The Best Ever Book of Moroccan Jokes: Lots and Lots of Jokes Specially Repurposed for You-Know-Who

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Through it all, Moroccans have maintained their ability to laugh at everything. Do we not have a well-known proverb that says, “Too much worrying makes you laugh?” What’s more, politicians in Morocco take their political duties much too seriously and convey through their media appearances the image of the “seasoned and rational politician” who speaks in a high register, in educated language that is too elevated for humor and ribbing, even further distancing them from the real world. A few months ago, the press spread a picture of a number of ministers convulsing with laughter during a meeting organized by Noureddine Ayouch, head of the Zagora Foundation. The photo depicted a real event, and it was as if this matter surprised Moroccans, as though they had been wondering whether their ministers actually knew how to laugh. You can learn to communicate naturally with Moroccans so that they feel free to communicate with you as well.

The Sahara Desert spreads its golden sands across Morocco – a mesmerizing playground for adventurers. People’s interests have been changing due to globalisation and the influence of technology. It seems as though no one is interested in family gatherings after dinner, which is traditionally when the hikayat took place. Grandparents or parents would tell tales to each other and their children during this time. I beg the Most High to allow me the favour of the double reward, but if God only finds me worthy of one reward, I will accept it in all humility." But a decade later, the implementation of the officialisation of Tmazight in Morocco is still burdened by bureaucratic and state negligence. Young apprentices are learning from Master Storytellers and plying their craft at local establishments and through cultural programs. Master Storytellers spend decades collecting stories, fine-tuning their craft, and performing at squares around Morocco. For centuries, Djemaa el-Fna was the most prestigious stage for Morocco’s storytellers.When Moroccans make fun of the sacred in their jokes, they usually end the joke with phrases like “May God forgive us” or “May God bring low the cunning Satan” or “The tongue has no bones.” Some may go even further, “citing the words of the Messenger: ‘relieve these souls, for they rust as iron rusts,’ or the Qur’anic verse ‘God does not take you to task for the idleness of your oaths, but rather he will punish you for what your hearts have earned’ (Surat al-Baqara, 225).”

Moroccan puns infuse a touch of humor and wordplay into the vibrant and culturally rich world of Morocco. From puns referencing iconic landmarks and exotic spices to playful wordplay with the language and traditions, these puns offer a delightful glimpse into the lighthearted side of Moroccan culture. let these Moroccan puns add a splash of joy and laughter to your experience. Ahmed Ezzaghani is a master of storytelling in Marrakech and began collecting Moroccan traditional fables during his youth as a travelling salesman. He joined the crowds gathered around storytellers until one day he had studied the craft long enough to tell stories himself. Today, he trains a group of youth apprentices so they may keep their rich Moroccan heritage alive. Learning from the Masters Animals are also present in Moroccans’ jokes by way of humans’—sometimes sexual—relationship with them, or as ay stand-in for human characteristics. In jokes in which a Moroccan finds themselves amongst people of other nationalities, the Moroccan is constantly portrayed as the least intelligent, weakest, and most helpless. Does this portrait convey the image Moroccans have of themselves compared to other people, as having an inferior status and value? Our team represents Africa, because FIFA does not classify football teams based on their race or ethnicity. However, our team members are Amazigh and not Arab. And Arabs should respect us as we respect them,” Adil Adaskou, a Moroccan Amazigh activist, told The New Arab.During the war, Saddam Hussein wanted to launch missiles from the Moroccan coast to the US, but when he pushed the button, nothing happened. Turned out there were so many Moroccans hanging on to the missiles that they simply couldn't lift off. It is almost impossible to tease out the origins or creator of a given joke, or the various transformations it undergoes during its transmission and circulation. There are jokes that are around for years with only a few minor changes to keep up-to-date with current events. With such changes, the matter of the “intellectual ownership” of jokes becomes almost impossible to determine—they have entered the public domain. There's a saying in Morocco that when a storyteller dies, a library burns," Master Storyteller Hajj Ahmed Ezzarghani told Al Jazeera. Coquelin Cadet said in his book Laughter, “We have written much about laughter, but we have not in any aspect defined what makes [a person] laugh.” It is, however, generally accepted that there are universal themes that inspire all comedians and fabricators of jokes: Just like in the rest of the world, the trinity of sex, religion, and politics is considered to be the most important inspiration for jokes. It represents the desire to break taboos and reject all boundaries. Jamal Khalil writes on this that “the Moroccan joke has always circled around taboos but has not truly overcome them.” A little Arab boy Anything that makes people who aren't white Americans embarrassed or angry, is racist.

Here, sixteen years after its original publication, we feature El Aji’s essay in English translation. Hence, important events in Morocco provide inspiring topics for jokesters: the death of Hassan II, the discovery of oil in Talsint, the events of May 16, the National Census, voluntary retirement, the Family Code, the king’s marriage . . . . When a man tells this joke, the employee becomes male, while the old, withered spouse becomes a rural woman with frizzy hair, wearing old pajamas.

The ancient city of Fes is a labyrinth of wonders – get lost in its narrow alleys and uncover hidden gems. But with Marrakech’s legendary square filling up with vendors, juice stands and traffic, there is less room for the great storytellers to hone their craft. With public spaces around Morocco becoming more difficult locations in which to perform, these artists are shifting to cafés and cultural programs. The new locations are bringing Moroccan stories to a wider, more diverse audience.