Abdellah Taïa, l'enfant terrible de la littérature... : News on People and Celebrities of marrakechmarrakech marrakech Travel Marrakech

-First name, age, profession?

Abdellah, 36 years, writer.

-Tell us your route?

I lived in salt until the age of 25. I have just learned in Salé. I just saw world in Salé. My parents come from Tadla but I feel like a pure Basri. A little crazy too, as all Slaouis. I'm always faithful to the world of magic and a little weird in this city. I will always write it.

-How you came the desire to write?

I dreamed of cinema. I wanted to change the world, the stories of my poor world, films. I started to do in my head very early, at the age of 13. Today, I write books that have a taste and film.

-What are your ties to Marrakech?

I have lived in this city a part of my first love as an adult story. A crazy, possessive love. Happy, despite everything. Red ochre with Marrakech. Love in the transgression. It was in 1996.

-Today writer, how would you describe your writing?

I write fragments, mouthpieces, sounds, screams. I'm writing through me, from me: always. I write in a French very influenced by the Moroccan Arabic language.

-What artists you have marked or fascinate you?

Isabelle Adjani. Isabelle Adjani. Isabelle Adjani.... Salah Abu Seif. Michael Powell. Souad Hosni. Hocine Basri... Marcel Proust. Fernando Pessoa. Francis Bacon...

-Sexuality is a recurring theme in your art. How do you explain it?

The Morocco is a country where, despite the appalling social hypocrisy that traps and even kills the individual, there is some freedom. Hidden of course freedom. Particularly in sexual practices. Speak, write the Morocco, it is also said that dimension, heterosexual sex as homosexual.

-What is what inspires you in General?

The films. Life. Life especially. My life. What passes in front of me and what it produced in me. The art is still connected to life now. It is the duty of us, me, in the life of today. Talk with a critical eye, a soft look, a violent look.

-In particular has in art and writing evolved to the Morocco recent years?

A little, a little bit. But we do not have enough writers. Moroccans do not buy books. The Government does nothing to make this change. As intellectuals, they continue to sleep. It is unfortunate. Very unhappy.

-Do you like the most in Marrakech?

Two things. First the seven Saints of Marrakech. I have not yet all visited them: I do, I do so one day for the blessing, as they say (the concept of the Baraka is very beautiful in the Morocco: need to render justice, the "défolkloriser" Finally). Then the great school of cinema, the VAAE, created by Vincent Melilli. This learning and Exchange place is a dream. A beautiful dream.

-Do you like least in Marrakech?

I don't like hunting the Marrakchis from the city centre. I am for change but I don't like that you change the spirit of this city into something superficial, fashion...

-Do you have a story to tell on Marrakech?

Rather another admiration to declare: my admiration for the popular Moroccan poet Mohamed Ben Brahim (died 1954), also known as the poet of the red city. He was free, jouisseur, a fabulous transgressor. He said the Morocco of a sublime and popular manner, in a wonderful Arabic language. Lack us today at the Morocco poet of this temper here.

-What is your literary news?

I have just published "Letters to a young Moroccan man" (the threshold Ed.). With the support of Pierre Bergé, 90,000 copies of this book (in Arabic and French) are distributed free of charge to the Morocco with the journals "as what" and "nichane". This is a collective book where, among others, three young writers publish for the first time of des. A book for a tender and critical link with Moroccan young that it continues to ignore, to surrender.

-What are your projects?

I dream of Jean Genet at the moment. We will celebrate this year the anniversary of the 100 years of his birth.