Tales of Joujouka

by Mohamed Hamri

English (translation)

Genres: Morocco

47 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Nate Portnoy]

got while abroad visiting the ysl museum in Marrakech. it's a short collection of moroccan folk stories paired with hamari paintings. the stories were pretty much what you’d expect. some are quaintly antiquated, at times, while others felt as though they pulled deeper insight into the region’s traditions and lore.

i found myself laughing at times, seeing how people would react to the mundane - like seeing a rat or hearing a fart - with such religious fervor/expression. it reminds me of my friends immigrant parents, where every action is tied to a broader context of religion and spirituality. nothing really exists outside the scope of divine context and established myths

one surprising thing i learned was about the strong community of master musicians in joujouka. their overlap with western cultures is captivating. who would've thought that the master musicians of morocco played on a rolling stones track??? striking example of cultural exchange and the unexpected ways traditions intertwine. william boroughs was a fan of their music too. wild!

[Heidi Herriott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Folklore of tales from Morocco. It wasn’t what I expected. But thoroughly entertaining.

[Matthew Shackleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought in Tangier at the American Legation Museum. Wonderful.