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The Festival of Beni Ammar-Moulay Driss Zerhoune: In honour of donkeys and Moroccan Culture
From 5th to 7th of July 2013
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Festibaz 2013

 

The first weekend of July, in the nice large village of Moulay Driss Zerhoune, there takes place the 11th edition of a festival which has acquired its letters of nobility and which is talked about very far away, in Europe, in the African countries, the Persian Gulf and, of course, in the whole Kingdom of Morocco.
Horse lovers (therefore also donkey lovers !!), nature lovers and above all lovers of authenticity with the little touch of exotic and adventure that is necessary to discover Morocco off the beaten track, men, women and children of the whole world are invited, as every year, to take part in this extraordinary moment of conviviality.

 

In Morocco, the horse is a royal attribute

In Morocco, the horse is a royal attribute

 

But how, starting from the horse can you get to the donkey without ridiculing it, you will ask ? The answer is very simple : in Morocco, at least as much as elsewhere, horse meetings are for a select public or are celebrated in private circles, often attributed to princes and princesses. Impenetratable ! From this has come this thirst for adventure, for freedom which has gripped us, looking for a reality which touches the common people in Morocco.

 

The donkey : a childhood friend and companion in misery

The donkey : a childhood friend and companion in misery

 

We have therefore chosen to take the very sinuous ways, from the Imperial Town of Meknès and its rich farming region (The flower of teh farming developmenet programme « Green Morocco » undertaken by the Moroccan authorities) to get to the crest of the montanous circle of Roman ruins of Volubilis, and then above this high place of pilgrinage there is the « darih » (mausoleum) of Moulay Driss Zerhoune, and then still further towards the interior of the land , to the feet of the hamlet of Beni Ammar. A little disinherited village ? This would be without knowing the spirit of initiative of its inhabitants, and in particular of the Belemou family to whom we owe this so sympathetic and from now on greatly publicised « Donkey Festival of Beni Ammar » !

 

The Belemou cousins : a doctor and a journalist poet

The Belemou cousins : a doctor and a journalist poet

 

Both are named Mohammed, both are involved 1000% in the organisation of the donkey festival. It is not easy therefore to distinguish Mohammed Belemou from Mohammed Belemou, i fit wasn’t that one is doctor and the other a journalist. But they both have this faculty of transmitting a formidable positive energy in favour of the Beni Ammar Festival. But be careful ! Make no mistake : no satirical representation of the donkey is tolerated here, just the contrary !!
The Belemou wanted to make a stirriing homage to the donkey, this companion of the miseries of humanity, he who, since time immemorial has shared the fate of the most humble, by accepting on his back the heaviest burdens, never flinching before any of the most thankless taskes. This is why it was really worth dedicating a Festival to donkeys and their infinite goodness.

 

 

The donkey must be respected, cared for and protected

 

The donkey must be respected, cared for and protected

 

In the Festival programme, there are bouts of all kinds, , competitions of morphology, docility, address and velocity : each has his speciality and the champions are numerous in all the different categories !
However during each appearance, each confrontation, the donkeys are checked by a very competent veterinary committee. A college of veterinaries ensures that the donkeys are in good health, that they are not limping or injured. And above all participants who mistreat their animals are disqualified unobligingly !

 

Intellectuals from all over the world will be present
at the Festival of Beni Ammar 2013

Intellectuals from all over the world will be present at the Festival of Beni Ammar 2013

 

To underline still more the respect of men for animals , their eternel servants, it has been decided that the „Festival of Donkeys of Beni Ammar-Moulay Driss Zerhoune“ will also be a cultural festival. So, each, year, painters writers, poets and visionaries of all kinds are invited to converge towards this so attractive region of Morocco.
In the imposing building of the House of Culture of Moulay Driss Zerhoune, as in the other sites in the town, conferences and exhibitions provide pleasure for the visitors coming from all origins, cultures and tendances. This event is truly remarkable, as it is an authentic hymn of praise to tolerance.

 

Songs, Dances and Traditional Music

Songs, Dances and Traditional Music

 

Popular tradition will fill the whole weekend of the Festival. From the first rhythmic clamours by the « ghaita aissaouia » who will rise up the white lanes of Beni Ammar, a labyrinth solidly anchored in the arid hillside, to the cries of children circumcised due to charity work offering this ceremony to the poorest families, all on this land of the region of Tafilalt El Menzeh it will just be a hubbub of joy.

To go to meet Morocco and its unhabitants on the simple pretext of taking part in the Beni Ammar donkey Festival, especially when you are attached to the values of the earth, could perhaps be leaving on one of the most enchanting voyages of a lifetime. So don’t miss this chance !

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