Influenced by the oral tradition of his ethnic community, by the popular beliefs, fairy tales, legends and traditions on the one hand, and by the resistance to the colonial power on the other hand, Mohammed Khair-Eddine writes a novel entitled Legend and Life of Agoun'chich in 1984. Being a descendant of the Chleuh people who live in the Souss (Southern part of Morocco), his novel expresses a rehabilitation of a fragmented cultural identity which he defends in order to preserve the cultural heritage of his people and to let others know about the Amazigh culture. By portraying the historical struggle of the people of the South of Morocco, and more Specifically of women to preserve the Berber identity, the author defends a language and a culture, which have stood the test of time though being seriously threatened. The novel corresponds to the period of colonization of France, and more particularly the Souss region. It testifies to a native's refusal to "folklorise" the cultural identity of an ethnic community in which he takes much pride.
Last modified: 7 May 2001