Morocco's Village Superwomen | Al Jazeera World

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Filmmaker: Bouchra Ijork

High in the Atlas Mountains in central Morocco are remote villages almost entirely dominated by Amazigh women, a result of the geographical divide between the urban and rural poor, the volatility of Moroccan agriculture and lack of regional development. Their menfolk migrate for long periods to do agricultural or city work in other parts of the country.

While the absentee men send money back home, the women are left to care for the children, tend to crops and farm animals without any outside support. "Wives can't accompany their husbands," says Fatma Kadjik, from Tiklit village, so married women have to learn to survive on their own.

In 2005, Morocco began its National Human Development Initiative Support Project with a million dollar budget aimed at improving people's living conditions and reducing poverty. By 2014, the overall poverty rate had been cut by about half, but there's still a large gap between urban and rural poverty. Literacy is also low, especially among girls, who are often unable to continue their education beyond primary school.

While life expectancy is not much lower than in Europe, harsh living conditions and poor access to healthcare affect longevity. It's a tough life for these resilient women, especially if as young girls they've been married off early.

"Imagine a girl married at the age of 13 or 14 having three or four children. At 19, she already looks 50. She's no longer beautiful and healthy," points out Saida Oukhali, from Oum Rabia.

She and her friend Aicha Jadda were both married at 16 but have since divorced, carrying a stigma in this conservative Amazigh society. "We weren't mature enough for the responsibility of marriage," says Saida. "Divorce is a big problem. You're exploited and no longer respected."

Ignoring village gossip, these young women now express themselves through music and song, where separation, hardship and women's suffering are recurring themes.

Village women with children have a heavier burden to bear. "We never rest. We keep running all day until night falls," says Fatima Kadjik, who lives with her sister-in-law, Hafida. She describes a typical day: "Hafida and I wake up at 6am to make bread and get the girls ready for school. After, I take the cow to the field to graze. Then we wash the wheat, lay it to dry and prepare lunch. By then the kids are back from school. I give the cow water and take it to graze."

Her husband, Abdellah Hasbi, acknowledges that this is difficult existence and hopes things will change for the next generation. "I'm worried about the younger generation ... Projects should be launched in this region, to create jobs for young people."

Men like Abdellah get seasonal work in farming but Moroccan agriculture is volatile and only 18 percent of the country is arable, adding to these people's vulnerability and insecurity.

While NGOs have stepped in to try and up-skill young people in of these communities - and this is the key to breaking the cycle that locks these women into such an unforgiving way of life. It might ultimately affect traditional Amazigh culture but it would more of the people of the Atlas the chance of becoming more valued members of Moroccan society as a whole.

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Today aicha and saida became well known singers in Morocco... I enjoy every time I hear their voices... reminds me the high mountains of Rif were I spent my childhood and witnessed the pauverty but I also learnt how to survive and face life. I miss Morocco so much...

soufianes
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Great women. God bless all the women especially those who take care of their children no matter what. A mother is a true angel. Love from Uganda

lukungu
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the way woman sing is the way the Kurds sing. Very similar to the Kurdish music. This is amazing. Love my Amazigh brothers and sisters ❤💙 May Allah bless and help them. Insha'Allah everything will be good for Amazigh people.

lionandlioness
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Beautiful people, rich cultures, hardworking responsible women and healthy society from all dirty things new civilization brought like drugs. They live in a beautiful country. What they need is just job creation in their own area, and a little development. The women in this community is the backbone of this beautiful culture. May GOD bless you in happiness, wealth and peace.

geelleguure
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My mom lived a life like this, and then she married my father and moved to europe... and i think she was so much happier then. When she tells stories about her old life, you see the happines in her eyes..

noenoenoenoe
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Im from Middle Atlas, i was about to cry. These are our brave and hardworking berber women. Im proud of my imazighen people and my roots, and I think every moroccan and nothern african should be proud of the berber culture. Thanks Al-Jazeera for showing this. We need to improve the conditions of our people and make Tamazgha great again

disteniusatls
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I do not know how I found and ended up watching this documentary. But this makes me proud and brought me tears.. As a Moroccan, originally from the northen regions, and living in a foreign country for several years, I can say that I never seen such reportage in our local/national medias, not with such authenticity and with real people's emotions ... Thanks you

DaRooMN
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When compared to the poor in urban areas, the dwellers of slums and shanty towns in many parts of the world, poverty in Europe, the homeless in US; these villagers are so blessed.The almost pristine condition, fresh air & water, children running free, healthy livestocks, security, no substance abuse; there are so many things enviable. Hope they will be spared from greed, corruption and the evil of modernity. Thank you for this beautiful documentary.

alelambert
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Great nation Great people l ❤ Morocco..from Philippines.

paulanajao
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Im a simple guy. I see Morocco i press like.

vincentnguyen
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Morocco will always have my heart. Ha bibi 😍 i went to agadir and fell inlove.
Love from Joshua tree California

positivemanda
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The hard life of this women remembered me of the life of my Greek mother in Epirus/Greece. She is the same kind of woman. Big respect!!!

lokovites
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Subhanallah!! moroccan women are strong, brave and courageous... May Allah bless and protect them & their family 💗 🇦🇫 Greetings

readlearnteach
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Superwoman they're!!! Me being of amazigh decent, and knowing my own dear mom has lived a life like these women breaks my heart. No government aid or schools to help build different lives. What a shame and a neglection of people. Thank you Al Jazeera for showing the other side of the medal. Morocco is not only the buzzing Marrakech.

n-africanqueen
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Masha'allah what a simple lives style but still you can see on their faces that their contented what they have a big love from philippines🇵🇭

shamer-khanramirez
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your traditional singing is amazing! i love the sound of your language
i'm hmong, and we have a similar tradition. i'm a musican and i can hear some of the similarities.
in my culture's singing, they love to start the song with the long high sustain note. we don't have many trills
but I know there is alot more in common than not.
God Bless You and your culture!

TheMadisonHang
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God bless all the.mothers in Moroccan.... brother from Somalian ⛳ viva Moroccan

dhacdooyinkatv
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morocañs are beautiful people even they grow old the beauty stay wiht them

pacitavillanada
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Nice documentary on Moroccan brave woman .
Thanks Al Jazeera channel 👌👍💐🇮🇳🙏

agamarjeet
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THE WOMEN WHO SPOKE AT LAST SHE IS AMAZINGGGG AND HER BELIEFS IS MORE STRONGER AND LOOK LIKE SHE CAN EVEN MOVE A MOUNTAIN IF SHE WANTS TOO..RESPECT FOR ALL.BLESS YOU ALL, ITS GOVT FAILURE BUT RICH COMMUNITY SHOULD HELP POOR PEOPLE IT CAN WORK TOO.

PureManYt