SIEL 2025 Celebrates Literature's Role in Africa's Political Awakening
The fair, a prominent gathering for Moroccan literature, became a space for celebrating past achievements and probing the continuing relevance of Bahi Horma's work in shaping the intellectual landscape of the region.
The centerpiece of the day's events was the presentation of the ninth volume of Bahi Horma's collected works, 'Le rêveur meurt, mais son rêve ne meurt pas' (The Dreamer Dies, But His Dream Does Not Die).
The enduring relevance of Bahi Horma's writings
This new volume, published by Bab Al-Hikma and curated by M'barek Bouderka, compiles articles Bahi Horma wrote for 'Al-Tahrir' and 'Al Moharrir' between 1959 and 1965. These pieces take a profound look at the revolutionary struggles that shaped modern Africa and Morocco's intellectual scene during the post-colonial era.
Bouderka, who was instrumental in bringing the book to light, spoke passionately about the themes explored in the new volume.
'This book addresses a critical period in African history, specifically the years 1958 to 1961. Bahi Horma's meticulous research and reporting on General de Gaulle's campaign in Africa reveal the complexities of France's attempt to reshape its relationship with its former colonies under the guise of the French Fifth Republic,' he explained in an interview with Morocco World News (MWN).
Ever the sharp observer, Bahi Horma recognized the French initiative as a continuation of colonialism in a new form. 'De Gaulle's attempt to create a French-African Commonwealth was a veiled extension of colonial domination, disguised as an opportunity for mutual cooperation,' Bouderka added. This perspective is an important contribution to understanding how former colonial powers continued to shape African nations' fates even after they gained independence.
The book offers a deep exploration of the political dynamics of the time, particularly focusing on the pivotal moments in Guinea's independence movement. In a scene that remains iconic, Guinea's leader, Ahmed Sékou Touré, famously rejected France's offer: 'We prefer poverty in freedom to wealth in slavery.' On September 28, 1958, while most of France's colonies voted 'yes' to the new Constitution, Guinea stood alone as the only territory to vote 'no,' with over 95% of the vote.
Bahi Horma's analysis of these events is as relevant today as it was in the 1960s. The book also looks at the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the groundbreaking Casablanca Conference of 1961, and Bahi Horma's detailed account of Sudan's political strife during a 1965 visit. In his reporting, Bahi Horma coined the term 'militarytariat' to describe the tense relationship between military regimes and the working class, a concept that remains strikingly applicable to many African countries still grappling with political instability.
Power of thought
Tayeb Bayad, a leading academic and contributor to the discussion at SIEL, also offered a sobering reflection on Bahi Horma's intellectual legacy. Bayad's words were echoed by Mahmoud Al Zahi, a researcher who noted the intellectual weight of Bahi Horma's contributions to understanding the geopolitical shifts in North Africa and the larger African continent during a time of monumental change.
Bahi Horma's writings did not only reflect events; they also served as a tool for mobilization, calling on the intellectuals of the time to engage in the political struggles for independence. Bouderka, who helped bring this latest volume to the public, emphasized that Bahi Horma's work was always more than mere documentation. 'He believed that intellectuals had a duty to participate in these struggles, not just observe them,' he explained. 'His support for African liberation movements wasn't passive; it was deeply engaged and empathetic.'
This year's tribute at SIEL was a reminder that Bahi Horma's work was more than an academic exercise; it was a force that shaped how Moroccans and Africans viewed their place in the world. His commitment to truth, independence, and social justice reverberates through his writings, continuing to challenge readers to think critically about power, politics, and identity in the post-colonial era.
Bahi Horma's dream may have passed with his death, but as his latest volume shows, his ideas remain very much alive, continuing to inspire generations of readers and thinkers. Tags: Mohamed Bahi Hormapostcolonial AfricaRabat book fairSIELSIEL 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ya Biladi
14 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
Moroccans rally in Rabat in support of Palestine and to protest the starvation of Gazans
In a powerful display of solidarity, Rabat, the capital of Morocco, became the epicenter of a massive national march organized by the «Moroccan Front for Supporting Palestine and Against Normalization». Thousands turned out to voice their support for the Palestinian people in Gaza and to denounce the severe policies of starvation and siege imposed by the Zionist occupation. This demonstration was a direct response to the Palestinian resistance's call for a global movement to address the dire situation faced by the besieged residents of the Gaza Strip, who suffer under a brutal collective starvation policy. From the early morning hours, thousands of Moroccans gathered in Rabat, with significant representation from political party leaders, political organizations, human rights groups, and trade union representatives. The Justice and Charity Group. Al Adl wal Ihsane, was notably prominent in the march. The «Moroccan Front for Supporting Palestine and Against Normalization» emphasized in a statement that this national march is driven by «our humanitarian duty and historical responsibility as a people and activists to confront the crime of starvation and genocide». The march also seeks to «participate in the global movement on Sunday against starvation in Gaza» and to «condemn the genocide committed by the Zionist occupation against the Palestinian people, amid the silence and complicity of the international community». The statement further highlighted that «the systematic starvation inflicted by the occupation's machinery on more than one and a half million civilians in Gaza, particularly in its northern regions, through the destruction of infrastructure, food storage, and the prevention of aid, is a genocidal weapon aimed at crushing the will to resist and forcing surrender upon a people committed to resistance until liberation». The front vehemently condemned «the crime of international silence and Arab inaction in stopping this heinous crime», urging the Moroccan people to continue their mobilization and struggle in support of Palestine and its courageous resistance.
Morocco World
18 hours ago
- Morocco World
Rabat Erupts in Protest Against Gaza Blockade, IOF Crimes
Thousands of voices rose this Sunday in the streets of Rabat, where a massive demonstration took place to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and to denounce Israel's genocide campaign. From Bab El Had to the Moroccan Parliament, the crowd marched with flags, chants, and the tragic message that Gaza's genocide is only getting worse, and silence is no longer an option. For more than 21 months, Gaza has endured relentless Israeli massacres marked by daily deaths, hunger, and an unyielding violence. Israel has carried out a military campaign in Gaza involving mass killings, starvation, destruction of infrastructure and forced expulsions since October 7, 2023. In Morocco, the protest was organized by the 'Moroccan Front in Support of Palestine and Against Israeli Ties,' a national coalition bringing together political parties, trade unions, human rights organizations, and prominent public figures. The movement mobilized a wide range of participants, men and women, young and old, united in their refusal to accept the ongoing Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) massacres. Palestinian flags waved over the crowd, while chants echoed through the capital: 'With our souls and our blood, we sacrifice for you, Palestine' and 'Morocco and Palestine, one people, not two.' Read also: Gaza Death Toll Tops 58,000 as Ceasefire Talks Stall Others demanded an immediate break in diplomatic relations with Israel and urged urgent humanitarian aid for Gaza. The march also carried a tone of defiance. Protesters called out Western and Arab governments alike, accusing them of ignoring or enabling the suffering of the Palestinians. Placards and slogans rejected any form of political or economic connection with Tel Aviv, denouncing those links as a betrayal of justice and of Morocco's historical support for the Palestinian cause. On the same day, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) renewed its urgent funding appeals, warning that Israel is deliberately starving civilians. More than a million children are now caught in this humanitarian catastrophe, as the blockade continues to restrict life-saving aid from reaching Gaza. Starvation has become yet another weapon in Israel's arsenal of oppression. Beyond bullets, airstrikes, and surveillance drones, Israel now relies on deliberate hunger as a means of forcing Palestinians to yield. This systematic deprivation of food and aid is part of a wider plan to uproot Palestinians and impose a new reality on historic Palestinian lands. Tags: GazagenocideIOF massacresMorocco Gaza
Morocco World
2 days ago
- Morocco World
Sahara: Tebboune's Delusional Rant Exposes Algeria's Diplomatic Collapse
Marrakech – In a display of arrogance and self-deception, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune spewed a torrent of lies and distortions during his televised interview on Friday. The physically slouched dictator, legs splayed apart in what commentators described as a seemingly undignified posture befitting a street thug rather than a head of state, desperately clung to Algeria's increasingly isolated position on Western Sahara while attacking countries supporting Morocco's territorial integrity. 'I'm not going to abandon the Sahrawis to please certain parties and become an imperialist. With the exception of our position, all others are imperialist,' declared Tebboune, labeling major world powers as 'imperialist' for recognizing reality. In the same breath, he peddled blatant falsehoods about international recognition, fraudulently claiming: 'Today, the Western Sahara is recognized by half of the African Union members' and 'there are 55 states that recognize the Sahrawi Republic.' In reality, less than a third of AU members and fewer than half his claimed number recognize this phantom entity. The scripted charade, broadcast in carefully delayed format across Algeria's state-controlled media, was meant to showcase Tebboune's authority but instead revealed a decrepit regime crumbling under the weight of its own failures. Even the typically subservient Algerian journalists dared to challenge the president's delusional worldview. Tebboune faces rare pushback from Algeria's usually compliant press Mohamed Ousmani, director of information at Ennahar TV, punctured Tebboune's bubble by suggesting that Algeria's 'entêtement' (stubborn refusal to change) and 'manque de pragmatisme' (lack of pragmatism) directly caused the country's humiliating diplomatic defeats against Morocco. When Tebboune insisted Algeria would never abandon its principles regardless of global circumstances, the journalist retorted that this inflexibility was precisely what led to Algeria's consistent diplomatic setbacks, particularly regarding the Sahara artificial dispute. Visibly disturbed by this rare journalistic courage, Tebboune bristled with barely concealed rage and attempted to intimidate the reporter by demanding examples of such failures. Instead of citing the obvious – recognition of Morocco's Sahara sovereignty by the United States, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, and numerous African countries – Ousmani diplomatically replied that 'relations with neighbors should be based on pragmatism, which remains the cornerstone of diplomacy and international relations.' His intimidation tactics kicked in immediately as he snarled at the journalist: 'Are you suggesting we abandon our support for the Polisario and become imperialist?' Tebboune then insinuated sinister 'soubassements' (underpinnings) behind the question, implying the reporter was doing someone else's bidding – a typical authoritarian tactic to silence criticism. Another journalist dared mention Algeria's growing international isolation, which Tebboune dismissed as mere 'manœuvres quotidiennes' (daily maneuvers) from Algeria's enemies, refusing to confront the stark reality of his diplomatic failures. The US sees Algeria as stubborn, stagnant, and out of touch Tebboune's delusions clash violently with facts on the ground. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy's recent report 'Strategic U.S. Engagement with Algeria' brutally dissects Algeria's strategic predicament, pointing out the 'unprecedented Western alignment behind Morocco's plan' and 'what appears to be an irreversible U.S. position of recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over the territory.' The report bluntly characterizes Algeria as having 'a well-earned reputation for resistance to change' while facing 'roiling domestic dissatisfaction' that could force changes in its international partnerships. The think tank suggests that if Algeria ever returns to rational diplomacy, 'Algiers might even conceivably play a role in persuading the Polisario to accept a negotiated model of self-governance, with the Moroccan autonomy plan as the starting framework.' It acknowledges that such a sensible approach remains 'unlikely' given the regime's ideological obstinacy. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hammered another nail in Algeria's diplomatic coffin in April, declaring Morocco's Autonomy Plan 'the only basis for a just and lasting solution to the dispute.' The message was clear: Algeria stands alone in its rejectionist stance. Even longtime Polisario sympathizers are jumping ship Meanwhile, Tebboune's few remaining African allies are abandoning ship. Jacob Zuma, founder of South Africa's UMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party and third political force in the country, recently stood in Rabat and publicly affirmed Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara. He called for strong diplomatic and economic partnership between South Africa and Morocco – a direct repudiation of Tebboune's failed policies. Zuma's party has issued a damaging ultimatum to President Cyril Ramaphosa, one of Polisario's last major supporters, who has been in power since February 14, 2018, giving him just two days to resign. The party organized confrontational demonstrations at the presidential palace in Pretoria last Friday, condemning Ramaphosa's 'negative record.' If it were to happen, this development would mimic what occurred in Peru when, in September 2023, the new Peruvian president withdrew recognition of the self-styled 'SADR' just months after former president Pedro Castillo's arrest in December 2022. In Tebboune's fantasy fleet, even the lifeboats are sinking When not spouting geopolitical fantasies, Tebboune retreated to economic fiction. Questioned about a supposed $20 billion Malaysian investment, he fumbled: 'in the industry sector!' – unable to provide even basic details of this likely imaginary deal. His litany of fabrications continued with claims that 'In Africa and the Maghreb, we are leaders in artificial intelligence use, especially by our army,' and the laughable assertion that Algeria had transformed from a 'school' into 'the world's largest university for counter-terrorism.' Tebboune's numbers grew increasingly fantastical as the interview progressed. He boasted of 85% completion for 13,000 investment projects, promised a 90-million-quintal cereal security stock, and hallucinated an agricultural production supposedly worth $38 billion in 2025 – figures that analysts consider divorced from economic reality. While bragging of Algeria's supposed economic resilience despite oil price fluctuations, Tebboune conveniently ignored that hydrocarbons still account for 96% of exports, exposing his economic diversification claims as hollow propaganda. The spectacle confirmed what observers have long known: Tebboune inhabits an alternate reality, continuing to praise the Algerian ship as the world's most magnificent vessel even as it takes on water from all sides – trapped between diplomatic isolation, economic stagnation, and growing regional irrelevance. Tags: Algerian President Abdelmadjid TebbouneAlgerian regimeWestern sahara
