Beni Ourain Rug

Halima Aissaoui

Halima Aissaoui from Moulide was born in 1976 and later relocated to Khenifra. Halima is a widow and has three children. Halima completed the third grade and then went on to learn the art of weaving from her mother and through vocational training. Halima joined the cooperative in order to make money to manage the expenses of her home and her children.

Hayat Ousbigh

Hayat was born in 1985, she is married and has two children. Hayat studied in Khenifra and then her family relocated to Agadir for her parents work. While in Agadir her studies stopped because she struggled with the local dialect that was different from her own. Growing up she was exposed to weaving as those in her family were weavers but she didn’t want anything to do with it. Hayat describes how time went on and her idea of weaving changed. Over the years she taught herself how to make rugs and pillowcases, she describes having different ideas and putting them into her work. Hayat joined the cooperative as a way to help her family.

Fatoma Kninzaa

Fatoma was born in 1963 in the suburbs of Khenifra, she is married and the mother of three children. Fatoma learned to weave at home as a young girl but has never been able to earn a living from her weaving. Fatoma joined the cooperative to help her family members in the cooperative and to contribute to household expenses including medical treatment. Fatoma has a dream of someday purchasing a house with the profits from her rugs.

Fatima Ousbigh

Fatima was born in 1956, she is a widow with six children, four boys and two girls. Fatima learned the art of weaving at home from her mother. After she married she learned how to make a special type of hanbel known as the “hasera.” The hasera is made using dried palm leaves that are woven with wool into a truly unique rug, this is very difficult work. She decided to join the cooperative because her children are older and she wants the work. Fatima hopes to share a piece of her culture with the world.

Zhour Ousbigh

Zhour was born in 1965, she is married and has four children. Zhour did not study as a child but attended literacy classes at the mosque as an adult. She learned to weave at home from her mother. As a member of the cooperative she hopes to use her earnings to buy a house.

Mlouda Amrous

Mlouda is 52 years old, she is married and the mother for four children. Mlouda did not attend school but learned the craft of weaving from her mother and grandmother which gave birth to a love of weaving. The craft disappeared for a number of years and was not a viable way to make a living. With the start of her family’s cooperative she has the opportunity to work, create and share this traditional industry both nationally and internationally.