Bzou
Bzou (بزو) is a town in the northwest corner of
With a population of approximately 4200 people in its center. Economically speaking, Bzou is heavily dependent on this basic agriculture and the extremely labor-intensive, handmade fabric for which it is famous.
Short history
According to a plethora of local sources, Bzou's original core and
Eventually, the limited accessibility and physical growth potential of Tagounte shifted the center over to the sprawling cluster of douwars where it currently resides. This current day center hosts two small souikas per week (the large, traditional souk is down the road in BaHi) and is located on the main paved road, which is under expansion.
Leo Africanus
Describing Bzou in his 16th-century work A Geographical Historie of Africa, Moroccan author, traveler and diplomat Leo Africanus (al-Hasan ibn Muhammad al-Wazzan al-Fasi) wrote:
THE ancient towne of Bzo is built vpon an high hill about twenty miles [30 km] westward from the towne last mentioned. Within three miles [5 km] of Bzo runneth the foresaid riuer of Guadelhabid. The townesmen are honest people, exercising merchandize, and going decently apparelled : To them which inhabite the deserts they carie cloth, oile, and leather. Their mountaines abound with oliues, come, and all kinde of fruits : and of their grapes they make euery yeere most excellent and sweete raisins. Figs they haue great plentie : and their walnut-trees are so high, that a puttocke may securely builde his nest vpon the tops : for it is impossible for any man to climbe vp. On each side of the way which leadeth from hence to the riuer Guadelhabid there are most pleasant and beautiful gardens. My selfe (I remember) was here present when their oranges, figs, and other fruits were growen to ripenes ; and was entertained by a certaine priest, who dwelt not farre from a stately Mahumetan temple, standing by that riuer which runneth through the market-place of the towne.[3]
Attractions
On the way to the famous waterfalls at
Another regional summer attraction is the town's annual festival in July–August. The festival, or moussem, features traditional music, theater and fantasia as well as a wide display of local artisans' products. Numerous local painters, potters and craftsmen put their stock up for sale, but the marquee item is sure to be Bzou's own high quality djellaba material, made entirely by hand with traditional methods, exclusively in this region.
Fantasia
Fantasia is a traditional equestrian performance practiced during cultural festivals throughout Morocco. It consists of a group of horse riders, wearing traditional clothes and charging along a straight path at the same speed so as to form a line. At the end of the ride (about two hundred meters) all riders fire in the sky using old gunpowder guns. The difficulty of the performance is synchronization during the acceleration and especially during firing so that one single shot is heard.
Etymology
One of the prevalent theories concerning the name of the town is that it was derived from the Berber root word "lbz" which refers to the process of spinning silk thread. This theory thus connects Bzou's history as a town of weavers to the origin of its name.
List of douwars within the commune
- Lamdarssa
- Douwar Shms
- Foum Teghia
- Foum Sheaba
- BaHi
- Akkermoud
- Ait BaHou
- Ait Wagin
- Ait Rabat
- Mazouz
- Ait Atmouli
- Iferghess
- Tamkdite
- Bal
- Aghbalou
- Achbarou
- Laataf
- Taashou
- Tagount
- Ikayen
- Tin Firt
- Argue
- Zalguen
- Oued el Abid
- Moughyaye
- Lekesser
- Nzala
- Ait Ali Oulhaj
- Lhafra
- Sheaba Hamra
- Tarkoukou
- Zangar
- Tinoualine
- Ouaourint
References
- ^ http://world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=1&men=gcis&lng=en&des=wg&geo=-134&srt=npan&col=abcdefghinoq&msz=1500&pt=c&va=&geo=-2354#. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
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(help)[dead link] - ^ According to a recent report by Morocco's Agence de Développement Social
- ^ "A Geographical Historie of Africa pg. 304". New York, B. Franklin. 1963. Retrieved 2013-03-25.