Morocco

Morocco is a country located on the northwest corner of Africa. Although it is predominantly Sunnī Muslim, its cultural and religious heritage is multifaceted due to its unique combination of ethnic groups and influences from Europe and the Middle East.

The native term for the country is Al-Maghreb, which means “place of sunset” in Arabic. Historically, this name also applied to greater North Africa, as its location west of the Levant identified it with the sunset. Morocco has more than 30 million inhabitants, most of whom are of Berber, Arab, or mixed Berber-Arab ethnicity. The official language is Arabic, although the spoken dialect, Moroccan Arabic, is rather different from the Modern Standard Arabic of Middle Eastern print and official speech. In addition to Arabic, French is widely used in commerce and government and is taught in schools; English is also growing as a foreign language in education. About 40% of the country's population speaks one of three main Berber dialects, Tarifit, Tachelhit, or Tamazight.

The geographical region is likewise diverse. The coastline touches the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Morocco is home to the Rif and Atlas mountain ranges, the latter separating most of the inhabited area from the Sahara Desert. The western Sahara, south of Morocco, has been claimed and controlled by the Moroccan government since 1975, but it is a disputed region whose people are seeking independence. Rabat is Morocco's capital; other important cities are Casablanca (the largest city and commercial center), Fez, Marrakech, and Tangier.

The Berbers are the oldest known indigenous group of the region. In the seventh century CE, Arab conquerors took over the land, which was formerly ruled by the Roman and Byzantine empires, and they brought Islam to the area. Although the Berbers fought for autonomy, they slowly adopted Islam, and today more than 99% of Moroccans are Sunnī Muslim. Many Berbers retreated to mountainous areas, where their concentration remains higher than in the urban centers. After the Arab conquest of the region, Morocco was ruled under various dynasties (Almoravid, 1042–1147; Almohad, 1123–1269; Merinid, 1248–1465; Saddi, 1511–1659; and Alawi, 1664–). In 1912, the French took Morocco as a protectorate, although the Alawi sultan was able to keep his position under French control. After a long struggle, Morocco gained independence in 1956 and is now ruled by a constitutional monarchy.

In addition to the Sunnī Muslim majority, there are small Jewish and non-native Christian minorities in Morocco. Sufi elements are also present, most notably in ritual Sufi music and the visiting of shrines to saints. Veneration of saints and the use of musical instruments have been criticized by conservative reformers, particularly within the Salafi reformist movement that spread to Morocco starting in the late 19th century. This line of thinking holds that Sufi beliefs and practices hinder Muslim reform.

Morocco's relationship with Andalusian Spain has also influenced its architecture, music, and art. When Muslims conquered Spain in the eighth century CE, the arts took on a distinctive style that incorporated Spanish and Arab elements. Andalusian Muslims gradually retreated back to North Africa when Christians began to gain rule over Spain, starting in the 10th century. Although much was lost in this migration, attempts to preserve Arab-Andalusian [Page 829]arts still take place, for example, in the cultural center of Fez.

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