Oujda(Arabic:وجدة,romanized:wajda,pronounced[ˈwa(d)ʒda]) is a major city in northeastMorocconear theborderwithAlgeria.Oujda is the capital city of theOrientalregion of northeastern Morocco and has a population of 720,618 people (2022 census). It is located about 15 kilometres (9 miles) west of the Moroccan-Algerian border in the south of theBeni ZnassenMountains and about 55 km (34 miles) south of theMediterranean Seacoast.
Oujda
وجدة | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Coat of arms | |
  Oujda Location of Oujda inMorocco  Oujda Oujda (Africa) | |
| Coordinates:34°41′12″N01°54′41″W/ 34.68667°N 1.91139°W | |
| Country |  Morocco |
| Region | Oriental |
| Modern city | 994 |
| Area | |
• Total | 96.4 km2(37.2 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 470 m (1,540 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 720,618 |
| • Rank | 8th in Morocco |
| • Density | 7,500/km2(19,000/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1(CET) |
History
edit
Origins
editThere is some evidence of a settlement during the Roman occupation, which seems to have been under the control ofBerbersrather than Romans.[2]
The city was founded in 994 byZiri ibn Atiyya,Berber chief of theZenataMaghrawatribe. Ziri was, with his tribe, authorized to occupy the region of Fas, but feeling insecure in that region and that town, and wishing to be nearer to the central Maghrib homeland of his tribe, he moved to Ouajda, installed there a garrison and his possessions, appointing one of his relatives as governor.[3]
11th to 19th centuries
editIn the mid-11th century, a new quarter with a wall was allegedly added to the primitive core.Yusuf ibn Tashfinoccupied the city in 1079, and in the next century, it came underAlmohadcontrol, with its fortifications repaired and strengthened under the Almohad caliphMuhammad al-Nasir.[3]
Oujda played an important strategic role between theMarinids,based inFes,and theAbdalwadidsof theKingdom of Tlemcen.[3]The Marinid sultanAbu Yusuf Yaqubdestroyed the city when he defeated SultanYaghmorasanin 1271. When his successorAbu Yaqub Yusufconquered the city again in 1296, he destroyed the remaining fortifications but then rebuilt the town with the new walls, a palace, and aGreat Mosque(the current one). The town continued to change hands, however. Around 1325, SultanAbu al-Hasantook the city again during a series of campaigns which extended Marinid control into the central Maghreb for a brief period.[3]
Because of its frontier position, the city was frequently contested between theSharifiandynasties of Morocco – theSaadis,followed by theAlaouites– to the west and theOttoman Empireto the east, from the 16th century onward.[3]It was often attached to the province or region of Tlemcen, which itself also changed hands several times in this period. During the long reign ofMoulay Isma'il(1672–1727), Oujda was firmly under Alaouite control and defended by new fortifications and garrisons built by the sultan. After Isma'il's death, however, political instability returned. It was only in 1795 that the city was retaken by the Alaouite empire and permanently incorporated into Morocco.[3]
The French occupied it in 1844 and again in 1859. To the west of the city is the site of theBattle of Islywhich occurred in 1844. In 1907-1908, Oujda was reconquered by General Bugeaud and MarshalLyauteyand used as a French military base to control eastern Morocco. The modern city owes much of its present form to the French, who developed along the roads built at that time.[citation needed]
20th century and present day
editAnti-Jewish riotsoccurred in Oujda June 1948, during the1948 Palestine warin the aftermath ofthe establishmentof theState of Israel.[4]: 151 Oujda, located near the border, was a departure point forMoroccan Jewsseeking to reach Israel by crossing intoFrench Algeria;at the time they were not permitted to do so from within Morocco.[4]: 151 In the events, 47Jewsand aFrench personwere killed, many were injured, and property was damaged.[4]: 151
The1953 Oujda revolttook place duringThami El Glaoui'sattempted coup against SultanMuhammad V.[5]
In 1954, from the beginning of theAlgerian Independence War,Morocco allowed Oujda to become the logistic center of theOujda Group.[citation needed]
The Moroccan border with Algeria is just east of Oujda; on the other side of the border is the Algerian town ofMaghnia.The border has been closed since 1994.[6]
In 2010, Rod Solaimani chronicled his trip to Oujda forMTV.
Geography
editThe city is located 60 km (37 mi) south of the Mediterranean sea and 15 km (9 mi) west of Algeria, with an estimated altitude of 450 metres (1,476 feet).
5 km (3 mi) south from city centre, isJbel Hamra,a typicalMediterranean forestand into the east of this forest isSidi Maafa park.
Oujda is located in the south ofBeni Znassenmountains.
Climate
editThe city has acold semi-arid climate(Köppen climate classificationBSk). Rainfall is between 300 mm (11.8 in) and 500 mm (19.7 in) per year. It rarely snows in winter; last snowfall was on 5 February 2012. Weather in Oujda is cool but still tepid and wet in winter, hot and dry in summer.
| Climate data for Oujda (Oujda Airport) 1991–2020, extremes 1910–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 27.9 (82.2) |
33.1 (91.6) |
35.4 (95.7) |
39.5 (103.1) |
41.6 (106.9) |
44.0 (111.2) |
47.3 (117.1) |
46.7 (116.1) |
42.8 (109.0) |
39.4 (102.9) |
32.6 (90.7) |
31.0 (87.8) |
47.3 (117.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 16.6 (61.9) |
17.5 (63.5) |
20.1 (68.2) |
22.4 (72.3) |
26.1 (79.0) |
30.5 (86.9) |
34.5 (94.1) |
34.8 (94.6) |
30.2 (86.4) |
26.3 (79.3) |
20.5 (68.9) |
17.5 (63.5) |
24.8 (76.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 10.4 (50.7) |
11.3 (52.3) |
13.5 (56.3) |
15.6 (60.1) |
19.0 (66.2) |
23.0 (73.4) |
26.6 (79.9) |
27.1 (80.8) |
23.2 (73.8) |
19.6 (67.3) |
14.5 (58.1) |
11.6 (52.9) |
17.9 (64.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 4.3 (39.7) |
5.0 (41.0) |
6.9 (44.4) |
8.7 (47.7) |
11.7 (53.1) |
15.4 (59.7) |
18.7 (65.7) |
19.4 (66.9) |
16.3 (61.3) |
12.9 (55.2) |
8.6 (47.5) |
5.7 (42.3) |
11.1 (52.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −7.1 (19.2) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−2.4 (27.7) |
0.0 (32.0) |
4.0 (39.2) |
6.0 (42.8) |
7.0 (44.6) |
5.0 (41.0) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
−6.0 (21.2) |
−7.1 (19.2) |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 31.5 (1.24) |
29.9 (1.18) |
34.3 (1.35) |
32.7 (1.29) |
24.3 (0.96) |
5.2 (0.20) |
1.5 (0.06) |
6.4 (0.25) |
18.0 (0.71) |
27.6 (1.09) |
34.0 (1.34) |
25.4 (1.00) |
270.8 (10.66) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 4.8 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 39.2 |
| Averagerelative humidity(%)(at 6:00 am) | 83 | 82 | 84 | 87 | 86 | 83 | 76 | 77 | 81 | 85 | 82 | 83 | 82 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 197.5 | 189.9 | 229.0 | 249.5 | 284.6 | 312.4 | 333.3 | 314.1 | 255.0 | 227.6 | 193.6 | 188.1 | 2,974.6 |
| Source 1:NOAA(sun 1981–2010)[7][8] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2:Deutscher Wetterdienst(humidity, 1947–1976),[9]Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)[10][11] | |||||||||||||
Architecture
edit
The main characteristic of the city is having the old city in the centre. The old city maintains traditional features of the Moroccan architecture with its narrow, winding alleys which lead to the houses and markets such as the jewelry market and the leather market. TheGrand Mosque of Oujdais one of its historically most important mosques.
Bled el Gaada is aRoman eraruins just outside ofOuijda.[citation needed]The ruins consist of a Roman fort measuring 175 by 210 metres (574 by 689 ft).[12]
Music
editGharnatirefers to a variety of music originating in Andalusia. Its name was derived from the Arabic name of the Spanish city of Granada. Gharnati constitutes the musical mode mostly used in Oujda, where besides this musical kind is omnipresent and where each year in June the International Festival of Gharnati music is held.[13]
ReggadaMusic is a major traditional music movement. Its a Moroccan Amazigh ancient musical genre and traditional war dance from the Beni Znassen/Aït Iznasen tribes of north-east Morocco (Provinces of Oujda, Berkane and Taourirt), more precisely coming from the village called Ain-Reggada. This dance used to celebrate and emulate victory of a battle. This music has now become part of the global music sphere.[14]
Subdivisions
editThe province is divided administratively into the following:[15]
| Name | Geographic code | Type | Households | Population (2004) | Foreign population | Moroccan population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bni Drar | 411.01.11. | Municipality | 1648 | 8919 | 57 | 8862 | |
| Naïma | 411.01.19. | Municipality | 218 | 1151 | 0 | 1151 | |
| Oujda | 411.01.23. | Municipality | 82128 | 400738 | 2700 | 398038 | |
| Ahl Angad | 411.07.01. | Rural commune | 2897 | 16494 | 113 | 16381 | |
| Ain Sfa | 411.07.03. | Rural commune | 837 | 5082 | 5 | 5077 | |
| Bni Khaled | 411.07.05. | Rural commune | 1231 | 7104 | 30 | 7074 | |
| Bsara | 411.07.07. | Rural commune | 317 | 1922 | 1 | 1921 | |
| Isly | 411.07.09. | Rural commune | 4262 | 23896 | 24 | 23872 | |
| Mestferki | 411.07.11. | Rural commune | 797 | 4832 | 0 | 4832 | |
| Sidi Boulenouar | 411.07.17. | Rural commune | 516 | 3526 | 0 | 3526 | |
| Sidi Moussa Lemhaya | 411.07.19. | Rural commune | 563 | 3436 | 0 | 3436 |
Transport
editTourists aiming at Saïdia, bordering the Mediterranean, transit to Oujda's airport. The city is served byAngads Airport,which has connecting international flights to Lisbon, Brussels, Madrid, Marseille or Paris for example, as well as domestic flights to Casablanca.
The city is the endpoint of the main railroad fromCasablancaviaFesand Taourirt before the border withAlgeria.There are several day and night trains to and from the city, linking it to the western part of the country.
TheOriental Desert Expresswas originally built in the 1920s and 1930s as part of theMediterranean–Niger Railway.One of its cars, the historical "prince's wagon" passenger car runs now twice annually. Outside camera shots of the Oriental Desert Express were featured in the 2015 James Bond filmSpectre.[16]
Economy
editOujda has a strategic importance because of its location on the border. There are many economic and natural resources, however, the city struggles historically with an unemployment rate higher than the national average, standing on average at 20% compared to the 10.3% national average.[17][18]
Oujda relies heavily on trading given its location near the borders of Algeria. The economy of the city is directly related to the border's condition as it represents a passage for businesses directed towardsFesin the west, Talmasan in the east,Figuigin the south andMelillain the north.[19]
On 18 March 2003, KingMohammed VIindicated the importance of reviving the economy of the Eastern regions of Morocco. As a result of this effort,TechnopoleOujda was established and the region witnessed road improvement, airport expansion and other projects.[20][21]
Sport
editThe sports infrastructure in Oujda is composed of a municipal stadium, an Olympic venue, theHonneur Stadiumof Oujda, built in 1976, the sports complex 'Rock' including arugbystadium, a complextennisin the park Lala Aicha, agolfcourse and two sports halls.
Football
editIn 1957,MC Oujda(MCO) became the first football club to win the Throne Cup of Morocco, defeating theWydad of Casablanca,a feat the club repeated the following year. In 1959, in its third successive appearance in the final, the club lost againstFARof Rabat. However, in MC Oujda's fourth successive final, the club defeatedFUS Rabat.In 1962 MCO won its last Throne cup against theKawkab Athletic Club of Marrakech.[22]
After ten years,MC Oujdacame back to win in 1972 the Maghreb Cup,[citation needed]three years after it wonThe Botola Proof Morocco.[23]
US Musulmane d'Oujda,is another football club in Oujda.
Notable people
editArts and cinema
edit- Hafid Bouazza– Writer
- Hamid Bouchnak– Moroccanraïsinger and songwriter
- Nathalie Delon– Actress and director
- Douzi– Singer and songwriter
- Les Freres Megri– Rock band very popular in the Arab world, composers and producers.
- Philippe Faucon– Filmmaker
- Fouad Laroui– Writer and economist
- Michel Qissi– Actor
- Mimoun El Oujdi– Raï singer
- Younes Megri– Actor, singer author of 'Leli Touil' sung by Maria de Rossi & Boney M.
- Abdelkrim Derkaoui– Cinematographer, film director and screenwriter
- Bassouar Al Maghnaoui– Singer
- Simon Basinger– Musicologist, essayist, producer and author.
- Charlotte Slovack– Filmmaker
- Serge Guirao– Singer
Sports
edit- Adil Belgaid– Olympic judo fighter (3 times World Champion, 6 times African Champion, 3 times Arab Champion, 3 times Olympian)
- Abdelatif Benazzi– Rugby player
- Philippe Casado– Cyclist
- Abdelkarim Kissi– Footballer
- Soufiane Kourdou– Professional basketball player
- Moha Rharsalla– Footballer
- Mohammed Qissi– Actor (Kickboxer, Bloodsport with Jean Claude Vandamme)
- Mohcin Cheaouri– Track and Field athlete, 2 times African champion
- Yahya Berrabah– Olympic athlete, African champion in long jump
- Daniel Sanchez– Footballer
- Gilles Simon– Formula 1
- Ahmed Belkedroussi– Football manager
- Khadfi Rharsallah– Footballer
- Marianne Agulhon– Slalom canoeist
- Mohammed Berrabeh– International footballer
- Hassan Alla– Footballer
- Mohammed Ben Brahim– Footballer
- Khalid Chalqi– Footballer
- Gerard Soler– Football midfielder
- Khalid Lebji– Football midfielder
- Abou El Kacem Hadji– Footballer
- Ryad El Alami– Footballer
- Abdelah Kafifi– Footballer
- Mohamed Atmani– Boxer (Summer Olympics)
- Soufiane Kourdou– Basketball player
- Houssam Amaanan– Footballer
- Habib Allah Dahmani– Footballer
Politicians
edit- Ahmed Osman– Former Prime Minister, married King Hassan II's sister, Lalla Nuzha of Morocco
- Zoulikha Nasri– Advisor to King Mohammed IV, MD of foundation 'Mohammed V for Solidarity'
- Muhammad Ben Abdessalam Al Muqri– Late 19th senior official, advisor and grand vizier to several sultans.
- Abdelkader Lecheheb– Football player and Ambassador to Russia
- Mohamed Allal Sinaceur– Former Minister of Cultural Affairs
- Mohamed Habib Sinaceur– Politician
- Ahmed Toufiq Hejira– Former Minister of Housing and Urbanism
- Kaddour El Ouartassi– Historian
- Najima Rhozali– Politician, professor
- Yvette Katan Bensamoun– Historian
- Omar Benjelloun– Journalist
- Abdelaziz Bouteflika– (1937–2021), 5thPresident of Algeria
- Abdelnour Abbrous– Politician
- Chakib Khelil– Politician
- Hassnae Bouazza– Journalist, writer, columnist
- Louisette Ighilariz– Politician
Business
edit- Maurice Levy– French businessman, Chairman ofPublicisGroup.
Town twinning
edit
Trowbridge,UK, (2009)[24]Trowbridge has the largest Moroccan community in the UK outside London, and is the first UK town to be twinned with a place from a Muslim country. At the time, Trowbridge had approximately 80 resident families who had roots in Oujda.[25]
Lille,France- Sevran,France
- Jouy-le-Moutier,France
- Aix-en-Provence,France (2007)
Jeddah,Saudi Arabia
Sirte,Libya
Oran,Algeria
Sint-Jans-Molenbeek,Belgium
See also
edit- Oujda group– anAlgerianpolitical faction named after the town
- Capture of Oujda (1647)
References
edit- ^"POPULATION LÉGALE DES RÉGIONS, PROVINCES, PRÉFECTURES, MUNICIPALITÉS, ARRONDISSEMENTS ET COMMUNES DU ROYAUME D'APRÈS LES RÉSULTATS DU RGPH 2014"[LEGAL POPULATION OF REGIONS, PROVINCES, PREFECTURES, MUNICIPALITIES, DISTRICTS AND COMMUNITIES OF THE KINGDOM BASED ON THE RESULTS OF RGPH 2014] (in Arabic and French). High Commission for Planning, Morocco. 8 April 2015.Retrieved29 September2017.
- ^Siraj, Ahmed (1 January 1995).L'image de la Tingitane: l'historiographie arabe médiévale et l'antiquité nord-africaine[The image of Tingitana: medieval Arab historiography and North African antiquity] (in French). Boccard. pp. 589–595.ISBN9782728303175.
- ^abcdefMarçais, G.; Troin, J.F. (2002)."Wad̲j̲da".InBearman, P.;Bianquis, Th.;Bosworth, C.E.;van Donzel, E.;Heinrichs, W.P.(eds.).Encyclopaedia of Islam.Vol. XI (2nd ed.). Leiden, Netherlands:Brill Publishers.pp. 23–24.ISBN9004081143.
- ^abcGottreich, Emily (2020).Jewish Morocco.I.B. Tauris. p. 10.doi:10.5040/9781838603601.ISBN978-1-78076-849-6.S2CID213996367.
- ^"Quatre-vingt-seize Marocains poursuivis pour participation à la « tuerie d'Oujda », qui fit trente morts le 16 août 1953, passent en jugement"[Ninety-six Moroccans prosecuted for participation in the “Oujda massacre”, which left thirty dead on August 16, 1953, go on trial].Le Monde.fr(in French). 30 November 1954.Retrieved28 September2022.
- ^"Letter from Africa: Lamenting the Algeria-Morocco border closure".BBC News.4 July 2021.Retrieved21 January2023.
- ^"Oujda Climate Normals for 1991–2020".World Meteorological Organization.Archivedfrom the original on 7 October 2023.Retrieved7 October2023.
- ^"World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1981–2010".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived fromthe originalon 11 November 2021.Retrieved10 November2021.
- ^ "Klimatafel von Oujda / Marokko"(PDF).Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world(in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst.Retrieved14 October2016.
- ^ "Station Oujda"(in French). Météo Climat.Retrieved14 October2016.
- ^"60115: Oujda (Morocco)".ogimet.com.OGIMET.11 July 2021.Retrieved11 July2021.
- ^MacKendrick, Paul Lachlan (2000).The North African Stones Speak.University of North Carolina Press. p. 312.ISBN978-0-8078-4942-2.
- ^Sadie, Stanley; Tyrrell, John, eds. (2001). "Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of".The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians(2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.42951.ISBN978-0-19-517067-2.
- ^"Diving in the Traditional Moroccan Music".Mozarkech.1 May 2021.Retrieved6 September2024.
- ^"Recensement général de la population et de l'habitat de 2004"(PDF).Haut-commissariat au Plan, Lavieeco.com. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 24 July 2012.Retrieved27 April2012.
- ^"Morocco tourists make tracks on 007's 'desert express'".dw.com.21 September 2017.Retrieved23 January2023.
- ^"Oujda".Clima-Med.Retrieved6 September2024.
- ^"Morocco Unemployment Rate".www.ceicdata.com.Retrieved6 September2024.
- ^MobiliseYourCity Global Monitor (20 October 2021)."MobiliseYourCity Global Monitor Fact Sheet: Oujda, Morocco"(PDF).MobiliseYourCity.net.
- ^"Projet - Medz Support | MEDZ".www.medz.ma.Retrieved6 September2024.
- ^African Development Bank Group.Third Airport Project Appraisal Report for the Kingdom of Morocco(in French (original)). African Development Bank Group.
{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ^Winners of the Throne Cup of MoroccoArchived13 December 2012 at theWayback Machine
- ^Winners of the football League of Morocco
- ^"Trowbridge - Market town twins with Arab city".BBC News.BBC News Channel. 3 October 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 21 October 2007.Retrieved1 August2013.
- ^"Trowbridge plans Moroccan link-up".The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald.Retrieved2 August2022.
External links
edit
- Oujda Portal
- Oujdays100% Oujda
- Oujda and its region
- Entry in LexicorientArchived31 March 2009 at theWayback Machine
- OujdaCity.net