By Najoua Bijjir- Amsterdam- Moroccan World News was wondering to what extent the match Raja Casablanca – Bayern München had affected Moroccans in Holland. We asked novelist and journalist Najoua Bijjir to explore this theme during a cultural music event in Amsterdam that coincided with the match Raja Casablanca – Bayern München.
Did you watch the match?
“No, but do you have the results?”
Hatim Filali, owner of MaroComedy, silently scrolls through his cell phone to check the latest standings of the match Raja Casablanca-Bayern München during Marmoucha Culture Club. Then Samira Dainan appears on stage, a half Moroccan and half Dutch vocalist, with guitar accompaniment by Jan Wouter Oostenrijk.
“I am a very proud Moroccan. A club from Casablanca is competing with Bayern-München,” whispers Hatim Filali. “It’s a great accomplishment for North-African soccer, and that is beautiful,” adds also Samir Fighil to the conversation. “Samira Dainan has an amazing voice,” continues Samir Fighil, a stand up comedian from Moroccan origin.
Marmoucha’s Culture Club
“Today we launched our pilot Marmoucha Culture Club,” explains Wijnand Hollander, owner of Marmoucha Foundation. “We wanted to organize a monthly Culture Club in different locations in Amsterdam, where all kinds of artists will perform with surprising and experimental acts. We want to stimulate fusion between various artistic disciplines.”
What kind of culture do you focus on?
“The core is the Moroccan culture. That is what we stand for: the promotion of the Moroccan-Dutch culture here in Holland and in Morocco as well.”
This evening coincides with the football match Raja-Bayern Munich.
“Yes, and I've seen a lot of Raja-supporters. Especially the Farid Ghannem fans, they insisted that he wear a huge hat with the logo of Raja Casablanca on it. Then they took pictures with him wearing that hat!”
Too much confidence
“I just arrived from France, where I performed as a stand up comedian during different events in Marseille,” says Omar Ahaddaf, while Farid Ghannem gears up for his performance.
And, did you watch the game?
“I checked the results at the airport of course. I watched the previous match in Marseille. During Raja Casablanca – Atletico Mineiro we bought a box filled with gateau [cakes] and looked for a suitable café where we could watch the game, drink tea and enjoy our boulangerie [baked goods].
We found this Tunisian café in quartier Arabe. So we went into this café with our boulangerie, at the same time we were a little afraid of being embarrassed. Imagine what the Tunisians would think of us if we’d lost: They came with boulangerie to the game?!
So we sat there in the Tunisian café, watching the match. I remember my heart beating very fast and my sugar going up so high, that is was not sugar anymore but honey.
We had a blast that day: drinking tea, sharing cookies and watching the game… And how they took Ronaldhino’s shoes, his clothes and everything. You see, we won through Ronaldhino, and that’s quite an accomplishment. But if you have too much confidence, you’ll easily say: Safi [enough], I already won.”
Moroccans have potential
“Had lila zwina bezaf,” says Farid Ghannem, artist and finalist of The Voice MBC. “I’ve been here before at the invitation of Marmoucha to perform for a mixed audience. And this evening went well, elhamdoelilah. Especially the fusion performances between my Gnawa music, vocalist Samira Dainan, Jan Wouter Oostenrijk, and Mohamed Allati. It was a great experience.”
How did the audience react to that?
“I am used to this typical Dutch audience, that is mixed and interested in different cultures. With these concerts we hope to promote the Moroccan culture.
I love fusion between genres, and I am always open to merging different things and to connecting with other people, other sounds, cultures and music. This way I am inspired and able to learn new things.”
During your concert, Raja Casablanca played against Bayern München.
“Yes, and I don’t know what the results are.
Of course I am very proud of Raja Casablanca and any other club that carries the Moroccan flag. That’s because they are carrying the flag of my country.
You see, Moroccans have a lot of potential, in soccer, in music, art, and so many other disciplines.”
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