A group of international tourists turning up to Marrakesh's Fantasia at the Chez Ali compound recently - got more than they bargained for.
The so called 'cultural spectacle' is pretty ordinary and aimed at the mass tourist market and, as such, is usually attended by tourists who have little idea of what they are about to experience. Horses racing around an arena, gunshots ring out and the music is loud enough to deafen most people. However visitors on this particular night were treated to the surreal scene of a group of Israeli tourists dancing the "hora" to the Israeli pop hit "Keep him confused" sung in Hebrew by Kobi Peretz (pictured below).
The tour, called "How do you say dance in Moroccan?" was led by David Adari, President of Maroc Tours, a travel agency specializing in tours for Israelis in the North African country. According to David, the group wandered through ancient quarters, visited the Sahara Desert, hiked in the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, and shopped in the souqs and Kasbahs of Casablanca and Marrakesh. In Agadir and Casablanca, the tourists met members of the local Jewish community.
But he says the trip's highlight was the dancing at Chez Ali and charge of galloping horses and shots fired in the air. As the Israelis danced in circles and electrified the local crowd, a band from Bahrain joined in with the dancers. Towards the end of their appearance, the Israelis played the pop song, "Keep Him Confused," a fast-paced Israeli-Mediterranean pop hit. Despite the fact that the song was in Hebrew, everyone wanted to dance to it, Adari claimed.
"The crowd accepted us in an amazing way," said Adari. "They knew we were Israeli. The dancers from Bahrain also received us with smiles. Our feeling was that politicians should learn from us how to make peace between nations," he added.
MOROCCO IN FANTASY LAND
Japanese for 'animation', 'Anime can range from the very silly to the very serious, and is not necessarily intended for children or any specific age group. The latest offering from director Shinichiro Watanabe's anime - Cowboy Bebop: The Movie - concerns a motley trio of bounty hunters, aided by a teenage computer geek, who attempt to track down a bio-terrorist.
There is super cool Spike, dark and brooding Jet and Faye, whose large breasts and fondness for hotpants send fanboys worldwide into a lather. The film is often talky and expository but gains momentum and atmosphere from its conceit of a futuristic city made up not of ghettos but of places transplanted from authentic other lands. And to my surprise Morocco makes a guest appearance! When Spike heads into Moroccan Town, it is as if he is in Morocco itself. Well... sort of!
Inspired by the cult television series, Cowboy Bebop ( Tengoku no tobira in Japanese) has surprising pleasures for the uninitiated.
Tags: Morocco, Fès, Israel, Moroccan
4 comments:
LOL! You have seen this movie?
I did think it was an interesting post. Sometimes it is good to have a little fun, non? Maybe Hujaina is not in the mood for it today.
El Glaoui I have sent you an email about Dar Sefferine (Have I spelt correctly??) I will be in Fez in March and hope to stay for two weeks. Can you ask Alaa and Kate if it is okay?
And warm greetings to Karim.
Ciao for now.
I thought what the Israeli guy said was nonsense! But maybe that was not what Hujaina means? Anyway it was simply a strange report on a day when there was little else.
Hi Kali, Hi El Glaoui! Hi Hujaina!
Good point Hujaina.
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