The Storyteller of Marrakesh (28 page)

We left the Jemaa for the shelter of the souks, and as we did, unbeknownst to us, a man and a woman appeared on the periphery of the square. They walked slowly past the gleaming white calèches parked in rows for the night. The man was slender, bearded, the woman had long dark hair that came down to her waist. Emerging from the shadows, they hesitated on the verge of entering the Jemaa, as if unsure of their own intent. But the man suddenly extended his arms towards his companion and she hastened to him with a smile. He drew her to him and they clung together for a moment, her arms around his neck, her knees slightly bent. He kissed her on the forehead. She gave a languid laugh, unconscious of anything but their closeness. They entered the Jemaa arm in arm, and she led him to the middle of the square where the embers from a storyteller's fire still glowed dully on the pavement. They gazed down at the embers, their eyes reflecting the dying sparks. With a shy, almost girlish movement, she brushed his cheek in the lightest of caresses, while he reached for her hand and slowly stroked her long fingers, her palm, her wrist. Neither of them noticed the shadowy form watching intently from the darkness of a window bay. Everywhere around them was silence.

First and foremost,
The Storyteller of Marrakesh
owes everything to Nicole Aragi, who, among many happy synchronicities, shares my love of Marrakesh and all things Moroccan.

My indefatigable editor, Alane Salierno Mason, is beyond compare; no words would suffice to adequately acknowledge her contribution.

Grateful thanks to Denise Scarfi who gives so much, so often.

Thanks to Louise Brockett, Ingsu Liu, Jeannie Luciano, Winfrida Mbewe, Amy Robbins, Bill Rusin, Nomi Victor, Chris Welch, Devon Zahn, Nancy Palmquist, Don Rifkin, Tara Powers, and all at W.W. Norton.

I owe a great debt to those who inspired me to persevere: JoAnne Akalaitis, Atish Bagchi, Thomas Bartscherer, Valeria Berchicci, Karl Heinz Bittel, Ronald Briggs, Lana Cable, Marisa Caramella, Sebastienne Charrier, Stephanie and Christopher Cherdel, Elizabeth Frank, Jim Hanks, Chris Hedges, Maryline Herron, Liz van Hoose, Pierre Joris, Gerald Jung, Benjamin La Farge, Rachel Lambusson, Torgil and Jennica Lenning, Mathilde Levitte, Alexandra Ludwig, Gail and Robert C. Ludwig, Eshragh Motahar, Lily Oei, Patricia and Donald Pitcher, Julie Pulerwitz, Joan Retallack, Robert de Saint Phalle, Françoise Songe, Marielle Songe, Benjamin Stevens, Claudia Strobel, Françoise Ostriker van Willem, Maurizio Zollo.

Finally, this book was inspired by Stefanie Herron.

ABERDAG:
Dance; a musical movement of a
RWAI
performance.

AL QARAWIYIN:
Vies with Al-Azhar in Cairo for the title of the world's oldest university. It was founded in 857 by the daughter of a wealthy refugee from the city of Qarawiyin in Tunisia.

ALHAMDULLILAH:
All praise is due to Allah; praise to God.

ALMORAVIDS:
The first great Berber dynasty of Morocco (1062–1147) founded by Youssef ben Tachfine (1061–1107); the Almoravids originated from a tribe of Sanhaja Berbers in present-day Mauritania.

AMANAR:
The guide; the constellation Orion.

EL AMARA:
“The red”, indicating Marrakesh (also
AL-HAMRA
, “red-walled city” or “red city”).

AMARG:
The sung piece, the heart of a
RWAI
performance.

AMMUSSU:
The choreographed overture of a
RWAI
performance.

AMYDAZ:
Poet; the leader of a group of
IMDYAZN
.

ANDALUS:
From the Andalusian region of southern Spain.

ARIB:
Ruhhal tribe of the Western Sahara.

ARYANA:
Naked; Moroccans often refer to an unveiled woman as “naked”.

ASTARA:
An instrumental prelude to a
RWAI
performance, played on the
RABAB
, giving the basic notes of the melodies that follow.

B'STILLA:
Pigeon pie from Fès.

BAB:
City gate.

BABOUCHES:
Leather slippers, usually yellow.

BADAJOZ:
The battle of Badajoz (1086) in which the
ALMORAVIDS
, tribesmen from the High Atlas Mountains, crossed into Spain and defeated the Christian army under Alfonso VI, King of Castile and León.

BARAKALAUFIK:
Thank you, please.

BENDIR:
Frame drum.

BERBER:
Native African inhabitants of Morocco who form the majority of the present population.

BESSALAMA:
Goodbye.

BISMILLAH IR-RAHMAN IR-RAHIM: “
In the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate”.

BOUBOU:
Voluminous, floating embroidered robe originating from Senegal and other black African countries.

BURNOUS:
Voluminous woollen cloak worn by both men and women.

CASA VOYAGEURS:
The main railway station in Casablanca.

CHABAB:
Adolescent, unmarried youth.

COUSCOUS:
A staple made from semolina, wheat flour and water.

DARBUKA / DOUMBEC:
Metal or clay goblet-shaped drum.

DARIJA:
Arabic dialect of Morocco, which bears little resemblance to classical Arabic.

DEFF:
A double-sided tambourine.

DELLAHS:
Watermelons.

DERB:
Street.

DESS:
Flooring made of pounded lime mixed with clay.

DIRHAM:
Unit of Moroccan currency.

EL MAGHREB AL AQSA:
“The land of the far west”; “place of sunset”.

ERG:
Expanse of sand or a ridge of dunes.

FANTASIAS:
Display of horsemanship at the larger festivals or
MOUSSEMS
.

FASSI:
Native of Fès.

FEKKAS:
Sweet aniseed biscuits.

FIL-BADIA:
In the desert.

FIRWAL:
Veil.

FNAA:
End of the world.

FOUNDOUK:
Inn and storehouse; caravanserai.

FOUQIYA / JABADOUR:
Long men's garment secured at the front.

FOUTA:
Traditional scarlet-and-white-striped garment typically worn by the women of the Rif mountains.

F'QIH:
A Muslim religious authority, an expert on
FIQH
, or religious scholarship. By extension, a
F'QIH
is also a teacher of any kind, regardless of subject taught or level of instruction.

FUSHA:
Classical Arabic.

GANDOURA:
Short, loose, sleeveless garment.

GHAITAH:
A type of oboe.

GIMBRI / GUENBRI:
A long-necked folk lute.

GLISSA:
Cushion.

GNAOUA:
Religious brotherhood of itinerant musicians of West African origin (from the same root as Guinea).

GUEDRA:
A large drum resting on the ground.

HABIBI:
My dear.

HABRA:
Steak.

HADITH:
Collections of sayings and stories attributed to the Prophet Mohammed; six major collections of Hadiths were eventually compiled.

HAJJI:
A person who has made the pilgrimage to Mecca.

HAMADA:
Stony, arid plateau in the Sahara.

HAMMAM:
Turkish bath.

HANBEL:
Carpet or blanket worn by Berbers.

HAND OF FATIMA:
Representation of the hand of the Prophet Mohammed's daughter, Fatima Zahra, said to be a sign of good luck.

HARATIN:
Formerly of the slave class.

HARISSA:
A condiment made from puréed hot red peppers.

HEGUIN:
Of the two lines of camels in the Sahara, the Heguin is the larger, and is prized as the unmatched transport truck of the desert; the other is the smaller
MEHARI
, known for its speed.

HELBA:
Sweetmeat.

HOURI:
The extraordinarily beautiful women who exist only in Jannat (paradise) in the afterlife. Their beauty is said to be beyond parallel.

ILM:
Knowledge.

IMAZIGHEN:
Noble or freeborn, as the Berbers consider themselves.

IMDYAZN:
Itinerant professional musicians of the Atlas Mountains.

IMOHAR: TUAREG
nobleman.

INADEN: TUAREG
craftsmen, smiths, also storytellers and transmitters of oral traditions.

INSHALLAH:
God willing.

JAMUR:
Roof spike made of enamelled baked clay or metal carrying up to five balls of diminishing size and often crowned by the Moroccan national emblem, a star inside a crescent moon.

JBEL:
Mountain.

JEBANA:
A long-necked vessel to serve coffee.

JEHUDI:
Jew.

JELLABA:
Wide-sleeved garment worn by both men and women.

JEMAA:
Mosque; or village assembly of the heads of families in Berber tribes; or a place of assembly; or Friday, the main day of worship.

JEMBE:
Goblet-shaped, skin-covered drum held between the thighs and meant to be played with bare hands.

JINN:
Evil spirit.

KAFTAN:
Long women's garment secured at the front and decorated with
passementerie
and embroidery.

KARKABATS:
Double castanets used by the
GNAOUA
musicians.

KASBAH:
Fortified house with crenellated towers; citadel.

KEFTA:
Spiced meatballs.

KEL: TUAREG
tribe;
TUAREG
society is divided into
kels
.

KHAMSIN:
An oppressively hot south or south-east wind occurring in North Africa and lasting for fifty days in spring (from the Arabic
kamsin
, or fifty).

KHETTARA:
Underground irrigation channels.

KIF:
Marijuana.

KILIM:
A woven rug.

KSAR:
Fortified village surrounded by solid walls set with towers (from classical Arabic,
qasr
, or palace).

LA BES DARIK:
Hello.

LEVECHE:
A warm wind originating in the Sahara and moving towards Spain; also called the sirocco in other parts of the Mediterranean.

LOTAR:
Lute.

MAALEM:
A master craftsman.

MABROUK:
Congratulations.

MAGHREB:
“Land of the setting sun”. From
gharb
(west), it is the Arabic name for the westernmost part of the Arab world comprising Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.

MAGHREBIN:
A dweller of the
MAGHREB
.

MAKHZEN:
Festival tent.

MANIYYA:
Fate as allocated death.

MAQTU'A:
Old and poor.

MARABOUT:
A holy man, and his place of burial.

MARRAKESH:
“Open door to the desert”.

MARRAKCHI:
Native of Marrakesh.

MAURI:
Western Berber tribes, inhabiting Mauritania.

MECHOUAR:
Assembly place, court of judgement, parade ground.

MECHOUI:
Roast lamb.

MEDERSA:
Qur'anic school with resident students.

MEDINA:
Traditional Arab city enclosed by ramparts.

MEHARI: TUAREG
camels.

MELLAH:
Jewish quarter of a
MEDINA
.

MENARA:
A public garden in Marrakesh with a central pool and pavilion.

MERGUEZ:
Spicy lamb sausage.

MINBAR:
The pulpit from which the imam leads the Friday midday prayers.

MOGADOR:
Island off the bay at Essaouira.

MOKALHA:
Long-barrelled, intricately worked silver-plated rifles from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, prized by Berber tribesmen and used on ceremonial occasions such as
FANTASIAS
.

MOURCHIDAT:
A woman preacher educated by the state to teach and interpret the Qur'an, though not to lead prayers.

MOUSHARABIYYA:
Wooden latticework panel used as a screen in front of balconies or in the windows of houses and mosques.

MOUSSEM:
Pilgrimage festival.

NAI:
Flute.

NAKOUS:
A small cymbal played with two rods.

NASIB:
Remembrance of the beloved; the first movement of the pre-Islamic ode or
qasida
.

NASRANI:
Nazarene (Christian); more generally, foreigner.

NISHAN:
Honest.

OUD:
Lute.

OUED:
Wadi; dried-out river channel.

PALMERIAE:
Famous palm grove in Marrakesh.

PASTILLA:
Pigeon pie, also known as
B'STILLA
.

PERI:
A fairy; a beautiful or graceful being.

PISÉ:
Building material made of sun-baked earth, grit and occasionally straw.

PISTE:
Trail, path, track.

QAHBA:
Whore.

QA'ID:
Chief of a defined territory; district administrator.

QALB:
Heart.

QAYSARIA:
Covered galleries in the souks.