in the press
Pottery and ceramics, an art that can tell many stories
Passed down from father to son, Moroccan craftsmanship is an ancestral know-how. It is illustrated in several materials, in particular wood, wool, leather, silver, metal, textile, stone, doum, ceramics, clay… Moroccan pottery, one of the components of this artisanal diversity, has always represented the local culture of each region and of certain cities such as the famous pottery and ceramics of Fez, Safi and Salé. At the Oulja Potters' Complex in Salé, visitors, whether Moroccan or foreign, are amazed by this art which has known flourishing days. Alas, today, for several reasons, he is in a situation of struggle for a survival which is likely to be short.
Oulja craft complex in Salé
Located on the banks of the Bouregreg river, five minutes from the city centers of Rabat and Salé, this complex of several hectares brings together several artisan workshops (potters, copperware, basket makers, etc.) and shops. A thousand-year-old know-how of Moroccan artisans which is transmitted with the little Mâalmine still alive. By taking a short tour of the workshops, we can see workers making, under the eyes of visitors, the products marketed on site or sold elsewhere. A visit to this complex is a true discovery of artisanal art and Moroccan culture. At the same time, we can also learn more about the profession of the craftsman not always recognized, despite the work of certain associations that work for the enhancement and protection of this heritage of Morocco. Like, for example, the pottery craft industry which has encountered many difficulties in recent years.
Ouafaâ Bennani
Native of Rabat in 1963, Ouafaâ Bennani obtained her Baccalaureate in Experimental Sciences (Bilingual), then carried out university studies (Biology-Gelogy) at the Faculty of Sciences in Rabat. But fate wanted her to work as a journalist, her childhood dream. She began to fulfill her passion in the daily L'Opinion from 1992 to the end of 1999. Since the beginning of 2000, Ouafaâ Bennani joined the Maroc Soir Group as a journalist for "Matin". In the meantime, she has benefited from several journalism training courses at ISIC and "Maroc Soir". After a few years in the world of the press where she touched several sections, Ouafaâ Bennani opts for the artistic and cultural niche where she covers, in Morocco and abroad, major cultural events, film festivals. , theater, music, plastic arts…, interviews with personalities and stars recognized in the world, writers, playwrights among other visual artists. Some of his writings appear in artist catalogs and brochures. Ouafaâ Bennani is also in demand as a jury member in film and song festivals. She has received numerous tributes from various institutions and associations for her skills and qualities as a devoted journalist and respectful of her work.
Ouafaâ Bennani is currently president of the National Music Committee (member of the International Music Council-official partner of Unesco), following the death of her husband Al-Moussiqar Hassan Mégri who was the founding president of this international body. She also holds the position of artistic director at the International Festival of Arts and Culture “Summer of the Oudayas”, since its creation in 2011.