More Jewellery

More jewellery for the knitter from Arika arts

Jewellery

The knitter wants to buy some jewellery from Afrika Arts. Here are some of the items which may be suitable.

A Demonstration to Support Gaza

After Friday prayers there was a little demonstration in the main square in support of Gaza. It burst into the square from I think the nearby mosque, about 100+ people with half a dozen banners and a dozen palestinian flags. They were chanting slogans and carrying a small size coffin effigy. The overwhelming feature of the demonstration was, like the Mayday parade, how dignified it was. They sang a couple of good hearty presumably protest songs, in two parts, with chant and reply much like any cold war communist demo; shouted "God is Great" a couple of times; listened to an amplified speech of only about 5 minutes length (British union leaders could learn a lot); solemnly burnt something, I think it was the coffin but as Beloved said, at least it wasn't a Welsh flag; chanted a couple more slogans and dispersed. About 20 minutes from start to finish.
They were watched from a distance by rather more police than usual say a dozen in all and there were a few army types with them and two more serious observers in suits. We had noticed an army type lurking near the mosque on the Bab Taghout road going in, just as at the height of the Benghazi bombing, but the whole thing could not have been more dignified and to the point; Focussed would be a good description.

Back in the sun

It's Islamic New Year. Not everything is shut but the number of drums for sale suggest that the whole population are going to have 2 each.
The garden is doing well and the hedge has lost its holes and the roses are in full bloom. Only one of the new plants has died and that's the one on the patio which we watched the birds peck at so we don't have to look far for the cause. I'm not sure about the longterm survivability of the yuccas though and expect that by this time next year those pots may be occupied by cacti.

We shopped ahead of new year and of course there is no lamb to be had as post-Eid everyone has a freezerful although we did manage to get beef. We followed pickups piled with sheepskin back from Agadir, presumably heading for the Tannery, of which Mohamed Elmeddah tells us more:

     Craftsmanship or the Tannery is one of the oldest centres in Taroudant. It’s a place where tanners make all leather and wool products.The time of its peak production is the days following Eid El Adha when people slaughter sheep and send wool and skins to the tannery. These products such as leather belts,slippers, hats, wallets, bags, sandals… attract people from all over the world ( tourists). Those products are not only exported to other cities all over Morocco such as Fès, Marrakech, etc but also to many European countries such as Italy, France, Germany, Spain...

     The local markets are rich with such leather and woollen products and articles that are used as ornaments or furnishings  in houses such as  rugs of sheep or goatskin or cowhide,or as clothes such as leather jackets and slippers, which are bought in different religious ceremonies.

                                    

Tafroute Again

I Have never really "got" Tafroute. People write songs about it and wax lyrical on the page but to me it seems a pretty ordinary if tourist orientated town. We had never stayed overnight , just passed through , so we decided to stay to see if we were missing something. We stayed at the Hotel des Amandines which overlooks the town with wonderful views and has a swimming pool which Beloved enjoyed. (I had managed to leave my costume in Blighty.) I was taken by their Saarinen contemporary copy tables and chairs on the terrace.
Beloved was quite excited by one of the other guest's classic Citroen.
We wandered round town in the day and evening. Had a nice meal. But, I still don't get Tafroute. I'd rather stay at Kerkous any day.

Couscous

Here Soukayna Mechouk describes how to make couscous.

     Hi! I would like to welcome you in my mini-project which is going to be about « Couscous ».

     Couscous is another popular dish in Taroudant and all over Morocco. For Moroccan families, it is the favourite dish on Fridays. It is a very respectful meal associated with the prayer of Friday in muslim countries. It is then, part of our traditions and customs. Couscous is a meal that brings people and members of families together when they eat, and it strengthens their relationships. In my city Taroudant, when people are not served couscous, they feel as if something is missing from them. It is also prepared in celebrations such as marriage,…

     HOW TO MAKE COUSCOUS :

-The ingredients :

   *1 kilo of couscous

   *1 kilo of meat of beef or mutton, you can also use chicken

   *2 or 3 carrots, 3 tomatoes, 1 big onion, zucchini and squash

   *Parsley (you may add coriander too)

   *2 big spoons of vegetable oil or olive oil

-The spices :

   *1/2 spoon of salt,

   *1/2 spoon of pepper,

   *1/2 spoon of cumin, pinch saffron is optional.

   *1/2 spoon of smen ( butter ghee)

   *1 litre of water.

     You will need a couscous pot : the top of it is used to steam the couscouss, the bottom is used for the sauce by which we include all the ingrediants and spices we mentioned  mixed them together.

Igherm

Igherm is a transport hub in the middle of the Anti-Atlas. It has roads to Taroudant, Taliouine, Tata and Tafroute. Its public buildings are particularly attractive with their Amizigh inspired architecture.