by Geoff | Feb 1, 2020 | Essaouira, Gnaoua, Morocco, Northern Africa, Zaouia
I had tried on three previous occasions to visit Sidna Blal, the zaouia des Gnawa, but the formidable woman who seemed to live there steadfastly refused all my entreaties to enter. Today I visited with this woman’s son, Youssef, a guimbri player training to...
by Geoff | Jan 12, 2020 | Essaouira, Morocco, Northern Africa, Street art
Downtown Mogadishu, circa 1991, amidst scenes depicting what appears to be the Somali Civil War, has temporarily been relocated to Essaouira. It is the location for a movie being made, so I am advised, by a South Korean film company. By the large murals on the...
by Geoff | Jan 2, 2020 | Essaouira, Marabout, Morocco, Northern Africa, Regraga, Shrine, Sufi, Zaouia
The zaouia/koubba of Sidi Ishaq is located beautifully on the Atlantic coast. It is a short caleche ride along sandy tracks from the small town of Sidi Ishaq some 3 miles inland. The caleche park is situated in the centre of the town just off the R301 which...
by Geoff | Dec 18, 2019 | Artist, Essaouira, Morocco, Street art
Disparate images from the vicinity of the harbour in Essaouira Share...
by Geoff | Dec 17, 2019 | Essaouira, Morocco
Dar Soltane ( the Sultan’s House built in the late 18th century ) is an impressive ruin in the sand dunes south of Essaouira. It was once the home of the sultan of Morocco, Sidi Mohamed III Ben Abdallah al Qatib. I initially considered including some of the...
by Geoff | Dec 16, 2019 | Essaouira, Juif, Mellah, Morocco
I had lunch today in the old Jewish Mellah in Essaouira, in a restaurant converted on the second ( top ) floor of a former Talmud Torah, or Jewish primary school. On the ground floor the building had been converted into a Day Hospital for people suffering with...
