The Kasbah - Spring Newsletter 1997.
MD's CommentHollywood goes to Imlil! The breathtaking scenery of Imlil and the High Atlas mountains became the backdrop for scenes in a new film about the early life of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists. As 1997 trips are underway, it is our busiest year so far in Morocco, so if you wish to get the trip dates you require, particularly around the popular Easter and October dates, we are now taking reservations for 1998/1999. We have been running increasing numbers of trekking expeditions for schools and colleges accompanied by Omar, a qualified Alpine mountain leader. From the positive feedback received, we are keen to make schools more aware of the exciting possibilities of expeditions to more remote valleys. For a school expedition out of term time, trekking in the High Atlas gives reasonably fit walkers an insight into another world and makes a worthwhile visit to a contrasting culture. Lastly, for those who know Omar and family, we congratulate him on becoming a grandfather last December! Baby Karim, was born to Omar’s daughter Bouchra and her husband Sahid in Marrakech.
Hollywood goes to Imlil!Martin Scorsese, the film director, has been making a film in Morocco about the early life of the Dalai Lama who was forced to flee to India when the Chinese occupied Tibet. This film has now become the centre of a major issue between China, who have asked for the film to be cancelled, and Disney studios who will distribute the film. What has this to do with Imlil? Well, last November the Kasbah was temporarily transformed into the Tibetan Monastery of Dungkar, to which the Dalai Lama fled from Tibet. Filming has been based at film studios in Ouazarzate, but moved to Imlil for 3 weeks of set preparation and 3 day's shooting using Tibetan actors and extras and film crew. The Kasbah was clad with stonework, prayer wheels, wooden doors and Tibetan domes! The film crew plus 100 Tibetans, 45 horses and 2 yaks "invaded" the valley. Local villagers were employed during this quiet winter season to meet the 33 4x4 vehicles and 10 lorries carrying all sorts of film equipment for transportation up to the Kasbah. Omar was a key co-ordinator between the village and the location crew. Snow was made from Epsom salts and the weather for the days of filming last December was all that the art directors had wished for - sunshine with a scenic sprinkling of snow on the mountain backdrop. Local Village InvolvementPart of the location fee has been given to the newly formed Imlil Village Association, a new NGO, to use the development jargon, which should enable the villages represented to work with outside agencies in an officially recognised format. They will use the money to help fund projects to benefit the villages, including setting up of a system that begins to deal with the growing litter problem. Trekking "off the beaten track" with Comberton Village SchoolIn early November last year this group set out to visit the more remote Berber tribes living in the valleys on the southern side of Jbel Toubkal. This required crossing some of the highest passes in the Atlas range, all over 3600m high. So a route was chosen that best matched the group’s enthusiasm with their ability and the autumn climate. Although it was cold, they were lucky to miss the first snows of winter, the first flakes falling as they returned to Marrakech. Some of the days required a 6 o'clock wake up call but the early start was appreciated when they reached the High Atlas passes for lunch and spectacular views down towards the Pre-Sahara. Each day revealed different scenery across five different valleys in 4 days. The agriculture in the valleys changed as well as the resident tribe's traditions and exposure to outside influences. Each different tribe also showed a distinct style in their customs and dress. The return to Marrakech proved a stark contrast to the peace of the mountains, as the students took to haggling avidly! Villagers from Imlil say they also find the intensity, hustle and excitement of the city to be overwhelming at times. It is hoped that the students returned to Britain with a unique experience of a way of life that is far removed from their lives in Europe. Geography Factfile: MoroccoPopulation, Agriculture & Trade, Health & Education To aid teachers looking at development issues in a less developed country, we have included more background statistics and information on Morocco.
Growth rate = 2.09%. Despite government attempts to curb it, the rural to urban migration is continuing, putting pressure on city services. HEALTH AND EDUCATION The World Bank is investing $54 million in Moroccan education which is recognised as needing urgent reform by the government in order to catch up with other North African states. Health care is also to receive $68 million of World Bank money. Life expectancy has increased from 47 in 1960 to 64 in 1995 and the infant mortality rate has reduced by half since 1970 to 67 per 1000 births. 1995 estimates are lower at 45.8 deaths/1000 live births. The unfortunate consequence of this is having to provide for this population, half of which being under 20. AGRICULTURE, TRADE AND TOURISM Morocco's economy is heavily dependant on the performance of the agricultural sector. For example, contraction in GDP is linked to drought in 1995, whereas the bumper harvests of 1996 have led to GDP growth. The recent liberalisation of world trade has meant Morocco will find it easier to compete in Europe especially in sectors such as textiles and shoes, both areas where Morocco's cheap labour costs will give it a competitive advantage. Tourism is the second biggest foreign currency earner with receipts up on 1995 by 21%. The biggest foreign currency earner is still Moroccan expatriate remittances. New Year in MoroccoWould you like to get your first impressions of Morocco over the New Year? Why not combine it with a holiday by changing your flight dates to explore Morocco on your own before or after the inspection visit? Work on Environment ProjectsDo you or any of your students want to work on an environment project in Imlil? An 8 day trip in July 1997 will include participation in a practical project in the local environment. If you are tired of being a "spectator" on visits abroad, you will be giving two days of your trip to work on cleaning up the sites which tourists use (and sometimes abuse). The trip will finish up in the Imperial city of Fes. The trip will be led by a small group from Colchester Sixth Form College, who previously sent a student group to the village of Tinourhine to work with local villagers, bringing cement and equipment to build a proper water supply to the village. We have a few spaces for individuals who would like to join this trip - contact the office for more details! Talks at Your School / CollegeThinking of a trip? We offer talks at your school to parents, other staff or students. Please contact Jacquie at the office for details and for your copy of our video. Ancient spiritual traditions, goat-men and a sheep crisisThe Berbers of the High Atlas like the majority of Moroccans are Muslims, but have overlaid their type of Islam on their original animist beliefs worshipped before the Arab armies invaded from the east in the 8th century AD. One of the many ancient festivals still practised is that of Bulmao which is an animist tradition that has been "tagged on" to the Muslim festival of Aid el Kebir.. Three of the fittest men in the village, wearing freshly killed goatskins (arms through the front legs and legs through the back legs of the goat and the head of the goat coming over the man's head so he can see out of the eye holes and talk through the mouth. The horns give it that extra scary look) terrorise the villages. For two days these men are the spirit of the mountains. They chase the kids who alternately goad or act very frightened. The goatmen run all round the villages with big sticks and throw bags of ashes. To newcomers and tourists in the mountains the whole scene is bizarre. They also collect donations for the communal village fund. Last year however, the annual Bulmao was slightly less dramatic because the government made it a finable offence to kill sheep and goats. Why? Each family aspires to slaughter a sheep for Aid el Kebir and the shortfall in sheep has had to be imported by the shipload, so many in fact that it has affected the country's balance of payments. So this year the Government set out to find how many goats and sheep were available in Morocco for the feast and to estimate stocks and shortfall. However, when people were asked how many animals were in their flocks everyone suspected new taxes on sheep and decided to grossly underestimate. The Government were alarmed at the low animal stocks, proclaimed it "a crisis" and banned people from sacrificing any animals last year. The effect on Bulmao was that instead of 3 impressive costumes we got two and one "scraggy lad" with old sheep skins wrapped around him. He was as a consequence a lot faster and could hit the children more effectively. This year all the children are hoping for a return to normal.
Tel: +44 (0)1883 744392 Fax: +44 (0)1883 744913 "Timbers", Oxted Rd. Godstone Surrey RH9 8AD UK e-mail discover@discover.ltd.uk info@discover.ltd.uk to request specific information our ATOL licence number is 3274 and our ABTA membership is V4335
|