Contemporary Poetry from the Heart of Sefrou (Part II)

Last week, we posted a video of Soufiane Elouahhabie performing his poem, titled Sefrou. In this week’s video, below, Soufiane guides us through what this poem is about. He also illuminates his poetic method, how Sefrou inspires him, and why he writes, among other things.

Poetry is one of the important ways in which oral and written culture intertwine in contemporary Sefrou. As Soufiane explains, his poetry can be set to music. Historically, poets were one of the itinerant workers who travelled between regional markets to make a living from performing their work. Poetry therefore played an important role in creating opportunities for cross-cultural encounters – even if only between a poet and listener from neighbouring regions.

We think it is remarkable that poetry has the enduring power to enable cross-cultural encounters. In this video, we hope to facilitate an encounter between Soufiane and the viewers, just as directing this video was a cross-cultural (and international) encounter for the present author.