The Fabric of Moroccan Life
On exhibit at the National Museum of African Art
June 6 through September 21, 2003
FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS!
Films
· The Music of Morocco and the Cycles of Life
Thurs., June 5, 7 p.m. Ripley Center Lecture Hall
Musicologist Victoria Vorreiter traveled through Morocco in search of the kinds of music that shape and transform Moroccans’ lives – from the first living breath to the last (USA, 2002, color, 50 min.). Ms. Vorreiter moderates the programs.
· Vibrations in the High Atlas
· Nuptials in the Middle Atlas
Fri., June 13, 7 p.m., Ripley Center Lecture hall
Vibrations in the High Atlas reveals that Berber music and dance are concerned with the essential elements (earth, sky and water) of the primeval universe (1992, color, 26 min., Arabic with English subtitles). Two Berber tribes meet and perform song and dance rituals that celebrate the cosmic forces in Nuptials in the Middle Atlas (1992, color, 26 min., Arabic with English subtitles). Moderated by ethnomusicologist Kader Rhanime.
· Gnaouas
· Saints and Spirits
Thurs., June 26, 7 p.m., Ripley Center room 3111
Gnaouas - black Moroccans – originally brought to Morocco from sub-Saharan Africa as slaves during the 15th century, organize “brotherhoods” mystical healing that practice spirit possession and exorcism. Their healing rituals and music combine elements of pre-Islamic Moroccan culture with that of sub-Saharan Africa (1990, color, 26 min., Arabic and Gnaoua with English subtitles).
Saints and Spirits documents three religious events involving Gnaoua musicians and ritual specialists in different parts of Morocco (1979, color, 26 min., Arabic and Berber with English subtitles). Moderated by ethnomusicologist Kader Rhanime. The films include scenes of animal sacrifice.
· Le Silence Violé (The Rape of Silence)
· Boujad: A Nest in the Heat
· Whispers
Thurs., July 10, 7 p.m., Ripley Center room 3111
A village’s everyday life is shattered by invasive forces in the U.S. premiere of Le Silence Violé (Morocco, 2002, 7 min., Arabic and French with English subtitles).
Filmmaker Hakim Belabbes journeys from Chicago to a family reunion in Morocco in Boujad: A Nest in the Heat (U.S., 1992, 45 min., English and Arabic with English subtitles).
A man obsessively searches for his lost childhood in Whispers (U.S.A., 1999, 15 min., no narration). Moderated by filmmaker Hakim Belabbes
· Ali Zaoua
Thurs., August 14, 7 p.m., Ripley Center room 3111
Three street urchins bound by friendship in Casablanca give a friend killed in a gang fight the funeral he deserves (Morocco/Belgium, 2000, 90 min., Arabic with English subtitles).
· Bab Al-Sama Maftouh (Door to the Sky)
Thurs., September 18, 7 p.m., Ripley Center room 3111
A young Moroccan émigré attending her father’s funeral and a woman chanting from the Koran develop a powerful friendship as they turn the father’s palace into a Muslim women’s shelter (Morocco, 1989, 107 min., Arabic with English subtitles).
Exhibition Tours
The Fabric of Moroccan Life
Sunday, June 8 and Sept. 21, 2 p.m., Information Desk, pavilion
July 10, 5 p.m., Information Desk, pavilion
Come discover Morocco’s beautiful embroideries, textiles and jewelry on this special exhibition tour.
Musical Performances
The Kasbah Band
Sat., June 21, 2 p.m., Ripley Center Lecture Hall,
sublevel 3
Sat., August 16, 2 p.m., Ripley Center Lecture Hall,
sublevel 3
Time magazine defined rai as “…an assorted mix of salsa and hip hop on a bed of traditional sounds unifying the Middle Eastern and sub-Saharan music scales.” Come rock to the music of the Moroccan band Kasbah.
Afrikid programs (programs for children ages 7 – 12)
Folktales from Morocco
Sat., June 7, 2 p.m., Lecture Hall, sublevel 2
From the Mediteranean coast to the High Atlas Mountains, Morocco’s peoples and cultures are revealed through folktales presented by docents and staff.
Let’s Read about Africa
Enjoy engaging stories drawn from Moroccan and Ethiopian history and culture. Books are appropriate for ages 4 to 8; each program is approximately 45 minutes.
· A Family in Morocco, by Judy Stewart with photographs by Jenny Matthews, describes daily life of 12-year-old Malika and her family who live in Tangier, Morocco. Saturday, June 14, 2 p.m., Lecture Hall, sublevel 2
· In One Night: A Story from the Desert, Muhamad earns the respect of his family when he spends a night in the desert with a goat giving birth. Also, Young Mammo gets into lots of trouble and Tewabech learns to laugh in Silly Mammo: An Ethiopian Tale. Thurs., July 10, 10:30 a.m., Lecture Hall, sublevel 2
· A camel suddenly balks at giving rides to children in What’s the Matter, Habibi. Also, in The Perfect Orange: A Tale from Ethiopia, Tshai journeys to visit a distant ruler and encounters Ato Jib, the Lord Hyena, along the way. Thurs., July 17, 10:30 a.m., Lecture Hall, sublevel 2
· A young Moroccan boy learns about the origin of all stories in The Storytellers. Also, an aged slave in ancient Ethiopia earns his freedom in The Fire: An Ethiopian Folk Tale. Thurs., July 24, 10:30 a.m., Lecture Hall, sublevel 2
· In Faraway Home, Desta begins to think about the meaning of home as her father returns to his home in Ethiopia. Also, On the Wings of Eagles: An Ethiopian Boy’s Story is about a young Ethiopian Jewish boy who is airlifted to Israel. Thurs., July 31, 10:30 a.m., Lecture Hall, sublevel 2
· The Bachelor and the Bean is a funny Moroccan Jewish tale about an old bachelor who finds a wife late in life. Also, Day of Delight: A Jewish Sabbath in Ethiopia follows siblings Menelik and Simcha through the week as they anticipate the Saturday Sabbath. Thurs., August 7, 10:30 a.m., Lecture Hall, sublevel 2
Workshops for Children (for ages 7 –12)
Big and Small, Shapes and Patterns Galore! (Registration required)
Thurs., July 10, 17, 24, 31
4–5:30 p.m. and 6–7:30 p.m., Workshop, sublevel 2
Come revel in the world of patterns. Create your own designs based on patterns found in the rich and diverse cultures of Morocco and Ethiopia. To register, call 202.357.4600, ext. 222. Space is limited, so call early.
Community Day
Moroccan and Ethiopian Community Day
Sat., September 13, 1–4 p.m.
Celebrate Ethiopian New Year’s and learn about Moroccan and Ethiopian cultures. Enjoy Moroccan tea and Ethiopian coffee ceremonies, listen to music and folktales, partake in gallery activities and workshops and have yourself photographed in traditional clothing.
Program for teachers
Back to School for Educators
Thurs., August 28, 4:30–8 p.m.
Explore Ethiopian contemporary art and Moroccan textiles as you enjoy an evening of art, creativity, music and refreshments. Learn about African Art’s new programs for the school year. The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the Sackler and Freer Galleries are also highlighting new programs.