The cultural exhibition Children of Al-Andalus continues its journey—this time crossing the Strait of Gibraltar to begin a new phase in Morocco.
After touring various cities across Europe, as well as Vejer and Tarifa in 2023, the exhibition now travels to Moroccan lands, launching in Chefchaouen on April 10, with additional stops planned in Tangier, Tetouan, Larache, and Rabat (yet to be confirmed).
This first stop in Chefchaouen also marks a special occasion: the 25th anniversary of the twinning between Chefchaouen and Vejer, a symbolic celebration of the strong bond shared by both towns. As Antonio Verdú, president of the Diversitasassociation—one of the exhibition’s organizing entities—explains:
“These two cities have been connected for more than five centuries. Around 1485, the founder of Chefchaouen, Emir Mawlay Ali Ben Rachid—a descendant of the Prophet and the Alami dynasty of Morocco—married a Christian woman from Vejer, Catalina Fernández. She converted to Islam and took the name Lal-la Zohra. In the year 2000, both cities formalized their bond by signing a twinning agreement, which took place on July 21 of that year. This year marks the 25th anniversary of that historic moment.”
This initiative not only seeks to highlight the richness of the Andalusian legacy, but also to reveal the traces of that heritage still present in many Moroccan families, especially in the northern regions of the country.
The project is the result of several years of work by Bridge2Connect, whose efforts led to the creation of the book Children of Al-Andalus and the documentary of the same name, produced in collaboration with Marmoucha.
“The photographic exhibition with photographs from the book captures the visual testimony of the descendants of Andalusians in Morocco. Both materials have visited several cities and have generated great interest in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain, both academically and culturally.
Program
In its first Moroccan stop, the exhibition will offer a complete program that will include the screening of the documentary, the photographic exhibition, and a conference-colloquium with the participation of prominent experts and cultural entities. This event will serve to contextualize the importance of Andalusian memory and its impact on the identity of many Moroccan communities.
The initiative is organized by the Diversitas association together with the Califa Group of Vejer, and has the collaboration of the Diputación de Cádiz, the Vejer City Council, and Bridge2Connect. In Morocco, the Ministry of Culture and the Chefchaouen City Council actively participate, consolidating a cultural alliance between both countries.
A legacy that remains alive
On January 2, 1492, the last Muslim city of Granada surrendered to the Catholic Monarchs. This marks the end of Al-Andalus and of Islamic rule in the Iberian Peninsula. On March 31, Isabel and Fernando signed the Edict of Expulsion. All Jews in Spain were forced to convert to Catholicism or be expelled forever. They were given four months to leave Sefarad, the Hebrew name they had given to their land. Finally, between 1609 and 1614, the last Muslims, known as Moriscos, were ordered to leave Spain.
Andalusian Muslims and Sephardic Jews build a new existence in North Africa. They bring new influences to Morocco and enrich existing traditions. The refugees from the Iberian Peninsula experience similar feelings in exile and remember their homeland, their ancestors, and their past in common. Little by little they integrate into Moroccan society while preserving their culture, traditions, and unique Andalusian identity. They often marry within their own Andalusian communities formed in Morocco. Their heritage has been passed down from generation to generation.
In short, the traveling exhibition ‘Children of Al-Andalus’ rescues the traces of a legacy that continues to live, 500 years later.
