Safeguarding Moroccan Cultural Heritage: Countering Algeria's Bold Misappropriation Attempts

Friday 29 March 2024 - 15:18

Algeria's recent endeavors to lay claim to Morocco's diverse cultural legacy have sparked a surge of social media pages and accounts disseminating erroneous narratives, particularly regarding the iconic Moroccan selham garment, falsely portrayed as an Algerian tradition. In a bold act of cultural misappropriation, these platforms have accused Morocco of improperly featuring an image they assert to be of "Algerian heritage" to promote a cultural event.

This reprehensible act has incited a strong reaction from Moroccans online, who have united to defend their nation's cultural heritage, presenting abundant evidence affirming the selham's unequivocally Moroccan origins. The Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication has also stepped up its efforts, collaborating with international organizations such as UNESCO and ISESCO to safeguard and promote the kingdom's cultural heritage, guided by Mehdi Bensaid's leadership.

The latest developments underscore Algeria's persistent efforts to obstruct Morocco's endeavors to reclaim its cultural artifacts, which have long been appropriated by Algerian commentators and cultural authorities. The selham, known in full as "selham makhzeni," holds an integral position in Moroccan sartorial heritage, with its roots tracing back to the reign of Ahmed El Mansour Eddahbi, the sixth sultan of the Saadian dynasty, during the 16th century.

Historical records, including Pierre Loti's 1889 book "Au Maroc," provide evidence of the selham's Moroccan origins, depicting Sultan Hassan I adorned in the "Moroccan selham." Since then, the garment has remained a cherished aspect of Moroccan culture, worn by Moroccans of all walks of life, especially during significant religious ceremonies.

In addition to the ongoing appropriation of Moroccan heritage, Algeria has expressed ambitions to reclaim Moroccan territory. In October 2022, Abdou El Fadl Baadji, the Secretary General of the National Liberation Front (FLN), sparked controversy by asserting that the Moroccan cities of Oujda and Guercif in the eastern part of Morocco historically belonged to Algerian territory.

As Morocco continues to confront these audacious attempts at cultural and territorial misappropriation, the nation remains steadfast in its dedication to safeguarding its rich heritage and preserving its authentic cultural identity for future generations.