November 8, 2025 • 33 mins
In this episode of The Marrakech Riad Podcast, we sit down with Zouhair, co-founder of the World Storytelling Festival in Marrakech. From tales passed down in Jemaa el-Fna to contemporary voices shaping Morocco’s cultural scene today, Zouhair shares how storytelling lives at the heart of the city and why the festival has become a global gathering for storytellers and curious travelers. He talks about the magic of listening, the responsibility of preserving tradition, and how stories can connect people across languages and borders. Zouhair also shares his must-visit places in Marrakech, from quiet corners and hidden riads to the spots where the city’s soul feels strongest, offering thoughtful guidance for anyone wanting to experience Marrakech beyond the surface.
The Marrakech Riad Podcast brings you tips, advice, and inspiring stories to help you make the most of your visit to Marrakech.
The Marrakech Riad Podcast brings you tips, advice, and inspiring stories to help you make the most of your visit to Marrakech.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello and welcome to the Marrakesh Read Podcast. Today we
are joined by two co founders of the World Storytelling Festival.
Zoo Hair, Hello and welcome to the America's REAP podcast.
Good morning, and Mike, Hello and welcome back to you,
so Zoo Hair. Let's talk about storytelling for those that
(00:20):
perhaps are actually very unaware of the artist storytelling. Perhaps
let's start with what is storytelling?
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Well, if there is one thing that that everyone shares
with the with no exceptions, which are stories. Everyone shares stories.
That's what we do since we wake up till we
go to sleep, even probably after sleeping, we tell ourselves stories.
That's all reams are about. And it's it's a universal art,
(00:49):
uh that she's that she's done orally at least the
type of storytelling we do. And it's everywhere. It's in
the UK, it's in Morocco, it's in Vietnam, it's everywhere.
But Markish it is believed and I'm going to be
biased here that it is the world capital of storytelling?
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Is it really?
Speaker 1 (01:10):
And is that something that has been part of the
culture here for a long time?
Speaker 2 (01:14):
It is it's we have at least a thousand year
all tradition of storytelling, especially in Jamathn Square. Maybe we
can we can speak about it more along the podcast, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Mike Will we will come on to talking about the
festival itself because that was something that was founded in
twenty twenty one really.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Too, first edition.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
Yeah, so it really grew out of the well, first
of all, the World Storytelling Cafe which Lucy founded before
COVID working with John Roe, and all the excitement and
energy and community that built around that during the lockdown
period there was an amazing group of people who came
(01:58):
together and at each other and shared stories. And then
the first Storytelling Festival was was it January two thousand
and one, twenty two, so it was the first cultural
event in Morocco, I believe in North Africa Africa after lockdown,
(02:19):
So it was just extraordinary. Actually, so we had I
think about twenty international storytellers, which was fantastic and then
of course Moroccans, so around fifty storytellers and we made
the thing. There were so many wonderful memories. But we
did a procession through the suits which was absolutely fantastic.
Zoo hair, your word, your words, what happened?
Speaker 2 (02:43):
So it's it's it's one of the things that money
cannut really buy. It's really a feeling around the procession,
the parade. Everyone calls it something and for sure it
was very factful for the storytellers, for the physiplan for
the city because it really feels like because for two
(03:08):
years there were no tourists in Markish, hardly anything happening,
and then all of a sudden, we have a group
of flambuoyant looking storytellers all over the Souk of Markish
walking and like with now a music, they were walking
dancing and have been very loud and cheerful, and that
(03:29):
felt like blood is going through the veins of Markish
once again. And that's really it's it's it's really what
opened the cultural scene in Morocco after COVID.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
And I guess at the heart of storytelling, it's about
people coming together, isn't it, And it's about bringing people
from all different walks of life to be sharing one moment,
one experience.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Yeah. So we're really talking about the tradition of oral
stellic storytelling, mouth to voice. So we're not talking about
reading books or other forms that sort of performance. We're
talking about a group of individuals, not too loud for
everybody to hear one person speaking with their amplification telling.
It could be a personal story, it could be a
(04:15):
traditional story, but they're really sharing something of themselves and
of their culture with their listener on an individual basis.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
And it's a really community based. Art needs a community
and it needs a circle.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
And so the Welsh Storytelling Festival started twenty twenty two.
Over the years it's grown and grown, and that's both
in the number of storytellers but also in the number
of people that are coming along. So talks to us
about this year. So twenty twenty five's Weld Storytelling Festival.
What happened and how was it?
Speaker 2 (04:51):
One thing I noticed about, I mean the third edition,
which was in twenty twenty five, is the the growing
number of travelers who come to Morocco, only four for
the festival, and I'm talking international visitors. I'm talking also
(05:12):
about visitors from Morocco. I mean it's tins and even
not hundreds of them came to the city to enjoy
the festival. I mean, of course, even the storytellers, one
hundred and six storytellers that whole week. It's becoming really
a crazy festival and we do it like twenty four
to seven. So for seven days, it's stories every day,
(05:37):
all day, every hour.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
And I'm correct in saying there was even a world
record set.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
Yeah, let me give you the festival. The numbers. One
hundred and six storytellers from thirty three country speaking more
than twenty storytelling in more than twenty languages.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
We had a huge outreach program in the schools. On
our biggest day, we sent forty eight storytellers out on
the same day to do workshops. Over the course of
the week, we reached more than five thousand children. Wow,
many of them in schools that have relatively little arts
in ports. So absolutely incredible energy across the region. Storytelling
all across the old town, in cafes, in museums, in theaters,
(06:15):
and all sorts of venues, in the street, in the
open air. We had a tent in the square which
was a permanence and we broke the world record for
continuous storytelling. We had Guinnea here to officiate and got
a huge amount of media attention, of course, but it
was great fun. There was an amazing energy around.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
And what was the record, what was the number?
Speaker 2 (06:36):
It's eighty hours, wow, thirty two. I mean we did
practically we did ninety five. Wow. The official number declared
is eighty eighty hours, thirty two or thirty five minutes.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
And that was the world record set. That was a
Branding official world record, which is.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
The first recorded. So I mean we did our an
official one in a second edition, we did fifty, but
it wasn't recognized.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Yeah, it wasn't official.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
And one thing, if you remember, Mike, is storytelling that
we talk about wasn't really a category for Guinness. It
wasn't a segment. They had like continuous reading, yeah for
one book, but with our first of all, they had
storytelling as a segment as an independent segment in Guinness,
(07:32):
which is good.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
And I guess the beauty of storytelling, as you talked
about earlier, you were turning all sorts of venues into
places that audiences could gather. But really storytelling is something
that isn't bound by location. It's not it needs a theater,
it needs a few people gathered around you, right, So
it's so accessible as something to enjoy a Morocco.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
But that's an interesting point because traditionally storytelling would have
been in the square in Marrakesh, and as we know,
this square is a really bustling place. Absolutely in recent
times this sort of ambient noise level there has really increased.
There's different kinds of music, and particularly amplified music has
made it not practical for storytellers to tell because that
(08:15):
people immediately near them can hear, but they can't tell
to a group which is large enough for the small
donations that they would make or whatever to add up
to a living and that has been very very challenging,
very challenging indeed, and this is one of the reasons
why Lucy had the idea to create the Storytelling Cafe,
so there would be a dedicated venue which was which
(08:35):
had a little bit inspired by Henna Cafe, which has
become Marrakesh's Hennah Venue, to create for storytelling, a place
where young storytellers would come to be trained. And we
can talk about the Storytelling School, which is another exciting
project which Zoo here is leading and Storytelling Cafe is hosting.
(08:57):
And don't forget that the Storytelling Cafe is a per
eminence that's there all the time. So the festival happens periodically,
but storytelling in Marrakesh is ongoing. So we're excited about
Weld Storytelling Cafe, which is a cafe, a vegan cafe
with lovely menu of Morocco and international delicacies. There's storytelling
(09:17):
there every day, but there's also storytelling elsewhere in Marrakesh,
and I think, you know, zoom Hair, we should definitely
talk about the rebirth of storytelling and the opportunities for
visitors to experience storytelling across the city.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
I mean now with the work we do inductually, it's
it's a whole ecosystem that we have right now. I
mean between the school, the cafe, the festival, so each
project really add something to storytelling, but all for one goal,
which is having storytelling every day here in Marrakesh. And
(09:55):
I mean now we've arrived through that to that place
where right now, I mean potentially tourists and locals through
the experience economy, they find storytelling the book storytellers for tours,
for storytelling sessions, so they enjoy loads of stories. And
(10:17):
it is really the best experience to get a taste
of the culture firsthand through a storyteller, because you get
to have that that feeling of authenticity of being with
the locals, of having a local experience where you are
invited to experience the culture and you are i mean
(10:41):
respectful towards it while being an active participant in the
making and the production of that culture firsthand.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
Which is phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
And I think something we often talk about on this
podcast is when you visit Marrakesh, the experience is what
you make it, and you pretty much have to just
throw yourself into everything and anything when you're here and
staying in the Madina because there is so much on offering,
there is so much to see and do. Do you
think that storytelling is absolutely something that people should make
(11:11):
sure they make time for to experience in this in
their stay here.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
I mean even for even for locals. I'm telling you
this experience. It's not because of tourists should have it.
I mean we don't do folklore. First thing is we
tell stories to the locals, even to people who live
in Markeish. So that's that's one of the of the
(11:36):
main goals is to get people to enjoy storytelling against
So storytelling is a very very local tradition. I mean
it's it's it's universal art, but in markets it's something
that people enjoy. It's something that storytellers will be hired
by locals, I mean in the past. Right now we
are getting it slowly to for stories into go back
(12:00):
to houses I mean private sessions to happen within family houses.
But it was something that is enjoyed in a private
sesson in someone's house or in the public sphere, as
Mike said in the in the Jam Square.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
And let's talk.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
About the work that you're doing in schools and the
program to get more young people understanding the art of storytelling.
Say what what what are you running and what's happening
and what's the take up in.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Like I mean for the school we have two programs.
So a program in which we teach or train for
three years young passionate professional storytellers to be and that's
hosted in World Storytelling Cafe. And the second program is
(12:51):
when we go to to public schools or stage schools
depending on how people refer to those.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
But about the government schools.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Government schools there's another name from.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
People are not paying for private education. Yes, we're very
proud of really significant reach.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
I mean the we're almost ten thousands, I mean we
almost reached out to ten thousand kids. And these kids
the thing is that we go to them to their
schools in the morning and in the evening, in the
in the tenth in the square, that will come with
their parents and proudly say that, oh, mom, dad, I
(13:31):
have seen this story in my school. Well I have
talked to him or it's and it's it's it's really amazing.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
And so for our listeners who like me, would have
no idea about the education system here in Morocco, how
much exposure to the arts to children get as part
of their education. And I guess where that question is
leading to is how important do you think it is
for you know, in England, I think that this is
an amazing thing to drive confidence in young people.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
Is that something that you see here as well?
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Well, some schools do have loads of exposure to arts
and culture and all sorts of extra curricular activities. But
some schools, in some areas that are disadventures, they don't
have as much access. So that's our primary objective is
(14:28):
these schools that do not have And for for some
schools it's the first first time for the kids there
that DC and international or someone who is not Moroccan
walking to their school. So for them, you can imagine
the experience seeing for example, general but it amazing beerd
and these amazing clothes. Walk into a school, that's going
(14:49):
to be an experience you will never forget it.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
Or the majority of us storytellers, of course we're women,
so you have to have a you know, lady from
the Mountains in Columbia or the for us of Finland
or yeah, it's just even before they speak.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
It's inspirational for you guys being able to see this
festival continuing to grow and the people that you're bringing
together with this huge passion for storytelling. How rewarding has
it been to see the impact it's having, but also
the excitement that is generated and the legacy that it's creating.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
All throughout the year two.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Twenty twenty, we thought that storytelling was in a very
bad place, and Morocco especially, but then we've had World
storytell in Cafe and then twenty five here we are
holding our world record of the longest storytelling show. So
it's it's it's really seeing something that was really in
(15:49):
a very vulnerable spot and now it's something that has
become Unquoted from the British Ambassador to Morocco, he said
that this festival has become one of the important cultural
events in the global calendar. So it's really fun to
be a part of.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
It, absolutely, and I think what we're what we can
be really proud of is that I think together our
team has achieved something which really did require a team.
So it's a true partnership between between the local story
TiSER and by that I mean the the the melem
who are the bearers of that tradition. The younger generation,
(16:28):
led by so ably by Zoohair, supported by a whole
international story telling community, has sort of been able to
create a sort of mayonnaise that would not have been
possible with all of the all of the all of
those ingredients and the good will of all concerns. So yeah,
(16:52):
really really excited, and I'm sure we've created something which
will outlive all of us.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Actually, and that is well, that's just amazing, isn't it,
Because what a thing to create. And we're recording this
in July twenty twenty five. The festival is back for
twenty twenty six seven annual fine So twenty twenty seven,
And obviously it's because an enormous amount of work goes
into it to make that happen. Are you going to
(17:18):
certainly well record is that the plan.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
I will certainly have storytelling twenty four to seven, probably
for longer than eighty hours, but I don't think we
want the discipline of Guinness adjudication.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
It's a process that is a little bit tiring, especially
for storytelling. Storytelling really requires requires the artists and the
audience to be really super comfortable and not having the
stress of achieving something.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
Yeah, of course with this.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
You could go for longer and going back to the
twenty twenty seven. For the people listening to this podcast,
when you come to markets, there is always storytelling.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Absolutely well, of course, and that's the point, right. So
if you're listening to this and inspire and want to
visit during the festival that will be January twenty twenty seven,
I'm sure the dates will get confirmed and you'll be
able to google it. Will put a link to the
website in this podcast description. But if you are visiting
Marrakesh the Weld Storytelling Cafe, you have to go. You
have to experience it, and you just have to just
(18:22):
to see the magic of how one person can transport
you to a brandy world just through some amazing words
and delivery. So definitely something to do where can people
find the Well Storytelling Cafe in.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
The Marrakesh Rear Trouble guide app of course to start with,
but it's in the center of the Medina, near to
the ben Uzf Mosque and Madrassa.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
Now zo hat with every guest that comes onto the podcast,
just want to hear your views on Marrakesh and why
it's somewhere that people should visit, and also your top
tips and guidance. So let's start with why you think
this city so special.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Why it's special. First, it doesn't have let's talk about
the ancient part of it, so the old Mediea or
the Comedian. So Medina means the city or the old town.
So we have an old town that is still operational,
so people still live in the old town. It's not
it's at a museum, so it's it's an operational site.
(19:25):
Why I love it and why people fall in love
with it is first, it doesn't have very tall buildings
and it doesn't have very wide streets, and it's made
for walking, so it's it's a city that is made
by humans for humans in a very humane way. That's
(19:46):
to start with. And then second, it has it has
an there is an ecosystem to it. And first pro
tip about Marrakesh, if you plan too much, Marcus might
be a little bit intimidating. So it's a city that
you have to really go with the flow in it.
(20:08):
So when you go with the flow, Marcus really reveals
itself and it happens it's hard to you. And then
just speak with the locals. Get cups of tea, so
get ready to drink a lot of tea in Medina.
And just if you find an open, open door, just
to go inside. It's it's something that you will experience inside. Mike,
(20:33):
you want not Maybe you've been in Medina so you
know a lot about it.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
We Lisa and I have very deep roots in the Medina.
We feel at home so much at home. I think
what's really interesting, because I have a life in Europe
as well, is that because of because the Medina is
pedestrianized and because of that sort of human dimension, there's
just so much more contact. I mean, in Europe, we
spend so much time in our you know, in our
(21:00):
or you know, I might see people on wave to them,
But in Marrakesh, it kind of takes a long time
to get from a to B and you know that,
you know, openness extends to you know, I often set
out with a with a number of things I have
in mind. I'll usually come back having achieved something. Very
seldom I said particularly, And the.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
More time you spend in the city wandering, the more
you find out.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Yeah, and that's it.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
It's it's that idea that you just have to embrace it,
and that's how to get the most out of any
stay here. Is just I love that that that use
of go with the flow because it really is the
perfect it is the way perfect way of looking at it.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
And I think you also, you really have to surrender
to it. This is really important, you know, I think
that you you know, if you you know, I'm a businessman.
I like to be in control, or at least I
like to kid myself, I mean control. But nobody can
be in control of the Medina of Marrakesh. You know,
there's no question of don't even think about fighting it.
You know. What you have to do is to embrace
it and to roll with it. And actually that's immentally rewarding.
(22:00):
And there's that. For me, there was a sort of
I'm not sure when that realization struck me. It's a
lot of years ago, but letting go was actually quite
a liberating experience. It's one of the reasons why why
I love it so much.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
It's so interesting though, and I just don't think there's
many places that are comparable to it, particularly something that
is well somewhere that is only three and a half
hours from Europe on a flight. You know, it's somewhere
that is a total world away from your most people's
normality and what you experienced. You know, to think that yesterday,
(22:34):
at this time I was in London in the busyness
that London brings. And yet then a day later, yeah,
just in this whole new world and so far from home.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
But something that's just so special.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
Marrakesh is a treat for all the senses, of course, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
And can I say something, Bobby, The people listening will
be hearing Ria and Nuds really knowing what is a
ready so a react for people listening. How it's different.
So it's it's it's it's a big house that is
beautiful from the inside. From the outside, it looks as
(23:14):
so all the houses in the old town of Markesh
look the same from the outside, but from the inside.
This is because the philosophy of Markesh is beauty should
always be inside, and that's something that you see in architecture.
But how reads are different? Is that different to a
(23:34):
villa villa you have the the the open space or
the void surrounding the building. For us, it's different. It's
the building and the void or the open space is
in the middle. And for that, if you buy a
read or land, what you see, that piece of the
(23:55):
sky that you see, you buy it with your own
with the with the land, so we call it that's
your right to the sguise. So that's piece of the
sky that you see. That's yourself come to market to
get to your own sky.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
And and like you know all about that with the
many reads that you have and have had over tip.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
I mean, for you, Mike, the beautiful read. Let let's
talk about it. What is it that you love so much?
Speaker 4 (24:18):
So I think that we talked about how the whole
medina encourages, you know, social interaction, and I think the
same applies within a read itself. It's a shared space.
I mean it has disadvantages. You know, you can hear
noises and doors closing and things. It's very much like
staying with friends in that respect. But if you you know,
when you embrace it, it's a very homely space. It's
(24:41):
a very peaceful, calm space in contrast to the to
the madness of the of the world in the street outside.
But it's also a place that encourages contacts. So you're
going to meet, you know, at breakfast, you're going to
meet people who've stayed been here a couple of days
before you or whatever. You're going to share experiences and
stories to about the restaurants that you visited, and the
(25:02):
and the and the museums that you enjoyed or whatever.
And that just doesn't have to be planned, and that
happens absolutely naturally. And I think that it's the partly
the the the warmth and hospitality of the Marecti people,
but it's also the architecture does contribute in a very
meaningful way.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
I mean, architecture really encourages social interaction and community. So
even the architecture, it influences this sense of community in Marakesh,
and that's a lovely thing about it. You cannot be
an individual without anyone coming and asking you, oh, where
are you from? Let me tell you this story. Come,
let's drink a cup of tea. So it's very good
(25:43):
in ma.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
I mean, we are third believers that people should be
coming here and using their eyes as opposed to constantly
viewing things to their phone. But you must admit Marrakesh
is very instagrammable. The spice is the colors, the architecture,
the buildings. There is just so much to take a
photos of and it does look very good on the Instagram.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
I think.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
For me, the thing that I still just cannot believe
every time I do step into a read is the
streets are small, you share them with people, motorbikes, donkeys,
all sorts. Yeah, you step away from that unbelievable craziness
that goes on outside into the most wonderfully peaceful, bliss
and beautiful setting that is a read. And it's just
(26:25):
the contrast from out there to inside is something that
you can't even imagine until you experience.
Speaker 4 (26:30):
The thing is you wouldn't know from the outside. Walking
down the street, you see a door and you do
not know whether behind that door is a ruin or
a normal house or a palace or anything in between.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
It really is phenomenal and so zu ha.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
Just for anyone that is coming, where do you recommend
they go What's what's your must do thing.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
In Marrakesh apart from storytelling?
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Apart from storytelling, of course, yes, well it's really a
must I don't think.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
I mean, if someone tells me that they come to
markets and they have never visited the Square, I'll tell
them on you haven't visited. So the square what people
need to know about it. It is the biggest open
space for live performance that is working day at night
right and it has loads of food at night, loads
(27:26):
of food during the day. Also, it's been there for
a thousand years, so it's really there is a feeling,
there is a mystical feeling to it. It's very busy,
very noisy, very hectic, but it's very fun to be there.
So first thing you go there, you go to the
square and you will find loads of things other places
(27:46):
that you really love in Markesh. It's the gardens. I'm
not recommending like the big instagrammable gardens, because Markeish has
loads of garden that really deserves to be seen and
that are like free of admission. For example, Slam it's
(28:07):
very close to be a beautiful garden, very peaceful, very cool.
If it's if the days is very warm. So that's
that's that garden I really love and recommend because Markush
is a city garden, so people have to go to
(28:28):
gardens for restaurants. It really depends on on on what
you're like. There is a big variety I don't want
to have.
Speaker 4 (28:37):
We're interested in your your personal preference in restaurants.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
Yeah, that's it's a really great restaurant.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
That's so, that's a very that's a modern, very young
with you know, starts kind of quietly, but later in
the evening it's almost a club.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
Yeah, it's all what's the club in the evening? So
I'm very young, I'm twenty seven, so I have to
that's my personal reference.
Speaker 4 (29:05):
Okay, that's great.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
That's where we love.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
That's what we're looking for. So I've discussed my my
favorite restaurants several times on the on the podcast. I
don't know it's but the beauty. The beauty of Marrakesh,
of course, is that a new restaurant opens every month.
So it is a city and it's a very vibrant one.
So my personal favorites at the moment, I love Slimana
(29:28):
uh huh, which is well relatively newly open. They start
I love True Amuur, which is run by a great
friend of ours, Englishman James Wicks, who we certainly should
have on the podcast we haven't already Onlie absolutely and
Alphaci Alphaca was a classic, classic, classic alpha traditional food,
(29:50):
which means the ladies from affairs and they do the
most intricate and wonderful. And then if I'm going to
give you one more, maybe could be could be Darjiana
or ordl Moha, one of the there are some wonderful
reads where or palaces, I should say where the building
is as much of the experiences as the food. So
(30:11):
maybe dal Moha was chef internationally renowned Moroccan chef Moha.
What you're reading about the pool in a you know,
an amazing setting, but you and you're eating, you know,
world class cuisine without what about day to day, not
special occasion, but in a snack or a less expensive place.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
For in Medina, for sure, I will go to Tala.
You know, it's it's near near Madras. Abus. This is
where the craftsmen eat, so it's it's it's uh. If
you go there, it feels like an Indian street food district.
All the craftsmen, all the workers, in Medina. They will
(30:55):
go there and eat. It's cheap, it's delicious, it's very feeling,
fill in and it's loads of loads of options.
Speaker 4 (31:03):
It's kind of like a food court. Actually, there's a
collection of maybe what you think fifteen twenty food stores.
It's located just off the Soup Submarine, which is one
of the big suit that goes from north to south,
and it's at the north end, near to the Benuse Madrassa.
It's you could easily miss the entrance because it's not
mainly for tourists. It's mainly for the people who work
(31:24):
in the suits. But if you slip in, you find
this little collection of and they're doing some usually very
simple dishes, you know, people frying fish and frying for
luffles and doing little small little tajeans and jeans. Yeah,
and find fish, simple, humble beans and bisara, which is
(31:46):
called fool in a lot of Arab countries, as these
are the real sort of day to day stables. And
it's not expensive, very good call actually.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
Yeah, no, it's it's very good. For some people. They
would find it's a bits and that's really appealing because
it's it's not the most beautifully decorative place, but it's authentic.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
And when my friends come to visit me, I take
them there. I tell them there is no way if
you if you're coming to Marakesh, if you're coming to me,
you are definitely going to turn out with me.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
I mean, this is the thing and we have done
in the past and I'm sure we will do again.
A whole podcast about food, because food a Marakesh is yummy,
very very yummy. Indeed, and would you like to name.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
My favorite place to eat?
Speaker 1 (32:34):
Absolutely well, it is, of course the world's storytelling cafe
whilst listening to some storytelling and of course if you
would like to visit there, we highly recommend you do that.
You can find it on the website on the Marrakesh
Read travel app as well. So you had thank you
so much for being on the podcast today. It's just
been wonderful hearing your insights, your tips as well, but
(32:57):
also about this most wonderful art in storytelling, something that
is going to stay here for another thousand years, something
that if you're coming to Marrakesh you just absolutely have
to go and embrace and have to experience. Hopefully It's
January twenty twenty seven that you're coming and then you
can join in with the delights of the World Storytelling Festival.
(33:17):
But all throughout the year, the World Storytelling Cafe is
somewhere that you've definitely got to visit and Marakesh.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
Our life is incomplete without Marakush treat So come to
Marakesh everyone
Speaker 3 (33:31):
So yeah, thank you so much, Thank you.
Hello and welcome to the Marrakesh Read Podcast. Today we
are joined by two co founders of the World Storytelling Festival.
Zoo Hair, Hello and welcome to the America's REAP podcast.
Good morning, and Mike, Hello and welcome back to you,
so Zoo Hair. Let's talk about storytelling for those that
(00:20):
perhaps are actually very unaware of the artist storytelling. Perhaps
let's start with what is storytelling?
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Well, if there is one thing that that everyone shares
with the with no exceptions, which are stories. Everyone shares stories.
That's what we do since we wake up till we
go to sleep, even probably after sleeping, we tell ourselves stories.
That's all reams are about. And it's it's a universal art,
(00:49):
uh that she's that she's done orally at least the
type of storytelling we do. And it's everywhere. It's in
the UK, it's in Morocco, it's in Vietnam, it's everywhere.
But Markish it is believed and I'm going to be
biased here that it is the world capital of storytelling?
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Is it really?
Speaker 1 (01:10):
And is that something that has been part of the
culture here for a long time?
Speaker 2 (01:14):
It is it's we have at least a thousand year
all tradition of storytelling, especially in Jamathn Square. Maybe we
can we can speak about it more along the podcast, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Mike Will we will come on to talking about the
festival itself because that was something that was founded in
twenty twenty one really.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Too, first edition.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
Yeah, so it really grew out of the well, first
of all, the World Storytelling Cafe which Lucy founded before
COVID working with John Roe, and all the excitement and
energy and community that built around that during the lockdown
period there was an amazing group of people who came
(01:58):
together and at each other and shared stories. And then
the first Storytelling Festival was was it January two thousand
and one, twenty two, so it was the first cultural
event in Morocco, I believe in North Africa Africa after lockdown,
(02:19):
So it was just extraordinary. Actually, so we had I
think about twenty international storytellers, which was fantastic and then
of course Moroccans, so around fifty storytellers and we made
the thing. There were so many wonderful memories. But we
did a procession through the suits which was absolutely fantastic.
Zoo hair, your word, your words, what happened?
Speaker 2 (02:43):
So it's it's it's one of the things that money
cannut really buy. It's really a feeling around the procession,
the parade. Everyone calls it something and for sure it
was very factful for the storytellers, for the physiplan for
the city because it really feels like because for two
(03:08):
years there were no tourists in Markish, hardly anything happening,
and then all of a sudden, we have a group
of flambuoyant looking storytellers all over the Souk of Markish
walking and like with now a music, they were walking
dancing and have been very loud and cheerful, and that
(03:29):
felt like blood is going through the veins of Markish
once again. And that's really it's it's it's really what
opened the cultural scene in Morocco after COVID.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
And I guess at the heart of storytelling, it's about
people coming together, isn't it, And it's about bringing people
from all different walks of life to be sharing one moment,
one experience.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Yeah. So we're really talking about the tradition of oral
stellic storytelling, mouth to voice. So we're not talking about
reading books or other forms that sort of performance. We're
talking about a group of individuals, not too loud for
everybody to hear one person speaking with their amplification telling.
It could be a personal story, it could be a
(04:15):
traditional story, but they're really sharing something of themselves and
of their culture with their listener on an individual basis.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
And it's a really community based. Art needs a community
and it needs a circle.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
And so the Welsh Storytelling Festival started twenty twenty two.
Over the years it's grown and grown, and that's both
in the number of storytellers but also in the number
of people that are coming along. So talks to us
about this year. So twenty twenty five's Weld Storytelling Festival.
What happened and how was it?
Speaker 2 (04:51):
One thing I noticed about, I mean the third edition,
which was in twenty twenty five, is the the growing
number of travelers who come to Morocco, only four for
the festival, and I'm talking international visitors. I'm talking also
(05:12):
about visitors from Morocco. I mean it's tins and even
not hundreds of them came to the city to enjoy
the festival. I mean, of course, even the storytellers, one
hundred and six storytellers that whole week. It's becoming really
a crazy festival and we do it like twenty four
to seven. So for seven days, it's stories every day,
(05:37):
all day, every hour.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
And I'm correct in saying there was even a world
record set.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
Yeah, let me give you the festival. The numbers. One
hundred and six storytellers from thirty three country speaking more
than twenty storytelling in more than twenty languages.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
We had a huge outreach program in the schools. On
our biggest day, we sent forty eight storytellers out on
the same day to do workshops. Over the course of
the week, we reached more than five thousand children. Wow,
many of them in schools that have relatively little arts
in ports. So absolutely incredible energy across the region. Storytelling
all across the old town, in cafes, in museums, in theaters,
(06:15):
and all sorts of venues, in the street, in the
open air. We had a tent in the square which
was a permanence and we broke the world record for
continuous storytelling. We had Guinnea here to officiate and got
a huge amount of media attention, of course, but it
was great fun. There was an amazing energy around.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
And what was the record, what was the number?
Speaker 2 (06:36):
It's eighty hours, wow, thirty two. I mean we did
practically we did ninety five. Wow. The official number declared
is eighty eighty hours, thirty two or thirty five minutes.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
And that was the world record set. That was a
Branding official world record, which is.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
The first recorded. So I mean we did our an
official one in a second edition, we did fifty, but
it wasn't recognized.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Yeah, it wasn't official.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
And one thing, if you remember, Mike, is storytelling that
we talk about wasn't really a category for Guinness. It
wasn't a segment. They had like continuous reading, yeah for
one book, but with our first of all, they had
storytelling as a segment as an independent segment in Guinness,
(07:32):
which is good.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
And I guess the beauty of storytelling, as you talked
about earlier, you were turning all sorts of venues into
places that audiences could gather. But really storytelling is something
that isn't bound by location. It's not it needs a theater,
it needs a few people gathered around you, right, So
it's so accessible as something to enjoy a Morocco.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
But that's an interesting point because traditionally storytelling would have
been in the square in Marrakesh, and as we know,
this square is a really bustling place. Absolutely in recent
times this sort of ambient noise level there has really increased.
There's different kinds of music, and particularly amplified music has
made it not practical for storytellers to tell because that
(08:15):
people immediately near them can hear, but they can't tell
to a group which is large enough for the small
donations that they would make or whatever to add up
to a living and that has been very very challenging,
very challenging indeed, and this is one of the reasons
why Lucy had the idea to create the Storytelling Cafe,
so there would be a dedicated venue which was which
(08:35):
had a little bit inspired by Henna Cafe, which has
become Marrakesh's Hennah Venue, to create for storytelling, a place
where young storytellers would come to be trained. And we
can talk about the Storytelling School, which is another exciting
project which Zoo here is leading and Storytelling Cafe is hosting.
(08:57):
And don't forget that the Storytelling Cafe is a per
eminence that's there all the time. So the festival happens periodically,
but storytelling in Marrakesh is ongoing. So we're excited about
Weld Storytelling Cafe, which is a cafe, a vegan cafe
with lovely menu of Morocco and international delicacies. There's storytelling
(09:17):
there every day, but there's also storytelling elsewhere in Marrakesh,
and I think, you know, zoom Hair, we should definitely
talk about the rebirth of storytelling and the opportunities for
visitors to experience storytelling across the city.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
I mean now with the work we do inductually, it's
it's a whole ecosystem that we have right now. I
mean between the school, the cafe, the festival, so each
project really add something to storytelling, but all for one goal,
which is having storytelling every day here in Marrakesh. And
(09:55):
I mean now we've arrived through that to that place
where right now, I mean potentially tourists and locals through
the experience economy, they find storytelling the book storytellers for tours,
for storytelling sessions, so they enjoy loads of stories. And
(10:17):
it is really the best experience to get a taste
of the culture firsthand through a storyteller, because you get
to have that that feeling of authenticity of being with
the locals, of having a local experience where you are
invited to experience the culture and you are i mean
(10:41):
respectful towards it while being an active participant in the
making and the production of that culture firsthand.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
Which is phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
And I think something we often talk about on this
podcast is when you visit Marrakesh, the experience is what
you make it, and you pretty much have to just
throw yourself into everything and anything when you're here and
staying in the Madina because there is so much on offering,
there is so much to see and do. Do you
think that storytelling is absolutely something that people should make
(11:11):
sure they make time for to experience in this in
their stay here.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
I mean even for even for locals. I'm telling you
this experience. It's not because of tourists should have it.
I mean we don't do folklore. First thing is we
tell stories to the locals, even to people who live
in Markeish. So that's that's one of the of the
(11:36):
main goals is to get people to enjoy storytelling against
So storytelling is a very very local tradition. I mean
it's it's it's universal art, but in markets it's something
that people enjoy. It's something that storytellers will be hired
by locals, I mean in the past. Right now we
are getting it slowly to for stories into go back
(12:00):
to houses I mean private sessions to happen within family houses.
But it was something that is enjoyed in a private
sesson in someone's house or in the public sphere, as
Mike said in the in the Jam Square.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
And let's talk.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
About the work that you're doing in schools and the
program to get more young people understanding the art of storytelling.
Say what what what are you running and what's happening
and what's the take up in.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Like I mean for the school we have two programs.
So a program in which we teach or train for
three years young passionate professional storytellers to be and that's
hosted in World Storytelling Cafe. And the second program is
(12:51):
when we go to to public schools or stage schools
depending on how people refer to those.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
But about the government schools.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Government schools there's another name from.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
People are not paying for private education. Yes, we're very
proud of really significant reach.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
I mean the we're almost ten thousands, I mean we
almost reached out to ten thousand kids. And these kids
the thing is that we go to them to their
schools in the morning and in the evening, in the
in the tenth in the square, that will come with
their parents and proudly say that, oh, mom, dad, I
(13:31):
have seen this story in my school. Well I have
talked to him or it's and it's it's it's really amazing.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
And so for our listeners who like me, would have
no idea about the education system here in Morocco, how
much exposure to the arts to children get as part
of their education. And I guess where that question is
leading to is how important do you think it is
for you know, in England, I think that this is
an amazing thing to drive confidence in young people.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
Is that something that you see here as well?
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Well, some schools do have loads of exposure to arts
and culture and all sorts of extra curricular activities. But
some schools, in some areas that are disadventures, they don't
have as much access. So that's our primary objective is
(14:28):
these schools that do not have And for for some
schools it's the first first time for the kids there
that DC and international or someone who is not Moroccan
walking to their school. So for them, you can imagine
the experience seeing for example, general but it amazing beerd
and these amazing clothes. Walk into a school, that's going
(14:49):
to be an experience you will never forget it.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
Or the majority of us storytellers, of course we're women,
so you have to have a you know, lady from
the Mountains in Columbia or the for us of Finland
or yeah, it's just even before they speak.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
It's inspirational for you guys being able to see this
festival continuing to grow and the people that you're bringing
together with this huge passion for storytelling. How rewarding has
it been to see the impact it's having, but also
the excitement that is generated and the legacy that it's creating.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
All throughout the year two.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Twenty twenty, we thought that storytelling was in a very
bad place, and Morocco especially, but then we've had World
storytell in Cafe and then twenty five here we are
holding our world record of the longest storytelling show. So
it's it's it's really seeing something that was really in
(15:49):
a very vulnerable spot and now it's something that has
become Unquoted from the British Ambassador to Morocco, he said
that this festival has become one of the important cultural
events in the global calendar. So it's really fun to
be a part of.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
It, absolutely, and I think what we're what we can
be really proud of is that I think together our
team has achieved something which really did require a team.
So it's a true partnership between between the local story
TiSER and by that I mean the the the melem
who are the bearers of that tradition. The younger generation,
(16:28):
led by so ably by Zoohair, supported by a whole
international story telling community, has sort of been able to
create a sort of mayonnaise that would not have been
possible with all of the all of the all of
those ingredients and the good will of all concerns. So yeah,
(16:52):
really really excited, and I'm sure we've created something which
will outlive all of us.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Actually, and that is well, that's just amazing, isn't it,
Because what a thing to create. And we're recording this
in July twenty twenty five. The festival is back for
twenty twenty six seven annual fine So twenty twenty seven,
And obviously it's because an enormous amount of work goes
into it to make that happen. Are you going to
(17:18):
certainly well record is that the plan.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
I will certainly have storytelling twenty four to seven, probably
for longer than eighty hours, but I don't think we
want the discipline of Guinness adjudication.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
It's a process that is a little bit tiring, especially
for storytelling. Storytelling really requires requires the artists and the
audience to be really super comfortable and not having the
stress of achieving something.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
Yeah, of course with this.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
You could go for longer and going back to the
twenty twenty seven. For the people listening to this podcast,
when you come to markets, there is always storytelling.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Absolutely well, of course, and that's the point, right. So
if you're listening to this and inspire and want to
visit during the festival that will be January twenty twenty seven,
I'm sure the dates will get confirmed and you'll be
able to google it. Will put a link to the
website in this podcast description. But if you are visiting
Marrakesh the Weld Storytelling Cafe, you have to go. You
have to experience it, and you just have to just
(18:22):
to see the magic of how one person can transport
you to a brandy world just through some amazing words
and delivery. So definitely something to do where can people
find the Well Storytelling Cafe in.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
The Marrakesh Rear Trouble guide app of course to start with,
but it's in the center of the Medina, near to
the ben Uzf Mosque and Madrassa.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
Now zo hat with every guest that comes onto the podcast,
just want to hear your views on Marrakesh and why
it's somewhere that people should visit, and also your top
tips and guidance. So let's start with why you think
this city so special.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Why it's special. First, it doesn't have let's talk about
the ancient part of it, so the old Mediea or
the Comedian. So Medina means the city or the old town.
So we have an old town that is still operational,
so people still live in the old town. It's not
it's at a museum, so it's it's an operational site.
(19:25):
Why I love it and why people fall in love
with it is first, it doesn't have very tall buildings
and it doesn't have very wide streets, and it's made
for walking, so it's it's a city that is made
by humans for humans in a very humane way. That's
(19:46):
to start with. And then second, it has it has
an there is an ecosystem to it. And first pro
tip about Marrakesh, if you plan too much, Marcus might
be a little bit intimidating. So it's a city that
you have to really go with the flow in it.
(20:08):
So when you go with the flow, Marcus really reveals
itself and it happens it's hard to you. And then
just speak with the locals. Get cups of tea, so
get ready to drink a lot of tea in Medina.
And just if you find an open, open door, just
to go inside. It's it's something that you will experience inside. Mike,
(20:33):
you want not Maybe you've been in Medina so you
know a lot about it.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
We Lisa and I have very deep roots in the Medina.
We feel at home so much at home. I think
what's really interesting, because I have a life in Europe
as well, is that because of because the Medina is
pedestrianized and because of that sort of human dimension, there's
just so much more contact. I mean, in Europe, we
spend so much time in our you know, in our
(21:00):
or you know, I might see people on wave to them,
But in Marrakesh, it kind of takes a long time
to get from a to B and you know that,
you know, openness extends to you know, I often set
out with a with a number of things I have
in mind. I'll usually come back having achieved something. Very
seldom I said particularly, And the.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
More time you spend in the city wandering, the more
you find out.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Yeah, and that's it.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
It's it's that idea that you just have to embrace it,
and that's how to get the most out of any
stay here. Is just I love that that that use
of go with the flow because it really is the
perfect it is the way perfect way of looking at it.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
And I think you also, you really have to surrender
to it. This is really important, you know, I think
that you you know, if you you know, I'm a businessman.
I like to be in control, or at least I
like to kid myself, I mean control. But nobody can
be in control of the Medina of Marrakesh. You know,
there's no question of don't even think about fighting it.
You know. What you have to do is to embrace
it and to roll with it. And actually that's immentally rewarding.
(22:00):
And there's that. For me, there was a sort of
I'm not sure when that realization struck me. It's a
lot of years ago, but letting go was actually quite
a liberating experience. It's one of the reasons why why
I love it so much.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
It's so interesting though, and I just don't think there's
many places that are comparable to it, particularly something that
is well somewhere that is only three and a half
hours from Europe on a flight. You know, it's somewhere
that is a total world away from your most people's
normality and what you experienced. You know, to think that yesterday,
(22:34):
at this time I was in London in the busyness
that London brings. And yet then a day later, yeah,
just in this whole new world and so far from home.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
But something that's just so special.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
Marrakesh is a treat for all the senses, of course, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
And can I say something, Bobby, The people listening will
be hearing Ria and Nuds really knowing what is a
ready so a react for people listening. How it's different.
So it's it's it's it's a big house that is
beautiful from the inside. From the outside, it looks as
(23:14):
so all the houses in the old town of Markesh
look the same from the outside, but from the inside.
This is because the philosophy of Markesh is beauty should
always be inside, and that's something that you see in architecture.
But how reads are different? Is that different to a
(23:34):
villa villa you have the the the open space or
the void surrounding the building. For us, it's different. It's
the building and the void or the open space is
in the middle. And for that, if you buy a
read or land, what you see, that piece of the
(23:55):
sky that you see, you buy it with your own
with the with the land, so we call it that's
your right to the sguise. So that's piece of the
sky that you see. That's yourself come to market to
get to your own sky.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
And and like you know all about that with the
many reads that you have and have had over tip.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
I mean, for you, Mike, the beautiful read. Let let's
talk about it. What is it that you love so much?
Speaker 4 (24:18):
So I think that we talked about how the whole
medina encourages, you know, social interaction, and I think the
same applies within a read itself. It's a shared space.
I mean it has disadvantages. You know, you can hear
noises and doors closing and things. It's very much like
staying with friends in that respect. But if you you know,
when you embrace it, it's a very homely space. It's
(24:41):
a very peaceful, calm space in contrast to the to
the madness of the of the world in the street outside.
But it's also a place that encourages contacts. So you're
going to meet, you know, at breakfast, you're going to
meet people who've stayed been here a couple of days
before you or whatever. You're going to share experiences and
stories to about the restaurants that you visited, and the
(25:02):
and the and the museums that you enjoyed or whatever.
And that just doesn't have to be planned, and that
happens absolutely naturally. And I think that it's the partly
the the the warmth and hospitality of the Marecti people,
but it's also the architecture does contribute in a very
meaningful way.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
I mean, architecture really encourages social interaction and community. So
even the architecture, it influences this sense of community in Marakesh,
and that's a lovely thing about it. You cannot be
an individual without anyone coming and asking you, oh, where
are you from? Let me tell you this story. Come,
let's drink a cup of tea. So it's very good
(25:43):
in ma.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
I mean, we are third believers that people should be
coming here and using their eyes as opposed to constantly
viewing things to their phone. But you must admit Marrakesh
is very instagrammable. The spice is the colors, the architecture,
the buildings. There is just so much to take a
photos of and it does look very good on the Instagram.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
I think.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
For me, the thing that I still just cannot believe
every time I do step into a read is the
streets are small, you share them with people, motorbikes, donkeys,
all sorts. Yeah, you step away from that unbelievable craziness
that goes on outside into the most wonderfully peaceful, bliss
and beautiful setting that is a read. And it's just
(26:25):
the contrast from out there to inside is something that
you can't even imagine until you experience.
Speaker 4 (26:30):
The thing is you wouldn't know from the outside. Walking
down the street, you see a door and you do
not know whether behind that door is a ruin or
a normal house or a palace or anything in between.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
It really is phenomenal and so zu ha.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
Just for anyone that is coming, where do you recommend
they go What's what's your must do thing.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
In Marrakesh apart from storytelling?
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Apart from storytelling, of course, yes, well it's really a
must I don't think.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
I mean, if someone tells me that they come to
markets and they have never visited the Square, I'll tell
them on you haven't visited. So the square what people
need to know about it. It is the biggest open
space for live performance that is working day at night
right and it has loads of food at night, loads
(27:26):
of food during the day. Also, it's been there for
a thousand years, so it's really there is a feeling,
there is a mystical feeling to it. It's very busy,
very noisy, very hectic, but it's very fun to be there.
So first thing you go there, you go to the
square and you will find loads of things other places
(27:46):
that you really love in Markesh. It's the gardens. I'm
not recommending like the big instagrammable gardens, because Markeish has
loads of garden that really deserves to be seen and
that are like free of admission. For example, Slam it's
(28:07):
very close to be a beautiful garden, very peaceful, very cool.
If it's if the days is very warm. So that's
that's that garden I really love and recommend because Markush
is a city garden, so people have to go to
(28:28):
gardens for restaurants. It really depends on on on what
you're like. There is a big variety I don't want
to have.
Speaker 4 (28:37):
We're interested in your your personal preference in restaurants.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
Yeah, that's it's a really great restaurant.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
That's so, that's a very that's a modern, very young
with you know, starts kind of quietly, but later in
the evening it's almost a club.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
Yeah, it's all what's the club in the evening? So
I'm very young, I'm twenty seven, so I have to
that's my personal reference.
Speaker 4 (29:05):
Okay, that's great.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
That's where we love.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
That's what we're looking for. So I've discussed my my
favorite restaurants several times on the on the podcast. I
don't know it's but the beauty. The beauty of Marrakesh,
of course, is that a new restaurant opens every month.
So it is a city and it's a very vibrant one.
So my personal favorites at the moment, I love Slimana
(29:28):
uh huh, which is well relatively newly open. They start
I love True Amuur, which is run by a great
friend of ours, Englishman James Wicks, who we certainly should
have on the podcast we haven't already Onlie absolutely and
Alphaci Alphaca was a classic, classic, classic alpha traditional food,
(29:50):
which means the ladies from affairs and they do the
most intricate and wonderful. And then if I'm going to
give you one more, maybe could be could be Darjiana
or ordl Moha, one of the there are some wonderful
reads where or palaces, I should say where the building
is as much of the experiences as the food. So
(30:11):
maybe dal Moha was chef internationally renowned Moroccan chef Moha.
What you're reading about the pool in a you know,
an amazing setting, but you and you're eating, you know,
world class cuisine without what about day to day, not
special occasion, but in a snack or a less expensive place.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
For in Medina, for sure, I will go to Tala.
You know, it's it's near near Madras. Abus. This is
where the craftsmen eat, so it's it's it's uh. If
you go there, it feels like an Indian street food district.
All the craftsmen, all the workers, in Medina. They will
(30:55):
go there and eat. It's cheap, it's delicious, it's very feeling,
fill in and it's loads of loads of options.
Speaker 4 (31:03):
It's kind of like a food court. Actually, there's a
collection of maybe what you think fifteen twenty food stores.
It's located just off the Soup Submarine, which is one
of the big suit that goes from north to south,
and it's at the north end, near to the Benuse Madrassa.
It's you could easily miss the entrance because it's not
mainly for tourists. It's mainly for the people who work
(31:24):
in the suits. But if you slip in, you find
this little collection of and they're doing some usually very
simple dishes, you know, people frying fish and frying for
luffles and doing little small little tajeans and jeans. Yeah,
and find fish, simple, humble beans and bisara, which is
(31:46):
called fool in a lot of Arab countries, as these
are the real sort of day to day stables. And
it's not expensive, very good call actually.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
Yeah, no, it's it's very good. For some people. They
would find it's a bits and that's really appealing because
it's it's not the most beautifully decorative place, but it's authentic.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
And when my friends come to visit me, I take
them there. I tell them there is no way if
you if you're coming to Marakesh, if you're coming to me,
you are definitely going to turn out with me.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
I mean, this is the thing and we have done
in the past and I'm sure we will do again.
A whole podcast about food, because food a Marakesh is yummy,
very very yummy. Indeed, and would you like to name.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
My favorite place to eat?
Speaker 1 (32:34):
Absolutely well, it is, of course the world's storytelling cafe
whilst listening to some storytelling and of course if you
would like to visit there, we highly recommend you do that.
You can find it on the website on the Marrakesh
Read travel app as well. So you had thank you
so much for being on the podcast today. It's just
been wonderful hearing your insights, your tips as well, but
(32:57):
also about this most wonderful art in storytelling, something that
is going to stay here for another thousand years, something
that if you're coming to Marrakesh you just absolutely have
to go and embrace and have to experience. Hopefully It's
January twenty twenty seven that you're coming and then you
can join in with the delights of the World Storytelling Festival.
(33:17):
But all throughout the year, the World Storytelling Cafe is
somewhere that you've definitely got to visit and Marakesh.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
Our life is incomplete without Marakush treat So come to
Marakesh everyone
Speaker 3 (33:31):
So yeah, thank you so much, Thank you.
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