260
Box 15.2 Earthen Architecture
The entire Draa valley is lined by more than 300 ksur (singular ksar) and
numerous kasbahs and dârs, which form one of the most impressive landmark
heritages of earthen architecture (Fig. 15.3a), dating back to the fifteenth
century and built to protect the settled Amazigh population from the attacks of
the nomadic Amazigh tribes (Baglioni et al. 2015). The ksar is a kind of
fortress with high walls and defense towers. Inside its walls it consists of an
inner settlement structure with several dârs (houses), which creates a fresh
and dark tunnel network and reduces the exposure of the houses to heat and
sand storms. Thus, it leads to favorable thermal comfort inside the buildings.
The kasbahs are fortified houses which often cover large areas, including
several buildings, public and private areas. They are owned by powerful and
wealthy Amazigh families (Mileto et al. 2012). All buildings were constructed
with local materials using the masonry techniques with rammed earth (alleuh)
for the lower floors, earthen bricks (toub) for the upper floors, and date palm
wood for the horizontal structures. The use of these local materials in the
traditional way is in harmony with nature and adapted to the climate conditions.
Unfortunately, today many historic buildings have already fallen into disrepair, symbolizing the loss of tangible and intangible heritage (Fig. 15.3b).
Box 15.3 Ahwash
Ahwash (also spelled Ahwach or Ahouach) is a ritual collective performance
of Amazigh communities in southern Morocco (see Fig. 15.4). It combines
poetic chants, lyrics, rhythm, and dance and is performed by a large number
of male and female participants (from 20 to more than 100) as a celebration of
the community. However, in some region’s groups comprise only males. The
ritual is passed from generation to generation, but there are no written
documents that prove the exact geographical origin and time of its emergence.
Some scientists find evidence that the Ahwash contains pre-Islamic
components (e.g., Schuyler 1979) and may have originated in the region of
Telouet in the High Atlas between Marrakesh and Ouarzazate and spread
from there to the surrounding villages (Boudraa and Krause 2009). In the
isolated villages the Ahwash may then have further developed relatively
independently, so that the formations and elements of performance differ
from village to village. However, there are several common elements that
distinguish the different varieties from other performative rituals in South
Morocco. Therefore, the communities speak of a common Ahwash which
decisively contributes to the local Amazigh identity. There are characteristic
instruments that are used during the performance, such as the dindum (big
stand drum), the tbel (smaller drum), and the tara (a kind of tambourine).
Ahwash goes far beyond a folkloric music and dance performance by
U. Nehren et al.
Box 15.2 Earthen Architecture
The entire Draa valley is lined by more than 300 ksur (singular ksar) and
numerous kasbahs and dârs, which form one of the most impressive landmark
heritages of earthen architecture (Fig. 15.3a), dating back to the fifteenth
century and built to protect the settled Amazigh population from the attacks of
the nomadic Amazigh tribes (Baglioni et al. 2015). The ksar is a kind of
fortress with high walls and defense towers. Inside its walls it consists of an
inner settlement structure with several dârs (houses), which creates a fresh
and dark tunnel network and reduces the exposure of the houses to heat and
sand storms. Thus, it leads to favorable thermal comfort inside the buildings.
The kasbahs are fortified houses which often cover large areas, including
several buildings, public and private areas. They are owned by powerful and
wealthy Amazigh families (Mileto et al. 2012). All buildings were constructed
with local materials using the masonry techniques with rammed earth (alleuh)
for the lower floors, earthen bricks (toub) for the upper floors, and date palm
wood for the horizontal structures. The use of these local materials in the
traditional way is in harmony with nature and adapted to the climate conditions.
Unfortunately, today many historic buildings have already fallen into disrepair, symbolizing the loss of tangible and intangible heritage (Fig. 15.3b).
Box 15.3 Ahwash
Ahwash (also spelled Ahwach or Ahouach) is a ritual collective performance
of Amazigh communities in southern Morocco (see Fig. 15.4). It combines
poetic chants, lyrics, rhythm, and dance and is performed by a large number
of male and female participants (from 20 to more than 100) as a celebration of
the community. However, in some region’s groups comprise only males. The
ritual is passed from generation to generation, but there are no written
documents that prove the exact geographical origin and time of its emergence.
Some scientists find evidence that the Ahwash contains pre-Islamic
components (e.g., Schuyler 1979) and may have originated in the region of
Telouet in the High Atlas between Marrakesh and Ouarzazate and spread
from there to the surrounding villages (Boudraa and Krause 2009). In the
isolated villages the Ahwash may then have further developed relatively
independently, so that the formations and elements of performance differ
from village to village. However, there are several common elements that
distinguish the different varieties from other performative rituals in South
Morocco. Therefore, the communities speak of a common Ahwash which
decisively contributes to the local Amazigh identity. There are characteristic
instruments that are used during the performance, such as the dindum (big
stand drum), the tbel (smaller drum), and the tara (a kind of tambourine).
Ahwash goes far beyond a folkloric music and dance performance by
U. Nehren et al.