Scarves & Palavers (Morocco, Fez)

In the ochre labyrinth of the Fez medina , the colorful headscarves of sub-Saharan women cross paths with traditional Moroccan djellabas . Sitting in front of a stall selling handmade slippers , a woman draped in white exchanges a few words, while another, adorned in indigo blue, calmly walks away.

Around them, the artisans of the medina continue their routine: tanned leather , dried fruits , spices in cones , hand-sewn shoes . This seemingly everyday scene reflects one of the least known faces of Fez: the living presence of the West African diasporas .

Some women come on a discreet pilgrimage: they pay homage to Sidi Ahmed Tijani , a major figure of Sufism , whose mausoleum attracts worshippers from all over West Africa. For Fez is not only a Moroccan spiritual center: it is also a historic crossroads of trans-Saharan routes , a place where commerce , faith and African identity are interwoven in the alleys.