promoting the works of Paul and Jane Bowles in the written, musical and theatre forms and working with caring attitude towards helping people in need in Morocco The definitive unofficial fan site for people who like Paul and Jane Bowles Visited by people who like Paul and Jane Bowles from more than 119 countries This site has been online since May 1st 2000 All photos on this page are ©The International Paul Bowles Society 2002-2005 The Bab Doukkala Booksellers Association Marrakesh, Morocco The Bab Doukkala booksellers in Marrakesh The International Paul Bowles Society is happy to mention that during the summer of 2002 we were able to help the Bab Doukkala Booksellers Association in Marrakesh. The Booksellers are doing a fine job of providing low price books to school children and students in Marrakesh. Some of our visitors might remember when they had their stalls on the Djem El Fna square, back in the 1970's and 1980's. They moved from there into a little 'book village' outside of the Bab Doukkala in Marrakesh. It was a very lovely collection of bookstalls, vegetable market, flowers and palm trees, full of character and atmosphere. People loved to go there to buy there books, and hang out for a while with the booksellers, exchanging ideas and information on many subjects and topics. During the springtime of 2002, the 'village' was demolished as it was too near to the ancient wall of Marrakesh and there were plans to make a big new beautiful public garden area. The ground is now empty, except for sometimes animal grazing (above.) The booksellers have been promised a new location to have their stalls and sell their books. In the meantime, they were all selling their books on the sidewalk. A few months went by, and there was some concern about the approach of winter and their being unable to continue their bookselling, with the rains approaching. There is no question that a new location will be found for the booksellers, the only question is the 'when.' Picture left: Mr. Abdelatif Jmamar, the President (far left) and Mr Mohammed Kornifa, the Vice-president (far right) of the 'Jamaiat El Jalisse Al Hirafiene El Kotubiene.' In view of this essential work that the booksellers do, this would have been very bad news for students in Marrakech, who over many decades have come to reply upon the booksellers as their primary source for used study materials. We decided that booksellers selling books at low cost to children and students and needing help with establishing a new venue, before everything gets wet, came under the terms of our Memorandum and we decided to help out where we could to try and help the booksellers speed things up before the winter rains arrived. We are very happy and privileged to be able to help the booksellers in this way. We will update this page with any further news that we have about the booksellers and their new location. Come back and visit this page soon! Update: Fall 2003 The Walaya of Marrakesh is currently organising cabin facilities for all of the registered booksellers at the nearby location outside of the walls of the Medina at Bab Doukkala. This takes a lot of work on their part and thus takes time to arrange. We shall let you know when the book cabins are in place. The International Paul Bowles Society takes it's Memorandum on helping the people of Morocco very seriously. We do this work in memory of Paul and Jane Bowles and not for any personal enhancement. Update Fall 2005 All of the booksellers have now relocated to booksellers cabins outside of the medina along the wall outside of Bab Doukala in Marrakesh. If you are visiting Marrakesh and would like to read a book in your language then visit the booksellers. Mohamed Kornifa (in the photo wearing a cream jacket) has cabin number 1 - right outside the main gate of Bab Doukala. All content on this page ©The International Paul Bowles Society, October 2005 Back to Morocco Index page Home Dedicated to the life and work of Paul and Jane Bowles ©The International Paul Bowles Society, 2000