Nomadism, Moroccan Nomads Lifestyle and culture, Nomadism people, Morocco travel guide, Nomads in Morocco
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The term of “nomad” has become recently popular in modern fields. It is used excessively in diaspora, human rights, gender studies, and migration as well. Several researchers and practitioners consciously or unconsciously utilize it to mean various ends. Of these purposes, one is to convey the sense of a constant movement at a venture from one place to another, or from time to time. Indeed, nomadism is a major trait of Moroccan culture. Therefore, the essay expounds nomads in the first point. The second point is to highlight tribalism correlation with nomadism. The third and last focal point to tackle is nomadic contributions to the economy of the Kingdom of Morocco.

Who are nomads at large ?

Normally this questioned can be simplistically answered as follows. They are people residing in complete isolation from the cities, towns, and populated areas. So insufficient is this answer that lacks understanding of the fait accompli. Whenever a nomad is asked who are you in your country? I am my boss of myself. With this word, the answer communicates something very significant. It is their utter independence upon their own means and intellectual abilities in the service of their basic needs. For instance, they still use very old ways of treatment and medicine. Their body is usually devoid of chemicals and recent health problems disseminating among categories of children and old peoples. Their eating habits save their energy and resources to invest in more benefiting tasks, like bringing water from wells and collecting sticks and woods for cooking and heat and warm purposes.

Nomad Lifestyle

Their total isolation from the whole world has made them cognizant of their merciless destiny, unless they do not adopt and adapt their own working strategies for making living. Namely, they live on what they usually breed and look after cattle yearly and quarterly, such as camels, sheep, goats, and other kinds of animals. They sell the cattle in its due time to make money and do business. Mostly, they do not pay bills of electricity and water because they rely on their own selves. This is one reason behind the state’s ignorance, not to mention they appeal the concerned authorities to finance and support them during hard times. Sometimes, the state provides the sustenance to feed and rid them of temporary famine, such heavy snow in winter. Ultimately, nomads are best called self-dependent and tax-exempted citizens. They seem to be very conscious of their demanding role to uphold in a harder life although they are uneducated.

Tribalism and nomadism

The second point is to highlight tribalism correlation with nomadism. Nobody can deny this historical fact. The changing and compelling circumstances hold sway over the concept of tribalism and nomadism. Here, Moroccan tribes are dissimilar compared to Arab tribes or Latin tribes or elsewhere. The first and primary factor is the perception and weight of culture upon its own carriers. Moroccan nomads in Morocco are changing to be urban (civilized) people. I said in Morocco, because there Moroccans in other countries still bearing the nomad values and culture within urban settings. They shift from rural world to urban areas in order to benefit from urban facilities and drought of major green rural areas.

Nomad’s Amazighness or arabness

The Moroccan Nomads are seemingly Imazighen / Berbers or descendants of Arabs of Saudi origins. This reason makes difference between Moroccan nomads. The tribes differ from one to another, so that they can stand out among tribal categories. The culture of Arab tribes is mainly patriarchal; whereas, Imazighen /Berbers’ culture is matriarchal. In a word, the principal role of woman in these tribes is crystal clear. It ranges from sex object to self agent and self-reliant. Nomads are also culturally-driven; nomads impose their ancestors’ cultures on their family members. If you are not like us, you are not ours. That is to say, tribalism within the group is so strong. Modes of thought are ingrained since the childhood in connection with nomadism and tribalism. The sense of belonging to tribe and nomad family has been already absorbed and brought up with. Finally, nomad offspring fail to efface the memories of the past even though they seek out to rebel against tribal and nomad values and culture. This said that the corrupting influence of tribalism is hardly exempted from. It has become penetrable and invisible as well as powerful though.

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