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Nomads in Morocco
The history of numerous countries includes nomadism. In certain nations, it is no longer a way of life, while it is still practiced in others. However, despite the country’s continued progress, nomadism is still a way of life in Morocco. In Morocco, the last remaining nomads continue to lead traditional lives. living in the same manner as their predecessors did 100 years ago. Together with the herd, they travel from one area to the next in search of the best pastures and the most comfortable weather. These two factors still force these small humanities to live in the wild of the Atlas Mountains, to engage in transhumance, and to carry on with what they see as a form of freedom.
The number of Moroccan nomads is declining every year as a result of the drought and changes in their environment. In the Atlas Mountains, for example, the Ait Atta tribe formerly consisted of 500 families, but today there are only approximately 50 nomads living there. While some lived in the valleys and villages to practice agriculture or any other vocations available, semi-nomads chose to continue their lifestyle but to settle in a tent or a cave, with no further movements.
Over 90% of the Amazigh nomads are Muslims, and they practice it in a deeply personal way. Without separating themselves from their culture or the distinctive language they have managed to preserve the most, they observe other Muslim obligations while celebrating Islamic holidays.
Where do nomadic people reside in Morocco?
Morocco only established a judiciary system 50 years ago. Every tribe has its own land and pastures, which they roam from from season to season in search of better water and herbs for their herd. Like the Ait Atta tribe, the majority of nomads in the Atlas Mountains live in goat-hair tents. Goats and perhaps a few camels would be the major sources of revenue.
Although they have pastures in the High Atlas, where they travel during the summer, Ait Atta are originally from the Jbel Saghro mountain, where they currently reside. Every May, families would travel by foot over a 15-day distance from the Saghro Mountains to the High Atlas, bringing their camels and goats along for the ride. The same journey would be made back to their home in the Saghro highlands by the time the first snow fell.
In small settlements that are frequently separated from one another, nomads also inhabit Morocco’s Sahara desert. They coexist peacefully with the arid Saharan environment. Sahara nomads can still be seen in large numbers in the western Sahara and in the vicinity of the Erg Chebbi dunes, where they dwell in various locations. Similar nomadic practices are practiced by Touareg nomads in northern Mali.
Some nomads in Morocco also reside in caverns, and they used to travel from one cave to another. similar to the other nomads, for similar reasons. The majority of cave families may be found in the Boutghrar region, the Dades river, and the vicinity of the Todgha gorges. Fortunately, we may refer to this kind of life, which still relies primarily on animals for food, as semi-nomadic.
In this situation, it’s not always the nomads who pick their way of life; frequently, it’s the other way around. The life of a nomad in the woods, living in tents or caves, is undoubtedly a difficult one.
Where to find food and everyday necessities:
Every district has a central souk market where nomads shop for provisions for a week or two. As an illustration, Nkob Village continues to be the main market where all the nomads in Jbel Saghro purchase their food and sell their goats. Every Saturday, there is a chance to see nomads in this village at the goat market. Since most nomads live in the wild, souks or weekly marketplaces are crucial to their way of life—not just for buying and selling, but also for visiting their relatives and learning the latest information.
In most areas, local transportation is offered to carry nomads to the market. The same local transportation is typically offered to convey nomads’ goats to the souk. As they did hundreds of years ago, Nomads frequently ride their mules to the market and then back to their camp the next day. For several members of the family, this weekly trip is their only connection to the outside world.
What attire do the nomads in Morocco wear?
The clothing of the Moroccan Nomads varies slightly depending on the mountainous area. Jellaba or Tajellabiyt is still a staple piece of clothing. The scarf, or shesh, is crucial for protecting both men and women from the heat of the summer and the cold of the winter, whether they are in the highlands or the desert.
Nomads in some Saharian regions dress in Draia, a blue complete dress that covers the entire body in a similar manner to a Jellaba. The Touareg nomads who live in southern nations like Mali and South Algeria are thought to be the originators of this style of attire.
The role of women in nomad culture:
A lady in the nomad civilization is a noble queen who faces daily challenges with her family. In addition to caring for the camp and the kids, women perform any task that males perform. Nevertheless, the authority of women differed from one tribe and clan to another.
In the Amazigh culture, as with all Berber nomads in Morocco, the woman is the artist. She creates carpets, blankets, and tents to shelter her family from this difficult life in the wilderness in addition to using Henna to play with colors at special occasions.
For ages, Amazigh nomad women have practiced the art of tattooing. On their faces and in their hands, you can see tattoos. This behavior is currently uncommon among the younger generations as a result of religious and cultural pressures.
The father’s or the husband’s employment typically justifies travel for souk and other reasons. Due to the numerous tribal disputes that existed in the past, it was once a perilous expedition. Therefore, in order to keep women and children safe, it is usually best to stay in or close to the tribal region where the tribe has made its seasonal home.
Daily life of a nomad:
Young children typically camp out with an adult, who will look after them and perform camp chores like bringing water close by. Women would help set the camp, provide wood for the fire, or frequently graze the goats all day. A family member’s daily tasks include bringing water from a source or well and seeing to the goats’ needs. Every member of the nomad family worries about these two things on a regular basis.
Men would go to the market once a week to sell goats or bring supplies. While women manage every aspect of the camp.
Activities in daily life vary according to the season. Everyone can always find something to do, from dawn till dusk, as we have observed. Any visitor will find the camp’s tranquility and scenic surroundings to be unsettling.
Education for the nomads:
Giving nomad children an education virtually amounts to changing their way of existence. In the majority of the areas where nomads reside, going to school is a luxury reserved for individuals who have family members who reside in a hamlet. That increases the likelihood that the children will attend school, which makes it harder on the parents and their way of life at the same time. The family finds it challenging to tuck their youngsters away.
Can children who have received an education support staying in a nomadic lifestyle? It’s undoubtedly one of the difficulties that nomads face.
It would be quite difficult for the nomads’ children to receive an education while living in the outdoors. Although this endeavor may get harder or disappear by giving a teacher who can follow the nomads wherever they roam, certain associations would take the lead and help to create a tent school for the nomads in some locations. particularly when the number of families keeps declining year after year.
How does tourism help the nomads in Morocco?
The nomads were able to communicate with the outside world by trekking across Morocco’s mountains while using their mules to transport travelers’ stuff. Since they make the greatest guides in these uncharted regions, nomads begin to get involved in mountain tourism. In addition to mountain vacations, camel trekking in the Sahara gave Nomads the chance to join camel caravans that allowed tourists to explore the Sahara’s hidden regions.
A homestay in the High Atlas and walking with nomads during their transhumance journeys are just a few of the unique experiences offered by some travel agencies, such as private desert trips. This kind of cultural vacation in Morocco helped many nomads provide a better life for their families and to maintain the nomadic lifestyle, which is in danger of disappearing.
