New york: The event, which celebrated the richness of Amazigh heritage and the enduring cultural ties between Morocco and the United States, featured the screening of the documentary film “A Thousand and One Berber Nights” (2023). Directed by Moroccan-American scholar and filmmaker Hisham Aidi, the documentary explores the life and legacy of Moroccan director and choreographer Hassan Ouakrim, whose remarkable journey carried him to the heart of New York City’s cultural night scene, where he mingled with renowned artists, world-class musicians, and influential celebrities.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, throughout his career, Ouakrim performed across the United States, forging friendships and collaborations with jazz legends such as Ornette Coleman and Randy Weston, and became a pioneer of Amazigh dance and music in North America. “Hassan Ouakrim embodies the creative, daring, and universal spirit of Morocco. Through his artistic works, he connected two worlds, becoming a bridge between his native M
orocco and the United States,” said Youssef Amrani, Morocco’s ambassador to the United States.

The ambassador also praised the emotion and depth of this documentary film, which, he said, reflects “a plural Morocco, faithful to its identity and open to the world.” In Hassan Ouakrim’s performances, “it is a whole Morocco in motion that meets America through music.” Through his long-standing collaboration with Ellen Stewart, the founder of New York’s experimental theater La MaMa and pioneer of the Off Off-Broadway theater, Hassan Ouakrim was able to fuse the traditional dances of his native region, such as Ahwach and Guedra, with the avant-garde approach of Ms. Stewart’s company.

Through rare archives and interviews, “A Thousand and One Berber Nights” retraces the contribution of Moroccan artists to major cultural movements of the 20th century, while exploring the transatlantic bridges connecting Morocco and America. Hisham Aidi, the film’s director, said the documentary weaves together three intertwined narra
tives. The story of the first Moroccan artists in the United States, the deep ties between Hassan Ouakrim and the African-American jazz community in Tangier, and his unique experience as a Muslim artist in the United States.

Aidi also emphasized the importance of celebrating the careers and contributions of other “Elder” Moroccan artists in the United States who, like Ouakrim, have also left their mark on the American cultural and artistic scene. For her part, Kate Seeley, Vice President for Arts and Culture at the Middle East Institute, stressed the importance of such initiatives, which resonate with shared memories and celebrate the richness of intercultural dialogue.

In this regard, she praised the depth of Moroccan heritage and the universal scope of its artistic expressions, reaffirming her institution’s commitment to promoting dialogue based on knowledge, mutual respect, and understanding. Hassan Ouakrim passed away last July at his home in the East Village, in Manhattan. He was believed to be in his
early 80s.