Dr Aziz Cherkaoui : Men and Monuments of Marrakech.

He is the President of the Centre for Euromediterranean Culture of Morocco and is an elected member of the Municipality for the Region and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Marrakech (CCISM). He ha been elected to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Marrakech three times and was a member of Parliament from 1997 to 2002. He was vice president and president of the Commission for Foreign Affairs and national defence and for the same period he served as a deputy to the mayor of Marrakech Medina. He is the author of several books and articles and is actively involved in an number of associations and social issues.

He began work on "Hommes et Monuments" three years ago. When writing a book it is usually sourced from an individual's memory but he decided to reach out to the collective history of the people and places of Marrakech. When you have a book with photographs of a historic city like Marrakech it is obligatory to cover the full range of personalities and monuments which have enlivened the city .

Dr Aziz Cherkaoui was born in Marrakech and has studied and lived here and wanted to give back something to his city as a Marrakechi. He reflected for a longtime on what he could do and came up with the idea for "Men and Monuments" in memory of all the extraordinary personalities, both men and women, past and present who have contributed to the life of the city. He wanted to express his respect for them and ensure that they are not forgotten.

He looks at many groups such as the painters associated with Marrakech and finds a wealth remarkable and historical figures. This book is actually an inventory of artisans, private and professional individuals,doctors, architects, administrators and political personalities of the day. The book covers those who are from Marrakech or had a strong link with it. Why the title? Because "men make monuments", the book covers the streets and foundaks of Marrakech and everything that gives the city its unique identity.

He covers the specialities of Marrakechi cuisine identifying what is unique to Marrakech such as couscous or hergma . Each city in Morocco has its special dishes.He covers the regular events
which take place in Marrakech annually such as the Film Festival, the National Folklore Festival, art and poetry festivals and every event is listed with photographs. Films made in Marrakech are also covered such as "Marrakech Express" and Alfred Hitchcock's "The Man Who Knew too Much". When Hitchcock was working on the film he always stayed at the Cafe France in Jama El Fna. Dr Cherkaoui's friend, Sir Ben Kingsley, acted in the film "Harem" shot in Marrakech.

He describes the book as a memoire and a compendium of evryone and everything that has contibuted to thd fascinating reality of Marrakech. In his preface to "Men and Monuments" he says: "Marrakech you are great and you will always be great ". Marrakech has been an internationally famous city since the 15th century and there were many different nationalities living here. He has a special chapter on the Jewish history in Marrakech and the Mellah and its synagogues. Marrakech has always been a haven of tolerance and the Jewish community has a long history here.

He covers three catagories of personalities: men or women of yesterday , artists, philosophers and Intellectuals. International actors, and private individuals .

He includes a special chapter on the Seven Saints in Marrakech .He explains that when one visits the shrines of the Saints the visits has to be in a special order. Beginning with Sidi Youssef Ben Ali, then Cadi Ayad, Sidi Belaabes, Sidi Benslimane,Sidi Abdelaziz, Moul Ksour and Imam Souheili . This is especially important when foreigners come to Marrakech and look for good fortune and happiness ! and this is true even for non muslims. Ther are 70 or 80 other saints which are revered in Marrakech.
Lalla Mimouna is a gnawa saint in Bab Khemis celebrated in gnawa songs. Sidi Jabel is the saint of musicians . There is another saint who cares for small babies who are crying and so on.

He lists the mosques and foundaks, and the great streets in the Medina, and the Place Jama El Fna with photos from the last century, so one can see how the Place developed over time. Colleges and schools , the restaurants and maison d'hotes, different sights and signs of Marrakech and the Medina, the leading personalities of Marrakech and Marrakech today.

He plans for future updated editions to include new personalities , the monuments of course will stay the same.


The book is now published and with a wealth of photograph it is a unique record of a great city and a "must have" for anyone who knows and loves Marrakech.

The book is available in Marrakech at :
1- Librairie A C R -Gueliz -Bd Zerktouni-Gueliuz.
2- Librairie C H A T R - Bd Mohamed V -Gueliz

In Casablanca at :
1-Carrefour des arts -TRIANGLE D'OR- Rue Essanaani
2-Carrefour du Livre