Rabat – The Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco on Wednesday presented its book “For a House of the History of Morocco” which is a call for the creation of a dedicated institution to highlight the centuries-old history of Morocco.
This 630-page book is a scientific contribution of nearly 30 historians and researchers in the field of human sciences, from Morocco, Senegal, the United States and France and who met for a conference held in 2012 in Casablanca at the initiative of the National Council for Human Rights (CNDH).
Quality book, richly illustrated to highlight the strengths of Morocco, “For a House of the History of Morocco” has been published in two languages, French and Arabic.
On this occasion, the president of the Council of the Moroccan community abroad and former president of the CNDH, Driss El Yazami, underlined in a statement to the MAP that the publication of this book is an important moment in the history of Morocco , noting that this work pleads in favor of the creation of a “House of the history of Morocco”, in order to meet the expectations of Moroccan society in this field, especially future generations, to know the history of their country wish for several centuries.
He added that the call for the creation of such a House comes to accompany the dynamic of political and institutional initiatives that Morocco is experiencing, in particular the creation of the Archives of Morocco Institution and the Equity and Reconciliation Instance, noting that ‘a “House of the History of Morocco” will contribute to scientific research on the history of the Kingdom and will make it possible to highlight the diversity of its components and tributaries.
“This collective work which contains the proceedings of the international conference organized by the Academy of the Kingdom, on October 13 and 14, 2012, with the participation of renowned Moroccan and foreign researchers, is a call for the creation of a national institution intended mainly to future generations to present the centuries-old history of Morocco and strengthen their links with the roots ”, underlined for his part Mohamed Kenbib, professor of modern history at Mohammed V University in Rabat and scientific coordinator of the said conference.
He further informed that the creation of a “House of the history of Morocco” will meet the growing demand for history, which requires the establishment of a great institution that “puts history of the Kingdom within everyone’s reach ”.
For his part, the Permanent Secretary of the Academy of the Kingdom, Mr. Abdeljalil Lahjomri affirmed in the foreword of the work that there are several reasons which plead for the creation of such an institution. “First of all, there is the urgent and pressing social demand for a peaceful knowledge of the past, in line with the action and recommendations of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission. Secondly, there are advances in research on the history of Morocco which make it possible to set up such a House, which is as essential as it is saving ”.
He also added that “this establishment would finally help to illustrate in a lively and renewed way (through a permanent exhibition and temporary exhibitions) the plural history of Morocco as stipulated in the constitution”.
“History is indeed the object in Morocco, but also throughout the world, of an increased and multiple social demand, writes Mr. Kenbib for his part, noting that“ the history which has always represented the ‘one of the essential foundations of cultural and national identities, appears as one of the benchmarks to which peoples and individuals refer to strengthen their ties with their roots, to consolidate their perceptions of themselves and others and try to give more intelligibility to what is happening around them, or even scrutinize the future with more serenity ”.
And to underline that “several historians plead in this direction, by recalling that the work of memory, in progress in the company in various ways, must be supported by the public authorities, registered in the duration”.
The various contributions included in this work, published by “La Croisée des Chemins” editions, provided a first sketch of the future House, conceived as a space for research, studies and interpretation, as well as a tool. education, organization of conferences and colloquiums, publishing and networking, working in partnership with academic circles, close institutions (and in particular archives and educational circles), as well as civil society.
This book presents various academic interventions during the said conference including “History and historiography in the Internet era”, “Religious heritage of Morocco: Situation and reappropriation” and “The Jewish communities of Morocco: Historical retrospective”.
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