Friday, February 6, 2015

Hannah Norman

Morocco’s young entrepreneurs face barriers

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by HANNAH NORMAN

This article was published Al Jazeera on Dec. 27, 2014 . Read it HERE.

Morocco – Ali Aaouine had no job but one big dream; to start a rental car company in this town near the historic city of Fez.

In 2011, the 30-year-old joined a US-supported government programme called Moukawalati or “My Small Business”. This initiative was designed to help young Moroccans write business plans and get low interest loans.

Despite completing the programme and receiving a certificate, Aaouine couldn’t get a loan because of a lack of credit and assets.

Hamid’s Bride

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By HANNAH NORMAN

SBAA ROUADI, Morocco – Zwiina? Is she beautiful? The question ricocheted through the mass of wedding-goers, each pressing to get a glimpse of the veiled figure as she emerged from a large white van. Through a break in the crowd, a parade of men made their way into the house, laden with bulky plastic containers overflowing with the bride’s belongings. Last in the procession, 16-year-old Fatima Zahra el Rhioui arrived at her husband’s house for the first time.

“He’s very nice,” el Rhioui commented, grinning nervously at the mention of her husband and exposing symmetrical buckteeth.

Jazz-Moroccan Fusion Fills Chellah

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By HANNAH NORMAN

RABAT, Morocco – Sitting behind the ticket booth at the French Institute, 23-year-old Ilyas Drissi holds all the power. An open metal box contains the stubs of the 900 sold tickets, the quota for Saturday night’s pre-sales of Jazz au Chellah—a five-day music festival of jazz-Moroccan fusion located in Rabat’s Chellah Ruins.

“I’m sorry, we’re all sold out,” Drissi told a French couple who approached the table. “You’ll have to buy your tickets at the door.”

Currently on its nineteenth edition, the festival has become wildly popular, so much so that tickets steadily sold out for every night.

Hooked on Mint Tea

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By HANNAH NORMAN

RABAT, Morocco – The air is still cool, but the tea is hot. Morning has arrived, accompanied by the sun’s harsh rays penetrating through half-drawn kitchen curtains. The hissing of boiling water and the zestful aroma of fresh mint being rolled engulf the cooking alcove. In her household, the 52-year-old mother of three, Nezha Ben Ali, always has a bucket of green leafy stalks handy.

“When I don’t drink tea, I get headaches,” said Ben Ali, who has been hooked on tea since childhood.

Her consumption habits come as no surprise, considering the prevalence of mint tea, or “atay,”in Moroccan society.

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