sense of being somewhere else entirely. Alia discusses her involvement in the Alliance Française project, hoping to showcase local culture and heritage and create links in the south, inspired by "The Little Prince."
The Essence of Laayoune and Morocco
Alia describes the French language as essential for transmitting values, culture, and heritage to the world. She defines her province as "hospitality and tolerance" and her country, Morocco, as "the pearl of the world." The host concludes his journey in Morocco, expressing his gratitude.
Conclusion: Discovering Authentic Morocco
The host concludes the journey through Morocco, hoping to have inspired viewers to discover the country's authentic facets. He expresses his appreciation for the Moroccan men and women attached to their culture, tradition, and the French language. He encourages viewers to visit and discover this fascinating country.
