Nahda Smiths from Souq El Hed, Morocco

In their own words

Oued Ifrane is a town of the Ifrane Province and is located in the Atlas mountains. The region is known for its very large cedar forest and the main activities are agriculture and livestock farming. The locals are Amazigh (berber) descent of three main tribes tribes (Ait Mouli, Ait Mroul and Ait Miguil) and other travelers and passerby who settled in the region.

As an intrinsic part of the culture, many people practice craft as a pastime. The members of this cooperative are three very socially active residents who work as blacksmiths in a workshop where they fix metal doors, objects or car parts for other residents of the town.

3 Members

93 Pieces listed

The people behind every piece

Mohamed Ouahi

Mohamed Ouahi was born in 1981 in Qasr Mouiy. He graduated elementary school and learned metal working from his father who was a blacksmith. He cofounded the cooperative and has represented it in different local fairs. Beside smithing he enjoys watching football especially the spanish ligua and play petanque with fellow cooperative members.

Mohamed Boubker

Mohamed Boubker was born in 1990 in the small village of Tana Oukdar in the outskirts of the town of Mrirte. He went to school until third grade and later he moved from his village to Souq El Hed Oued Ifrane to learn a craft or skill. He started as an apprentice at the blacksmithing workshop and then became a member of the cooperative. Besides blacksmithing, Mohammed also works as a mechanic in the same workshop. He hopes to continue improving his skills and get future opportunities to expand the cooperative’s activity.

Mustapha Chouai

Mustapha Chouai was born in Qasr Mouiy in 1976 and moved to Oued Ifrane with his family when he was 5 years old. He learned smithing from his father but also weaving from his mother. He is a very active member in his town and was the man who helped the weavers of the town to get together and organize themselves as an association and later as a cooperative. He then founded a cooperative for his co workers and himself for their artistic smithery. And finally, Mustapha is a board member of Anou and a highly skilled trainer. He travels all over Morocco to meet and train hundreds of artisans who join and sell through our platform.

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