"From Marrakech to the Deep Sahara "
An Intense Discovery
On January 20, 2024, I was sitting with a friend in an Italian restaurant in the city, a plate of steaming pasta in front of me. As we enjoyed our meal, we quickly got to talking about the documentary series I had launched on Videoland in December about my father and growing up in the hash trade. It had been an intense experience, full of emotional tension and threats from people who feared for their name and reputation. Despite these challenges, I wanted to capture that world authentically. As I shared my story, I felt an urgent need for a reset. Suddenly it occurred to me: Why don’t I just go to the Sahara tomorrow?
'The Urge for Reset'
The next morning I was sitting at the airport with my laptop on my lap, searching for a guide who could facilitate my journey into the desert. My eyes fell on a photo of a turbaned guide, Abdelhadi Elmoustahli. He had a warm, inviting smile that immediately put me at ease. After a short and pleasant phone call, he convinced me that he was the right man for this adventure. He arranged everything for me, including a charming Ryad in the old medina of Marrakech. I had carefully packed my camera and felt the urge to rediscover myself as a photographer. Determined to take an impressive series of photos, I started my journey. Upon arrival in Marrakech, I was greeted by a man with a nameplate that said "Wilhelm Falize". He led me to Abdelhadi, and it soon felt like we were old friends. As we got to know each other, Abdelhadi talked about the beautiful places we would visit, but I was determined to experience the authentic side of Morocco, away from the tourist crowds. He promised me an alternative route to Merzouga and also told me about Chefchaouen, the picturesque blue city that was on my wish list.
“I wanted to be alone with the locals, away from the tourists.”
Authenticity in the Desert
We stopped in a picturesque village that seemed to have been dug out of the earth. There we met a man who was a descendant of the Chorafia, an ancient dynasty that dates back to the 8th century. My guide proudly told me about the rich history of the area and how this man was connected to the local culture. These moments touched me and gave me a deeper understanding of the people and their stories. As we drove further south, I noticed that the people around us became darker in color. My guide told me about the Sufis and their rich history. “Many of these people were once slaves during the Portuguese occupation,” he said. “But they were freed by Sultan Abdellah Al Ghalib, who defeated the Portuguese.” The story touched me and gave me a deeper understanding of the resilience of this community.
'The Adventure in the Dunes'
After a long drive, we arrived at a desert camp, Tinfou. Here we were welcomed by the cousins of my guide, who welcomed us with open arms. As the stars shone above us, I sat by the campfire among the nomads, who filled the atmosphere with their traditional music and stories. The warmth of their hospitality and the magic of the surroundings made this experience unforgettable. The next morning I woke up early, surrounded by the silence of the Sahara. The cold was penetrating, but I decided to go outside to explore the landscape. To my surprise, I found myself in the middle of majestic dunes that seemed to be 100 meters high. I climbed to the top and meditated as the sun rose, feeling at one with nature. The beauty of the moment gave me a feeling of freedom that I had not experienced for a long time.
' Back to Civilized World'
Later that day I met the oldest inhabitant of the Sahara, a nomad who according to my guide was over 90 years old. After a few hours of driving we reached our base camp. Although I felt tired from the travel, I lay down for a few hours to recover. When I woke up again, my camel with the guide came to take me to the dunes. It was a breathtaking experience to ride a camel through the desert, the horizon in the distance. On the way back to Marrakech I noticed that in my photos I had little contact with the people. They often seemed to hide from the camera. As I stood again in the square of the medina, where the drums were beating and the cobras were being sung about, I felt the contrast with the silence of the Sahara. This trip had changed something in me; it had broadened my perspective and prepared me for new projects in the future. The Sahara had renewed my soul and given me the strength to move on.
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