INTERNATIONAL STORY MARRAKECH ARTISANS AMONG THOSE HIT HARD BY EARTHQUAKE’S DEVASTATION BY ABBEY STOCKSTILL A POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE that hit close to the medieval city of Marrakech in Morocco on Sept. 8, 2023, has killed thousands and injured many more. It has also put at risk buildings and monuments of major historic importance, among them the minaret of the Kutubiyya mosque, a 12thcentury structure that is an icon of the city. The Medina, the medieval walled portion of the city, is now littered with rubble. The cultural significance of the Medina extends far beyond the antiques and trinkets sold to tourists. It is the location of numerous artisan workshops that make the ceramic tiles, carved plaster, and intricate woodwork that decorate the city. Many of these workshops have maintained traditional methods for centuries, transmitting skill sets down through the generations. Part of Morocco’s bid for Marrakech’s UNESCO status was based on these craft traditions being “intangible cultural heritage,” which the UN describes as knowledge or skills that are passed down orally rather than in written form. A MAN WALKS PAST A DAMAGED BUILDING IN THE HISTORIC CITY OF MARRAKECH, FOLLOWING A POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE IN MOROCCO, SEPTEMBER 9, 2023. JANA MEERMAN/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS 10 DENVER VOICE October 2023
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