In a country as rooted in its diverse backgrounds as Morocco, from Amazigh to Arab and European to Sub-Saharan African, practices and celebrations almost always look to the past. Usually tied to annual events like the harvest, religious highpoints like Eid Al-Adha, and tribal identities, festivals are certainly one of the best examples to witness that show off Morocco's vibrant cultural fabric.
Far in the country's southwest on the edge of the Sahara, I recently traveled to the town of Tan Tan (طانطان) to witness one of these events: the Tan Tan Moussem. The word moussem (موسم) comes from the root و - س - م, relating to marking or branding, alluding to a 'marked' time of year that tribes in the area would come to Tan Tan to trade and celebrate together through dance, music, camel races, and North Africa's famous tbourida (التبوريدة) cavalry charges! While the moussem in Tan Tan is one of the largest in Morocco, it is far from the only one. Many others are celebrated all over the country throughout the year to celebrate harvests, like the Rose Moussem in Kelaat M'gouna (قلعة مݣونة), or even a marriage moussem in the High Atlas village of Imilchil (إملشيل)!
