Morocco People And Society

The majority of Moroccans are Berber, Arab, or a mixture of both. Due to intermingling between the two communities, they are losing their distinctive-ness, especially in the cities. The Berbers have traditionally lived in the mountains and deserts of Morocco. They speak three main dialects – Amazigh, Chleuh and Riffian. Before the creation of Israel, there was also a significant Jewish minority which settled in Morocco after having escaped the persecution in Spain during the Reconquista. The Jews in Morocco presently number around 30,000. A number of sub-Saharan Africans have settled down (especially in southern Morocco) over the centuries. Initially brought as slaves, many have stayed on to make Morocco their home. The high rate of population growth (more than 2%) remains one of the biggest problems in Morocco today.

The majority religion is overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim. The Moroccan version of Islam is far from orthodox, and there is a great degree of variation in everyday practice. In big cities like Casablanca, there is no strict segregation of the sexes of the kind found in other Muslim countries. There is also a tiny Jewish minority.

Arabic is the official language, but spoken Moroccan Arabic (Drama) is very different from its Middle Eastern counterpart. French and Spanish are also spoken in the cities. The main Berber dialects are Amazigh spoken in the Middle Atlas area, Chleuh in the High Atlas and Riffian in the Riffian Mountains.

Moroccan culture, especially in its cities, is essentially a living example of liberal Islam. There is a strong influence of Berber folk traditions in the everyday practice of Islam. The two main ethnic groups are Arab and Berber, although in the cities, intermingling between the two communities has been on the rise, therefore it is not always possible to tell them apart. Moroccan crafts are often exquisite examples of skills nurtured and handed down over generations. Indeed, the cities of Fes and Maraakesh have still-functioning craft workshops where young apprentices are trained. The tourist industry is crucial to keeping many of these workshops alive. Morocco’s main craft exports are leather, carpets, woodwork and brass work.