55 The Little Waves of Essaouira

الأمواج الصغيرة في الصويرة

Essaouira |

Morocco

Arabic

Behind the scenes

Essaouira is known as the city of trade winds. As you approach its ramparts, you can immediately feel this steady breath coming from the Atlantic.

As I wandered through the city, I had the impression that the wind was accompanying me, guiding my steps almost like an invisible presence.

In this text, I wanted to capture the sensations of that moment: turning through narrow streets, unexpected encounters, and senses constantly awakened – the scent of thuya wood crafted by artisans, the salt of the sea, the spices of the market.

At times, the rhythms of gnawa musicians can also be heard, heirs to a spiritual tradition from sub-Saharan Africa, whose chants and percussion seem to echo the wind itself.

Echoes of the world

The text is written in Modern Standard Arabic (al-fusha), the shared form of the language used across the Arab world.

In the title, الأمواج الصغيرة (al-amwaj as-saghira) means “the little waves.” In darija, Moroccan Arabic, the same idea takes a more direct and rhythmic form: الموج الصغير (l-mouj s-sghir).

The name Essaouira itself reflects the city’s history: الصويرة (as-Suwayra) literally means “the little fortress,” referring to the ramparts that protect the city from the Atlantic.