Why Morocco 023 – Abderrazak Houdzi on learning a craft in Marrakech

This week I’m joined by Abderrazak Houdzi, owner of Ateliers D’Ailleurs, a company that encourages its clientele to roll up their sleeves and learn a Moroccan craft or trade in Marrakech. Through the workshops Ateliers D’Ailleurs organizes, I’ve had the chance to make a pair of traditional Moroccan slippers, piece together a mosaic tile and hammer a copper bowl during the three-hour sessions that take place in artists’ studios throughout the medina. But it’s about more than just the craft. It’s the opportunity to meet the maker and hear his or her story. To chat about his trade and understand how he became master. It’s the chance to meet the person responsible for the goods you might find for sale in the souks. It’s the opportunity to laugh and share a couple cups of tea in between producing something to take home. In fact, I always leave feeling so grateful for the opportunity to gain some insight in to local artisan life.

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My other projects include:

• Tasting Marrakech food and cultural tours in Marrakech tasting-marrakech.com
• Travel and public relations consulting
• Freelance writing for print and digital  mandyinmorocco.com/freelance-writing/