DAY TEN (September 21, 2016) - Part II As this is somewhat of tourist destination more of the merchants here speak english so I am able to communicate in greater depth with some of the locals. As I go exploring the blue medina in search souvenir gifts an Amazigh (Pronounced A ma-zien) elder beckons to me as I walk past …"Sister, come into my shop" he says. The shop is filled with beautiful wears and trinkets, and his amazing paintings. The elder, wrapped in a yellow turban and a beautiful blue Moroccan robe, is from the ancient desert culture of the Amazigh people. "You look like a Berber (Amazigh) woman" he tells me. "Where are you from he asks?" I tell him, then when I tell him my name and then my father's Arabic name, he is pleased. He then blesses me with a prayer, takes my right hand and kisses it four times, then kneels at my feet and prays for me. He then begins to share the history of his ancient people. "I come here to sell my wears part of the year, then part of the year I go back to my people in the desert," he tells me. "In the desert we believe in nature, the Chakras, and that all people are from the root of the same tree." I nod and soak it in. "Let me play a song for you," and he begins to plays a magical song on a traditional Amazigh guitar. He allows me to take a few pictures, which he says he never does for tourists, as on an occasion one from Europe took his image without permission (with a pair of Google glasses) and won 7000 euros in a photo contest for it. I purchase some wears from his shop and he leaves me with a message…"You are a blessed spirit with a good heart, stay on the right path"…I leave feeling honored and blessed by his words.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Photo by Rachel Pearcy of GOA
AuthorIdris Hassan Archives
October 2016
Categories |