Happy New Year from The View From Fez

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No "Exodus" for Morocco

Christian Bale as Moses in Exodus: Gods and Kings

Morocco has joined Egypt and the UAE in banning the Hollywood biblical epic Exodus: Gods and Kings because it “represents God” which is forbidden under Islam.

The film's Moroccan distributor said on Saturday that written notice had been received that Ridley Scott’s blockbuster contained a scene that represents God in the form of a “child who gives a revelation to the prophet Moses”.

“I deplore this censorship,” distributor Mounia Layadi Benkirane said in a statement.

Moroccan media on Thursday reported that cinema managers had been told not to screen the film, despite its release already having been approved by the state-run Moroccan Cinema Centre (MCC).

Hassan Belkady, who runs Cinema Rif in Casablanca, said he had been threatened with the closure of his business if he ignored the ban.

“They phoned and threatened they would shut down the theatre if I did not take the film off the schedule,” Belkady said.

Managers at Renaissance Cinema in Rabat were told that the ban was nationwide, TelQuel magazine reported. Such a ban is rare in Morocco.

Eqypt has also banned the movie, citing "historical inaccuracies". Exodus retells the biblical story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt, and the film was controversial prior to news of its ban in Morocco.

The film's detractors also criticize Scott's casting of white actors in leading roles, while giving slave roles to black actors, Christian Today reported. A Change.org petition urged people to boycott the film. "The Bible says both Egyptians and Ethiopians are descendants of Ham," the petition reads. "Remember, Egypt wasn't invaded by Rome until 300 B.C. Egypt is in Africa, not Europe."

Agence France-Presse speculated that the ban was put into place in Morocco because Muslims believe that Moses is a prophet and hence should not be depicted in any pictorial representation.

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Fez Hamadcha Depart For Australian Tour

This evening the Fez Hamadcha depart for Australia to take part in two of the world's great festivals

In fine voice - Hamadcha Malam Abderrahim Amrani Marrakchi

Their first stop will be the Woodford Festival in Queensland where they will give six performances plus taking part in forum discussions. Then, after a week long break they will head to the opening of the Sydney Festival in New South Wales. Several performances will be filmed for Australian television and there will be a radio programme and a documentary film is anticipated.

Rachida El Jokh and Noureddin Bachira

Frederic Calmes (second from right) directing a drumming rehearsal

Hamadcha Malam (leader) Abderrahim, says this is "A trip of a lifetime. Going to the far side of the earth is as huge step for the Hamadcha."

The country retreat -"a breath of fresh air"

Prior to their departure the group held numerous rehearsals in Fez before going on a three day retreat in the country to add the finishing touches to their repertoire. It was, as one musician said, "a breath of fresh air and tranquility before the long trip".

Noureddine Bachira and Abdellatif Moujtahide in rehearsal

Melhoun singer Mohammed Essoussi - all rugged up

The group's first performance is on December 27th and their final Sydney performance on January 10th. They return to Fez on the 11th.  The View from Fez will be reporting from both festivals.


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Festive Fez Food

A few places remain at the best restaurants to eat in Fez on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. See them listed in alphabetical order, below. But be quick!

Dar Roumana

Fireside at Dar Roumana

Celebrate the festive season at Dar Roumana in an atmosphere of cosy luxury. Blending the exotic beauty of a Moroccan courtyard, with elements from home such as a roaring open fire, mulled wine and the scent of pine from a real Christmas tree, you will have the best of both worlds.

On offer are set-six course menus for 600 dh, crafted from the best available local ingredients by skilled French chef Vincent. Dishes on Christmas Day include porcini soup with argan oil and crispy bacon; a choice of John Dory fish or seared lamb tenderloin for mains and dark chocolate pudding for dessert.

The menu on New Year's Eve includes homemade porcini ravioli, sea bream with pea puree and langustine bisque, seared lamb tenderloin, with bitter chocolate tart for dessert.

The main dining room at Dar Roumana

Enhancing the ambience will be a six-member Moroccan band led by a talented oud player. Be quick, they are almost fully booked for Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.

Contact: 06 60 29 04 04 or info@darroumana.com.

Fez Cafe

Sparkling ambiance at Fez Cafe

The colourful and cosy Fez Cafe at Jardin des Biehn is putting on a delicious spread for Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.

Their five course Christmas Day menu includes grilled scallops on a bed of artichokes and argan oil; duck confit, mille-feuilles of fish and cardoons with anchovy and shrimp juice, with a selection of Christmas desserts.

The New Year's Eve menu includes a glass of champagne, foie gras and fig compote with vanilla and a glass of port, mushroom and royal shrimp risotto; lamb shank with dried fruit, with chocolate cake for dessert.

 Both menus are 759 dirhams, with soft drinks included. (Wine is available at an additional cost.) Musical ambience will be provided an oud and a flute player.

Contact: 0664647679 or contact@jardindesbiehn.com

Riad Karawan

The comfortable and stylish terrace of Riad Karawan 

The latest luxury riad hotel to open in the Andalous quarter, Riad Karawan is open for scrumptious Sunday brunch and afternoon teas during the week. From December 25, they will be open for lunch on their terrace, which has a spectacular view over the Medina, the Ottoman-inspired courtyard, or in their romantic dining room. Their lunch menu includes foie gras; filet of duck; filet of St Pierre or whatever type of fish is best in the market, and a dessert course. Two courses with a glass of wine cost 175 dh and three courses with a glass of wine cost 250 dirhams.

Contact: 05 35 63 78 78 or karawanriad@gmail.com

The restaurant at Riad Karawan

Maison Moi Anan

Tranquility and great Thai food

The best Thai food in town - indeed many towns - is at the recently opened Maison Moi Anan off the Talaa Kbira, where designer and Thai chef extraordinare, Anan, cooks up a storm. Using the freshest of local ingredients, supplemented by imported herbs and spices, the subtle and authentic blend of flavours is an unexpected but exciting experience to find in the Fez Medina.

Anan's eight course Christmas Day menu includes "Sleeping Beauty shrimp, with snowman scallops", duck and pineapple red curry, and fish of the day with aubegine in green curry. The set menu is 400 dirhams, excluding wine.

Contact: 06 28 88 79 09 or 05 35 63 57 13 or anan_sorsutham@yahoo.com

Resto 7

Elegance and fine food at Resto 7

The food renaissance at Restaurant Numero 7, (commonly referred to as "Resto 7"), has been brought about by an innovative program of chef's residencies. The most recent team to grace the kitchen are Harry Cummins, from England, and Laura Vidal, from Canada, who are running the restaurant until the end of January. Winning accolades for their pop-up restaurants at numerous cities around the globe, the pair offer creative, unexpected and mouth-watering menus of an extraordinarily high standard.

For Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, their "beldi market market tasting menu" (determined by available ingredients), will be 675 dirhams, and their New Year's Eve and New Year's Day menu will be 775 dirhams. And do try sommelier Laura's divine vermouth, flavoured with local fruits and spices.

Contact: 06 69 42 77 849 or reservationsat7@gmail.com

The Ruined Garden

Intimate atmosphere and great food at The Ruined Garden

Over winter, the atmosphere of the The Ruined Garden restaurant is enhanced by the braziers and cosy fireplace. As well as their regular lunch time offerings, such as double-fried doughnut filled with home-smoked salmon and egg, served with warm Moroccan salads, over the Christmas period they also have the Fassi celebratory dish of Mechoui - seven hour slow cooked lamb, stuffed with plums or apricots and spices. This needs to be ordered one day in advance.

They are also holding a New Years Eve function. A welcome cocktail, four course dinner and a
glass of sparkling wine at midnight is 660 dirhams, excluding wine. There will be drums and trumpets, and pots and pans to herald in the New Year.

Contact: 06 49 19 14 10 or riadandgarden@gmail.com

... and Seasons Greetings from The View from Fez! 

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Celebration of Prohet Mohammad's Birthday - January 4th

In Morocco, Eid Al Mawlid Annabawi, the celebration of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad which takes place on the 12th day of Rabi’ al-awwal, the third month in Islamic calendar, will be celebrated on January 4th.

In a statement, the ministry said that it has contacted its delegates and the Royal Armed Forces units which confirmed the non-sighting of the lunar crescent announcing the beginning of the month of Rabi I in the evening of Monday, Safar 29, 1436, corresponding to Dec. 22, 2014.

The Ministry announced that Eid Al Mawlid Annabawi, celebrated every 12 Rabi-I, will fall on January 4, 2015.

Known by different names in the Islamic world, this celebration in Morocco is called  “Eid Al Mouloud,” or simply “Al Mouloud.” It is an occasion when Moroccans show their devotion to their faith, a spiritual day to recall the ideals of Islam and recite poems dedicated to the Prophet.

In an interesting opinion piece in Morocco World News, Larbi Arbaoui writes about the Islamic and non-Islamic traditions that have come to be associated with the holiday.

In most of the regions in the south east of Morocco, men walk together in early morning to the graveyard singing “Al Burdah” and women warble “you-yous” when the men pass by. In the evening, the sound of the Attalba, religious people who memorize the Quran and master the Islamic legislature, reading the Quran and reciting hymns glorifying God can be heard coming from houses, along with the fragrant odor of incense and sandal wood. Tea, nuts and cookies are served while the Attalba read and recite Quran and religious poems until dinner, traditionally, couscous.

The city of Salé, on the Bou Regreg estuary, holds a lantern procession on Al Mouloud called Dor Eshamaa. In Meknes, in the square of Saint Sheikh Al Kamel, the celebration on this day takes a barbaric turn. Men and women engage in wild dances using knives to strike their foreheads and eat hot embers and drink boiling water. A practice that has nothing to do with Islam.

The dancers, who usually wear white, see themselves in an ecstatic state of joy. Visitors are required to avoid wearing red clothes, a color that is known to provoke the wild dancers. Wearing black or red is considered an offense and those who do may have their clothes torn. Perhaps the strangest aspect of this ceremony is the custom of the infirm laying at the gate of the shrine in order for the “Aisawa,” followers of the Saint, to heal them by walking on their backs.

In Tazarine, a small village about 160 kilometers from Ouarzazate, Al Mouloud is considered an important and dignified day. In the early morning, readings of the holy Quran can be heard from a distance. Men dress in white, and exchange smiles and expressions of courtesy.

The couscous plate during Tazlaft in Tazarine

The day of “Tazlaft,”(a Berber word meaning an earthenware plate where couscous is served), is the busiest day with loud music from tambourines. It is believed that, thanks to Saint Sidi Amrou, a dish of couscous twice as wide as the width of the door can be passed magically through the door. Tradition says that anyone who looks while the miracle takes place will be struck blind.

On Al Mouloud, the sacred coexists with the profane. In Meknes, for example, at the same time as some are engaged in the pagan ritual of ecstatic dancing others are inside mosques reading the Quran or studying the Prophet’s biography. Though these “decadent and barbarous” practices give the ceremony a vibrant and lively atmosphere, they should not be associated with Islam.


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Fog in Fez Creates Wonderland

Unusual weather conditions in Fez on Friday made for a magical early morning walk around the public gardens, Jnan Sbil. Later, as the fog lifted off the mountains, the Merenid tombs and city were revealed

Photo essay by Suzanna Clarke


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Moroccan News Briefs #123

A round up of the latest Moroccan news - Moroccan actor Mohammed Bestaoui, dead at 60,  100,000 children out of school,  Morocco reviews its exchange rate system... and more

Moroccan weather causes school disruptions

There are 100,000 children out of school in Morocco at the moment due to the heavy rains that have hit the region and damaged bridges, roads and infrastructure. The Department of Education has identified damage of varying degrees in 1853 schools, of which 1172 are primary schools, 503 annexes, 105 secondary schools and 76 secondary colleges.

"What we see on television is only a thousandth of what is the reality"

"It is difficult to have the exact figures," said Abdellah Kassan in Ouarzazate "There are remote and difficult access villages where everything has been swept away by the rains, isolated areas, flooded schools, people have left their villages en masse," he said, regretting "that we see on television is only a thousandth of what is the reality."


Morocco to review its exchange rates system

Morocco wants to revise its currency basket to put an end to its dependence of the euro. During a recent press conference Abdellatif Jouahri, Governor of Bank Al Maghrib, said,"It may be time to revise our weights,as at the moment Moroccan international trade is split apart equal between euros and dollars."

With the European Union (EU) as the first economic partner abroad, the Moroccan economy has seriously suffered from the crisis in the eurozone. Since June, the governor of the central bank has been examining a revision of the basket of currencies According to analysis by Reuters, Morocco will now want to respond to a recommendation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that recently urged Morocco to adopt a more flexible exchange rate to make its economy more competitive and better able absorb shocks in the system.

Bank Al Maghrib economist Mehdi Lahlou, says it is time to accelerate the execution of this project because of "the weaker euro and lower oil prices on world markets. The bank wants to protect Moroccan exports and gain maximum benefit from the weak oil prices," he said.

Morocco to allow privatisation of television

Minister of Communication, government spokesman, Mustapha El Khalfi says, "It is time for liberalisation of the audiovisual sector in Morocco." The ministry will soon launch a call for expressions of interest to study the issue.

With dissatisfaction at the current public television, commentators say Morocco is finally ready for private television and the Minister says it is only a "matter of time".

In response to a question from the Istiqlal party in the House of Representatives on the delay in opening of private television initiatives. El Khalfi argued that the transition to digital television will promote the liberalisation and the opening up of the sector.

A "jazz piano feast" in Essaouira

Lovers of jazzy rhythms can enjoy great music in Essaouira from the 28th to 30th of December. It sounds like an ideal end to the year - jazz style. Three piano virtuosos, will perform in the enchanting Dar Souiri.

On the menu, Bobby Few plays Thelonious Monk, along with musicians Alain Jean-Marie (self-taught jazz pianist born in 1945 in Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe) and his wife Morena Fattorini and Pity Cabrera. These three concerts will be preceded by poetic digressions by Francoise Atlan. The event will also feature the opening of an exhibition from artist Anne Gorouben.

The venue, Dar Souiri, is a space dedicated to promoting the vibrant arts scene, music and literature, but also a space for exchange and learning: courses of Arabic and French and reading stories for children.

Headquarters of the Association Essaouira -Mogador, Dar Souiri is a beautiful house and well worth a visit. Do not miss its superb library , where consultation of all the works is free. The rooms are available to rent for events including concerts and exhibitions.

Artists in Residence program for 2015

The residency September 2015 in Sefrou and Fez is an opportunity for participating artists to develop cultural understanding through a shared artistic process.

The open AIR residency has at its core the mission to bring multi-disciplinary international artists together and enhancing dialogue and cross-cultural exchange through a variety of arts programmes and cultural events in a unique way. Participants will spend time in the Amazigh (Berber) village of Sefrou and the Imperial City of Fez, the Moroccan capital of crafts as recognised by UNESCO. It is the only remaining intact Medina and the world’s largest car-free urban metropolis.

The residency presents a unique programme of interaction with the artisans of Fez and immersion in contemporary Moroccan culture.

Closing date for submissions is May 15th 2015. For an application forms and more information contact: cvairs@yahoo.com

Moroccan actor Mohammed Bestaoui,  dies at the age of 60

After being hospitalised for several days in Rabat, Moroccan actor and comedian Mohamed Bastaoui died on Wednesday, at the age of 60.

Mohammed Bastaoui, born in Khouribgha in 1954, left a rich history of success in Moroccan Cinema and Television. He passed away after fighting with a lengthy illness. He started his artistic career playing in theatre with “Masrah al Yaoum” and “Masrah Achams.” Moroccan fans knew him best largely through the series “Dwyer Zman,” and “Janan Karma” by Moroccan director, Farida Bourkia.

Bastaoui worked alongside famous Moroccan directors, including Kamal Kamal, Saad Chraibi, Mohamed Ismail and Fouzi Bensaidi.

 In the opinion of critics, Bastaoui was the star of the Moroccan TV during the last decade. The death of Mohamed Bastaoui represents not only a loss for his family, but also for the whole national artistic family who loses another great friend. الله يرحمك ويعمد روحك الجنة

Finally - a reminder

Today is the 4th anniversary of the day Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in Tunisia, setting off the 2011 Arab uprisings.

Tarek al-Tayeb Mohamed Bouazizi (Arabic: محمد البوعزيزي‎;) was a Tunisian street vendor who set himself on fire on 17 December 2010, in protest of the confiscation of his wares and the harassment and humiliation that he reported was inflicted on him by a municipal official and her aides.

His act became a catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring, inciting demonstrations and riots throughout Tunisia in protest of social and political issues in the country. The public's anger and violence intensified following Bouazizi's death, leading then-President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to step down on 14 January 2011, after 23 years in power.

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Saving an Architectural Jewel of Moroccan Heritage

The Cervantes Theatre in Tangier, built by the Spanish couple Manuel Pena and Esperanza Orellana opened December 11, 1913. It was acquired by the Spanish government in 1928. The Cervantes Theatre was described by he coordinator of Cervantes centres in Morocco, Javier Galvan Guijo, as one of the  "architectural jewels" of Moroccan heritage. Now, after years of indecision, Moroccan and Spanish architects are calling for its restoration.

Back in February of this year, The View from Fez wrote about the state of the theatre and the need for renovation (see story here). At the time, Cecilia Fernandez Suzor, director of the Cervantes Institute in Tangier said, "Its current state is a bit pathetic, to be honest."

Writer Rachid Taferssiti, president of the Al Boughaz Association for the Safeguarding of Tangier, also had something to say. "It looks like a shadow of a theatre, "he said,  "I find it sad that a multicultural space like that is degraded as it is."

On Tuesday in Fez  Moroccan and Spanish architects launched a call for the "Safeguarding of great Cervantes Theatre in Tangier".

At a round table on "rehabilitation and implementation of heritage: the case of large Cervantes Theatre in Tangier," participants from various backgrounds have called stakeholders, theatre professionals and civil society to "mobilise to rehabilitate this emblematic monument and restore its its former luster and radiance."

This Tangier coliseum with a capacity of more than a thousand spectators once served as a place of amusement and entertainment, debate of ideas and a meeting the Moroccan nationalist movement.

The building has been closed to the public since the early 90s.

Visiting the site photographer Gerard Chemit found it surrounded by rubbish and in a dilapidated state. Hopefully the words spoken about the theatre will finally result in some action.

  The theatre is accessible via the Avenue Pasteur and
Rue du Prince Moulay Abdallah  - Photo Gerard Chemit

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Royal Moroccan Airforce Join Fight Against ISIL

Morocco has joined the coalition against Islamic State of Iraq and Levant. American officials report that the Kingdom has agreed to air strikes against ISIL positions in Iraq as well as Syria. Morocco has already contributed several F-16 Block 52+ multi-role fighters for the daily operations

Moroccan F-16s

An American military spokesperson says “This was a good decision both for the coalition and Morocco as it has not yet tested these aircraft in combat.”

At this point, the Royal Moroccan Air Force has been operating three F-16s in the campaign against ISIL. Officials said the Moroccan missions were coordinated with the U.S. Air Force through its air operations command in Qatar.

This marked the first use of Morocco’s F-16 fleet in air strikes. The kingdom procured 24 such aircraft from Lockheed Martin in a $2.4 billion purchase.

So far, Morocco has been the first and only North African ally to join the coalition. Egypt, which was a longtime partner of Washington, has refrained from any commitment following the U.S. suspension of F-16s to the regime of President Abdul Fatah Sisi.

Rep. Rob Wittman, a chairman of a House Armed Services subcommittee says “This effort needs an Arab face.”

According to daily newspaper Akhbar Al Yaoum in its December 10th issue, four F-16 Moroccan fighters have begun bombing locations belonging to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The Moroccan air raids focused on bombing IS positions in the outskirts of the Iraqi capital Baghdad in addition to other parts of the country that were not yet identified.

The newspaper said that Spain is closely watching Morocco’s participation in the US-led coalition to fight against the Islamic State, adding that the move enabled Morocco to have an increased access to advanced technology and weapons manufactured by the United States. It went on to say that the Spanish press believes that results have shown that the Moroccan F-16s are more advanced than Spanish F-18 fighters which are devoted to the protection of the Canary Islands.

Earlier reports by the NY Times said that the Moroccan F-16 fighters will be targeting fixed sites like military headquarters, communications centers, oil refineries, training camps, troop barracks and weapon depots.

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Morocco, Algeria... and a New Zealand Fairytale?

It is rare for The View from Fez to report on football. It is even rarer for us to report a story that involves Morocco, Algeria and New Zealand. However, it is rarest of all that a small New Zealand football club makes the world news.

The FIFA Club World Cup run of Auckland City has turned into something of a fairytale after they unexpectedly defeated Moroccan Club Moghreb Tetouan last Wednesday - a result that saw the Moroccan side's coach getting sacked. Then came today's shock defeat of Algerian champions ES Setif in Rabat.

Auckland City celebrate as the fairytale continues

The New Zealand part-timers, who qualified for the tournament as Oceania champions are making a record sixth appearance. The world tournament pits the champions of each FIFA confederation against each other, to find the best club team in the world, and Auckland - the champions of Oceania and the only non-professionals - were widely expected just to make up the numbers.

However, New Zealand John Irving's goal in the second-half not only secured a win over Algerian side but also (for the first time) a place in the Club World Cup semi-finals on Saturday.

Auckland will now have four days to find their feet, and apply for more leave from their day-jobs, before they tackle the South American champions on Thursday morning when they face Argentina's San Lorenzo, the Copa Libertadores champions, in Marrakesh.

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Netherlands: the government will reinstate benefits to Moroccans

The Dutch government has changed its mind about cutting family allowance for the children of Moroccans abroad who reside in Morocco. Under the new ruling the Dutch justice system has decreed that allowances will be restored.

In a decision released yesterday, the Utrecht Court of Appeal upheld the judgment at first instance ordering the Dutch government to reconsider its previous decision to reduce the amount of allowances to children of migrants living in Morocco by 40%.

The government will also refund the amounts of these allowances that have not been paid since January 1, 2013, date of the entry into force of the previous law.

Previously the decrease of 40% had been decided by the government which said it was taking into account the difference in living standards between Morocco and the Netherlands.

The news that the benefits will be reinstated has been warmly welcomed by Dutch Moroccans.

Between 1965 and 1973, one hundred thousand Turks and Moroccans came to the Netherlands, and a further 170,000 from 1974 to 1986. Earlier arrivals consisted of guest workers, whose recruitment and admission was governed by a bilateral treaty signed in 1969. However, the guests did not return home. From the 1970s, the number arriving under family reunification schemes became more significant. Around half the Dutch Moroccans are Amazigh (Berber) originating from the mountainous Rif region

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Millennium Challenge Corporation Grants Morocco a Second Compact

On Wednesday, Thomas Kelly, Acting Vice President for Policy and Evaluation at the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), congratulated Morocco for being eligible to develop second compact proposals.

“We congratulate Morocco on being re-selected to continue compact development”, Thomas Kelly said in a statement to the Moroccan Press Agency (MAP).

This decision was confirmed by a statement of the Board of Directors of the MCC in Washington after the members of the Council voted to grant the second compact to Morocco

Thomas Kelly, who is in charge of strategies and assessments, underlined that "Morocco, during the past year, worked diligently to consolidate its performance on the eligibility criteria. The Kingdom should continue its efforts to further enhance its performance."

The continuation of the program is seen as being due to the success of the first MCA-Morocco program, which was seen as exploring new levels of cooperation between Morocco and the United States.

The first compact, worth $697.5 million was overseen by the US Congress, after being signed between the Kingdom and the Millennium Challenge Corporation on August 31, 2007 in Tetouan at a meeting chaired His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

The program, whose execution was entrusted to the Agency Partnership for Progress (APP), a Moroccan public body, set itself the goal of reducing poverty through growth Economic, improving incomes, increased productivity and job creation in  targeted areas.

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Estevanico ~ A Saturday Performance at Dar Batha

In the early 16th century, a few years after Christopher Columbus, an intrepid young and talented Moroccan became the first African to set foot on the New World

 Befriended by native Americans and spiritual healers, after travels worthy of the best adventure novels, the legend of "Esteban" Azemmour, grew. He was the first man of the old world to explore the West Coast of the Americas and, legend has it, would have seen the mythical cities of gold.

The extraordinary story of Mustafa Azemmour nicknamed "Esteban Black" discoverer of cities of gold is superb storytelling set to music.

Saturday, December 13, 6pm, Dar Batha
All age groups - Free entry

Leo Fabre-Cartier Oud
Frédéric Calmès: Conte
Arthur Narcy: Percussion

Behind the legend: 

Estevanico (c. 1500–1539), born in Morocco, was the first-known person born in Africa to land in the present-day continental United States.

He is known by many different names, in the Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic and English languages, in a variety of historic works. Among the most common are Arabic: إستيفانيكو‎; "Mustafa Zemmouri" (مصطفى زموري), "Black Stephen"; "Esteban"; "Esteban the Moor"; "Estevan", "Estebanico", "Stephen the Black", "Stephen the Moor"; "Stephen Dorantes" and "Esteban de Dorantes," after his owner Andres Dorantes; and "Little Stephen".

Enslaved as a youth by the Portuguese, he was sold to a Spanish nobleman and taken in 1527 on the Spanish Narváez expedition. He was one of four survivors among the 600-man expedition, and traveled for eight years with Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, Andrés Dorantes de Carranza, and Alonso del Castillo Maldonado across northern New Spain (present-day U.S. Southwest and northern Mexico), before they reached Spanish forces in Mexico City in 1536.

Later Estevanico served as the main guide for a return expedition to the Southwest, where he was killed in the Zuni city of Hawikuh in 1539.

The Moor's Account, a 2014 novel by Laila Lalami, is a fictional memoir of Estevanico, the Moroccan slave who survived the Narvez expedition and accompanied Cabeza de Vaca.

Lalami explains that nothing is known about him except for one line in Cabeza de Vaca's chronicle: "The fourth [survivor] is Estevanico, an Arab Negro from Azamor."

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