The Mata International Festival includes a traditional practice that dates back centuries in the Larache region. It represents a great Moroccan cultural heritage and Atalayar was able to talk with Nabil Baraka, president of this equestrian festival, in the facilities of the prestigious Hotel Le Mirage in Tangier.
The Mata International Festival collects a centuries-old tradition in the Larache area. What are its origins?
First of all, many thanks to Atalayar, who has been with us for many years and has accompanied the Mata Equestrian Festival from the beginning. This festival brings together several qualities: culture, spirituality and the promotion of the Larache region. It is an equestrian festival that comes from an ancient tradition, from the 12th century, and that transmits a message of peace, a Sufi spiritual message.
It comes from the great mystical saint, Moulay Abdeslam Ben Mchich Alami, who lived at the top of Mount Mata, at 1,400 meters, and is the founder of a Sufi order of the 11th century, called the Shadiliya. Sufism is based on love, tolerance, spirituality. Each Sufi seeks inner peace, removes the hatred that is in his heart and has to do spiritual preparation before entering to pray. Sufism is, above all, humanity, beauty, nature and love.
What does the festival consist of?
Mata comes from the tradition of this great saint and we have preserved this wonderful equestrian show, these horse competitions: the riders ride the horses bareback and the different tribes have to compete for a bride, who is actually a doll dressed as such. . The riders compete in an ancestral tradition, in which the honor of the tribe, courage, tactics and strategy are part of the spectacle that we have preserved in this area.
Is the goal for this festival to be recognized by UNESCO?
After many years, Mata is today the heritage of Licesco, which is the first recognition of Muslim countries. The second stage, which we are now in, is to register it with UNESCO, which is part of the World Heritage list. It is a beautiful sport, we are in the countryside, we promote agriculture, organic products, to support cooperatives, so they can sell nationally and internationally.
And there are also the tribes of the south, who come to participate in the Mata Festival: the Saadis, the Chorfa are the descendants of the prophet, who are the great tribes of the south, they are descendants of Moulay Abdeslam, who is their spiritual father, but also his father in the sense of the line of descent. They come every year to the great pilgrimage that is made in his honor.
The Mata Festival also serves to promote the Larache region. What does this region offer visitors?
The Larache region is a region with great potential, it is at an important moment. The State is investing in structuring the agricultural industry: there is a lot of field, the region is number one in strawberry production; we have the port of Larache, which is an important fishing port; and, tourist-wise, there are some wonderful beaches.
I believe that Larache is a place to invest today, in tourism promotion, in agriculture, in industry… Our role is to make Larache once again an economically active city. And for this we count on our neighbors. Spain is, today, the first investor, the first investor in Morocco, in terms of industry, tourism, roads… it is playing an important role. I think that Spain is getting to know Morocco better, and Morocco is open to investment from Spain, because the Moroccan and the Spanish have a lot in common: we are united by culture, our values, our bonds of friendship, our Mediterranean character. Spaniards, in general, are always very well received when they come to Morocco.
The Spanish ambassador and the personalities who come from Spain to the Mata Festival have always been very well received. Do you think that the Festival plays a role in cohesion, collaboration and promoting good relations between Spain and Morocco?
Absolutely, for us it has always been an honor to receive Mr. Ricardo Díez-Hochleitner, who has been a great ambassador, for whom we have great affection and who has done a lot for Spanish-Moroccan relations. And yes, we, of course, promote Spanish-Moroccan relations, because we believe that culturally we are united, and that Spain, due to its education, its values, its way of seeing the world, when it comes to Morocco, is in his country. Let’s hope that the new ambassador [Enrique Ojeda] Also do us the honor of coming to Mata, to learn about the culture and traditions of our region. That helps a lot, because the investor, before investing, has to feel happy and comfortable, in addition to obtaining a good return on his investment.
We will continue to promote Spanish-Moroccan relations: we have inherited this task from our family, from my father, God rest his soul, from my grandfather… We have to continue strengthening this tradition.
The Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region offers very good investment opportunities in many sectors, but also offers a good quality of life and spirituality. You, as a Sufi representative of the region, have recently been in Geneva: is a message of coexistence, of peace, of solidarity, of tolerance more necessary than ever in this turbulent world in which we are now living?
Absolutely. We are in a difficult moment in this century, with many conflicts in the world and Humanity experiencing a crisis. As you say, I was in Geneva, at the United Nations, on International Awareness Day, to give an important message: that the Western world understands the essence of Sufism and that they understand the role that Morocco has always played in spirituality. From the presidency and with the guidance of His Majesty King Mohamed VI, Morocco proposes a moderate, open Islam, an Islam of peace, tolerance, and understanding. His Majesty plays the role of commander of believers, who seeks to ensure the spiritual security of all faiths, all religions, and, in general, of all human beings who are in Morocco.
In Morocco we are proud to have inherited this Sufi school that comes from Moulay Abdeslam, in the 12th century, and that is present throughout the world: Indonesia, Egypt, Africa… Morocco is the great essence of Sufism in the Muslim world.
And coexistence and tolerance between religions: a Spaniard who comes to Morocco can go to a church for mass, or a Jew can go to the synagogue…
Of course: that is the beauty of our country and it is the spiritual education that we have received, of respect for all religions and human beings in general. That is why Morocco has to continue promoting its spirituality to our youth, also to those who are in Europe and who have sometimes gotten lost in their readings.
What would you say to a potential Spanish investor to come to do business in Larache?
I would tell you that Morocco is a country in full growth. In 2030 we have a soccer World Cup, a wonderful World Cup with Spain and Portugal. These three countries represent the values that unite them.
A Spanish investor who comes to Morocco will find an opportunity, legal security, security of return on his investment, public security… Morocco is one of the safest countries: you can walk calmly down the street or through the kasbah. Then I would highlight the quality of life: you will find restaurants, good gastronomy, sun, light, and a warm Moroccan people, who like to receive, learn and who are at the door of Spain. It is a great opportunity for the Spanish investor, who can bet on a country where he will earn money and be able to live well.
What can you tell us about those generations of Moroccans that are being formed, who are eager to achieve a better life, to be better qualified to provide a service to anyone who comes to Morocco?
Of course; I would invite Moroccan youth, those who are abroad today, those who have worked, those who have experience, to return, because Morocco needs their experience. This will allow them to be entrepreneurs and participate in the growth of their country. Moroccan emigration is returning, but I think they have to return more and they have to bet on their country.
One last message about the Mata Festival…
Absolutely: you are all invited to Mata, we are waiting for you to live again and share with all of us the traditions, the ancestral heritage, the opportunities and modernity. Morocco is a country in full growth, a “hub” in Africa, it is a bet not only for Europeans who come to invest and, particularly, the Spanish. This will give Spain the possibility of being Morocco’s strategic partner in Africa. Morocco and Spain together have a great future in Africa.
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