Bilmawn, the Amazigh Carnival in Inezgane[/caption]
Carnival space for recreation in and out of the ordinary and break taboos!
October 11, 2015 – 11:12:00
the evening of Saturday, October 11th, in the town of Inezgane, south-west of Morocco was launched the activities of the fourth edition of the Carnival “Bilmawn Bidmawn” (leather and multiple masks Carnival).
He said, “Ahmed Saber,” Director General of Carnival, in remarks to “The carnival runs at a distance of 5 kilometers with the participation of 4000 Associate distributed to more than 45 affiliated bands of the city and neighborhoods in the region.
“He added that the carnival has become a” space for recreation in and out of the ordinary and break taboos and production of perceptions in comic form for the ego and the other (a man was or animal).”
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The Carnival Amazigh Bilmawn in Inezgane[/caption]
As pointed out by “Saber” that “this year’s event reflected the motto for non-profit ranked heritage to the Organization of UNESCO, this carnival of Bilmawn (Boujeloud) which is still and usually maintained by the people of southwest Morocco maintain for centuries.”
He explained that “accompanied more than 210 thousand spectators, its activities which continue for 2 days until Sunday night, a record not seen in the previous three sessions.
“In his statement of Anatolia,”Hussein Bouyaakoubi” a Moroccan anthropological researcher, said that “Bilmawn (leather-man) the hornes” form a popular male carnival depends on the use of sheep or goatskin by a group of young men, accompanied by another group relies on the use of various other masks and forms of traditional costumes to reflect different roles of groups and professions in Moroccan society.
Professor Bouyaakoubi of Anthropology explained at the University Ibn Zahr south-west of Morocco, that this cultural practice reflects Amazigh human quest to keep this tradition, which is shared by the peoples of North Africa and the Canary Islands with “under” different names.”
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The Carnival Amazigh Bilmawn in Inezgane[/caption]
He stressed that the “Carnival has several names depending on the country, they speak Tamazight or Darija in various North African regions. Among the names of the carnival, we find (Bilmawn) (Boujeloud) (Harma) (Tamaazat) Souss (south), and in the Middle Atlas (center), we find (Boyaslikhn, Boybatane), Anti Atlas “Isemgane, Imaachar “and Rif (north) Ba-Sheikh”.
He continued: “We also find the word-Darija (Bolbatayn) or (seven Batain) related to the number required to wear skins per person”
and said that this cultural event disappeared in the Kabylie region of Algeria, since the thirties of the last century, adding that “the names found (Bouafif) and (Baba and Haj Amghar Oukarouch).
Bouaakoubi believes that “religious beliefs in the practice known Imazighen Bilmawn blessing brings good luck, bad luck away, a chance for women to marry or cure the diseases, etc. just by touching the legs of mutton by doors men disguised as Bilmawn “Ifinzi n Bilmawn”.
The researcher guessed to “be out of the habit is linked to ancient beliefs in North Africa sanctify the ram, and the problem originally raised for each so-called” Carnival “masquerade practices and in all human societies.”
He concluded that “Bilmawn carnival and the use of the skin of the ram as costumes is linked to the Amazigh sacred believe before islam made it to have the same sanctity as in islam through slaughtering the ram in the morning, in application of the law, and revive it after disappearing through ritual Bilmawn a ritual in which the Holy attend it strongly.”
And out of the practice of “Bilmawn”, Bouyakobi admits that “no one can say for sure regarding its origins, but agreed that it is a very ancient practice that could go back to the time before the arrival of the Monotheistic religions to North Africa, and adapted them to reach us today despite their extinction in many areas.”
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The Carnival Amazigh Bilmawn in Inezgane[/caption]
According to the researcher Mr. Bouyakoubi, the Bilmawn (the man disguise with skins) to roam in the Moroccan communities, neighborhoods or cities with the help of popular bands to create joy and pleasure in the ranks of spectators, and at the same time creates Bilmawn panic and fear especially among children and women.
According to scientific studies on the phenomenon, Mr. Bouyakoubi said that French researchers performed studies, through their presence in North Africa between 1830 and 1962, as part of their quest to understand the North African communities, led by French researcher “Auguste Moliras” (late 19th century) in his book, the translator of the Arab “Unknown Morocco”.
The French” August” in his book that” the tradition practiced by young Moroccans in the villages, who wander out in the form of groups of more than 10 people, parading in (douars) counties and (Madashir) villages, on their way they collect eggs, meat and sugar.”
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The Carnival Amazigh Bilmawn in Inezgane[/caption]]]>
Thousands of participants in the Carnival "Bilmawn" in Inezgane sought to list it as a human heritageThousands of participants in the Carnival “Bilmawn” in Inezgane sought to list it as a human heritage
