Tiznit- The city of Tiznit in southern Morocco, which is described as the “capital of silver,” hosts the Timizar exhibition, which includes jewelry, ornaments, household utensils, guns, daggers, and embroidered saddles, which are traditional products with cultural and civilizational symbolism.
During Al Jazeera Net’s tour of the exhibition, goldsmith Laila Al-Abyad was busy arranging a number of silver jewellery items in front of a small table, while Nigerian merchant Sabio Mani watched her movements with great interest.
Quickly and accurately, Laila uses her fingers to gather the scattered pieces and finish making an elegant necklace that attracts attention.
Laila told Al Jazeera Net, while showing one of the drawings on the necklace, that it was inspired by sub-Saharan African culture, adding that the silver industry, in addition to being a permanent symbol of cultural cross-pollination, has an economic impact on the city.
As for Mani, he says, recalling the passage of the old trade caravans, “I travel between Tiznit and Niamey many times a year, and despite the distance, I love meeting the people here. I feel their kindness, generosity, and love for their work, and I long to see their creations.”
Every year, the exhibition is attended by about 50 exhibitors who have been carefully selected for their inspiring ideas or innovative projects. They compete to attract visitors and convince them to buy the new creative thing, while Sabio, who comes from Niamey, the capital of Niger, sees it as an opportunity to see the new creations of craftsmen and artisans and display his new product.
The head of the regional network for the social and solidarity economy in Tiznit, Al-Arabi Arroub, told Al Jazeera Net that the exhibition contributes to the economic and tourism promotion of the city, and also promotes interest in the cultural heritage represented by the world of silver.
He stresses that African participation has symbolic connotations that reinforce the African depth in Moroccan sectoral, elected and civil institutions by virtue of belonging and common denominators for the sake of sustainable development shared internationally.
Silver in Morocco
Laila asks about the history of silver in Morocco, and the answer comes from research by Mustafa Souhsou, a professor of geology at Ibn Zohr University in Agadir, which showed the existence of a complete production chain in the Imider mine near Tinghir (south of the country). The mining techniques also date back to 150 years BC, and are very similar to those used in one of the mines of La Sierra Minera in southern Spain.
The academic added in an interview with Al Jazeera Net that the establishment of a number of states in the Moroccan imperial cities was linked to the presence of silver mines that specialized in a specific industry, such as the Todgha mine near Sijilmasa (minting coins), the Jebel Awam mine (Mirrit) near Fez and Meknes, and the Tamdoult mine near Tiznit (hali).
He points out that this made it build a great economic and military power, and this was confirmed by the presence of silver coins as was the case in the era of the Almohads, adding that the city of Tamdoult, for example, which is located on a silver mountain, has elegant architecture and its gardens are extremely beautiful, as mentioned by historian Hassan Al-Wazzan.
Silver production
Leila is proud to be a donor of a mineral that has become a source of pride for Morocco, which has the seventh largest silver mine in the world, making it the leader in Africa and one of the most important producers in the world.
Silver is used in addition to making jewelry, in minting coins, financial investment, producing solar panels, water purification, and in the chemical industry.
Thanks to the presence of the Zkonder mine (260 km east of Agadir) – the second of its kind after the Imder mine – its region plays an important role in consolidating Morocco’s advanced position on the global production map.
Canadian company Aya Gold & Silver states on its official website that it has the capacity to produce 1.97 million ounces in 2023 at the mine, citing high-quality reserve estimates, which will lead to increased production.
The mine is scheduled to produce 6.8 million ounces per year over the 11-year mine life, and more than 8 million ounces per year during the first five years of ramp-up.
Economic expert Rashid Sari told Al Jazeera Net that this comes as a result of Morocco’s mining plan (2021-2030) after overcoming a set of obstacles related to simplifying procedures and providing tax incentives, which contributes to attracting more investments, noting that there are important plans for exploration along a 430-km stretch between Casablanca and Safi that provide greater opportunities.
He added that this rapid growth confirms the importance of the mining sector in the Moroccan economy, as it currently contributes between 8% and 10% of the gross domestic product, which is almost equal to the contribution of other important sectors such as tourism, and this percentage is expected to increase to between 15% and 20% in the near future, according to him.
Attracting foreign investment
Academic Sari says current government strategies seem more geared towards attracting foreign investment and encouraging manufacturing and exports.
He calls for supporting mining tourism, as it represents a great opportunity to develop the sector, as tourists are looking for traditional silver products more than gold, which reflect the spirit of Moroccan civilization.
Laila, who is self-employed, is proud to be a link in a production chain that contributes to her city’s economy, but that doesn’t stop her from expressing regret about the rapid-production machine invading her industry.
Al-Arabi Aroub says that organizing the field and encouraging start-ups are enough to revive silversmithing, citing the creativity that appears at the Timizar exhibition every year as evidence of its importance.
African depth
Sabio Mani did not hide his astonishment when he learned that one of the studies of the academic Sohso confirms that the commercial caravans, starting from the seventh century AD – especially the 13th century – coming from what was known in history books as the Sudan (countries south of the Sahara) – and which took the route of the commercial caravans crossing the Sahara (Timbuktu, Sijilmasa, Fez, Tlemcen) – used to stop in the city of Sijilmasa, taking advantage of the power of the “emirate” to protect it, to exchange gold and ostrich feathers for salt or copper.
Mani confirms that the volume of trade between Morocco and Africa in general and Niger in particular is increasing after the reopening of the Guerguerat crossing and its securing, indicating that the authorities on both sides provide all legal facilities for the flow of goods, and that silver products are subject to customs control and are stamped before they become available for sale and marketing.
Creativity and openness
When we return to Laila’s workshop the next day, we find her busy putting the finishing touches on a new piece of jewelry, and next to her we hear gunshots at a traditional horse riding event.
On the other side, there is a museum dedicated to the exhibition, where artistic masterpieces appear to visitors as if telling them their many stories. Here is a knight carrying a dagger studded with silver, and there is a bride who appears proud of her necklace, crowns, earrings, and anklets of Tiznit. There is also a historical wall with its seven gates of pure silver, made by a skilled craftsman who used silver wire, glass painting, and engraving techniques to imitate the royal wall of the city.
With a hammer and a file and with great concentration, the young woman – who broke into her family’s profession after it was a male monopoly – is trying to leave her own mark.
Leila Kamal hopes that the Silver Ambassadors will continue to build economic bridges between Morocco and the heart of Africa.
