Practices, traditions and festivities in Khamlia, Morocco. A cross-cultural study

Abstract

In the village of Khamlia, as in the kingdom of Morocco as a whole, the predominant religion is Islam; however, a wide range of traditions, cultures, ethnic groups, and minority religions (such as Judaism and Christianity) exist through out important population sectors. The presence and impact of Islam in Morocco, since its arrival in the 7th century, consol idating in the 8th century, is notorious in various nuclei of action (society, econo my, politics, culture, identity, etc.). How ever, the appreciation of Islam in Morocco implies recognizing internal division or Islamic ramification: Sunni Islam is practiced by the majority, but true diversity lies in how Sufi Islam is practiced by a wide array of brotherhoods (or tárikas) throughout the kingdom. One of these brotherhoods is the Gnaoua brotherhood, which in turn presents internal divisions or ramifications, and exists as far as places such Khamlia. In the small town, one of the multiple ways of expressing and constructing cultural identities is through various festive rituals and celebrations, related to a multicultural historical context that developed from three interwoven cultural worlds. Consequently, in Khamlia, a complex system of beliefs and senses of belonging operates, opposing or intersect ing identities like vectors carrying different forces and directions that yet form the structure and mark the pulse of a culture, its traditions and belief system.