Azilal
Azilal
ⴰⵣⵉⵍⴰⵍ / أزيلال | |
---|---|
UTC+1 (CET ) | |
Postal code | 22000 |
Azilal (
History
Azilal was originally a meeting place for various
Geography
Given the rich geology of the surrounding mountains, Azilal is the capital of the
South of Azilal, there is a 304.8-meter high mast for longwave broadcasting.
Demographics
Azilal is inhabited by Moroccans of both
Landmarks
Thursday Souq
Every Thursday, residents of Azilal and surrounding villages gather at the southwest end of the city to buy and sell goods in an open-air
Dinosaur statue
A dinosaur statue was built in Azilal to commemorate the establishment of the M'Goun Conservation Area. This statue is a popular attraction for both Moroccan and international tourists who stop to take pictures with it. At night, the statue is lit up with multi-colored lights and surrounded by water fountains.
Culture
Along with Muslim and national holidays, Azilal residents also celebrate the Amazigh New Year according to the Berber calendar. A celebration of the holiday is often held in either a local cultural center or youth center and features reenactments of moments in Amazigh history and the singing of Amazigh pop and folk music. For the Amazigh New Year, many families in Azilal prepare couscous with seven vegetables.
The traditional song and dance, ahaydus, is performed at most weddings and cultural events in Azilal. This call and response song has also been recorded by Amazigh pop artists and is occasionally played digitally rather than performed.
Other cultural practices such as saint worship and tribal face tattooing have begun to decline. These practices are now seen as sacrilegious by many Moroccans including those in Azilal. While the practices themselves are disappearing, facial tattoos can still be seen on older Amazigh women and the remains of shrines for saints are still standing in and around Azilal.
Notable people
Soufiane Bouftini, footballer
References
- ^ "M'Goun Geopark". GM-Soft. January 2019. Archived from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- ^ "M'Goun UNESCO Global Geopark". UNESCO. January 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2020.