A tribute to Driss Chraïbi : Founding voice of Moroccan migration literature

Ya Biladi

23-04-2025

Novelists Zineb Mekouar and Mustapha Kebir Ammi presented a joint reading of Les Boucs by Driss Chraïbi (1926–2007) on Wednesday during a gathering held in honor of the late author. Part of the International Book and Publishing Fair (SIEL 2025), which is being held in Rabat from April 18 to 27, the event also featured contributions from academic Kacem Basfao, the author's widow Sheena Chraïbi, the president of the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME), Driss El Yazami, as well as several other writers. It was a moment of reflection and exchange that highlighted a foundational and timeless work on Moroccan and Maghrebian immigration in France.
Published in 1955, the novel marks a turning point in Maghrebian literature written in French and remains one of the most important works in Chraïbi's oeuvre. More than just a tribute, the commemoration of seventy years since the novel's publication is seen by the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication and the CCME as a key opportunity to make the writer's work accessible to all generations — from the youngest readers to those who knew him.
Author Zineb Mekouar praised Chraïbi's work for its striking relevance, both in its literary style and its themes addressing the relationship with the Other, particularly in Europe and France. «For me, Les Boucs is a masterpiece of international literature. Even today, there is this marginalization of otherness, and a way of speaking for the other, in the name of the other, as if we knew them better than they know themselves — and this work responds to that in many ways», the writer said.
«This confinement within media or political narratives is extremely dangerous and it challenges us. In today's world, Driss Chraïbi was therefore at the forefront in responding to this urgent need for counter-narratives through writing — to make his voice heard and thus become an actor in his own space, rather than a passive object of an orientalist fantasy».
Celebrating Driss Chraïbi at SIEL 2025 and Beyond
In a similar vein, Driss El Yazami recalled that Les Boucs is one of the greatest novels written in French about immigration, set against the historical backdrop of the Algerian War, virulent anti-Maghreb racism, and systemic socio-political control. He also noted that it was not translated into Arabic until 2021. El Yazami further highlighted the novel's importance as a cultural contribution from Moroccans around the world.
In the joint booth of the Ministry of Culture and the CCME at SIEL, an exhibition space has been dedicated to Driss Chraïbi. Its creator, Kacem Basfao, explained that the initiative was part of a broader inclusive approach aimed at promoting literature for all. «While bringing together relatives and intellectuals, a posthumous tribute should allow an author to be discovered by those who don't yet know them. I find this is what has often been lacking in some tributes to our great authors, like Fatema Mernissi», he told Yabiladi at the close of the event.
«The presence of friends and family members in these tributes is essential, and I find it beneficial to include academics, other writers, and intellectuals as well», he stressed. But to keep this legacy alive, «we need to find the right way to reach new audiences — otherwise, these gatherings can feel like preaching to the choir», he added.
«That's why we created the Driss Chraïbi space as an extension of the joint booth of the Ministry and the CCME — to attract younger generations and introduce them to an author they might not yet know. This space has been very successful among schoolchildren, high school students, and early university students who are discovering texts, photos, and foundational elements of Chraïbi's work in a format that's accessible to them. It even encourages them to cultivate curiosity, deepen their research, and — why not — go on to read his books».
Kacem Basfao
For Basfao, «this is the entire point of the space and this tribute: that it be inclusive, open to all, and reflective of who Driss Chraïbi was — someone deeply engaged with his society and ahead of his time, in ways that feel more relevant than ever. This is especially true of Les Boucs, which addresses Maghrebian immigration in France, but also racism and violence at every level».
Indeed, the organizers affirm that Driss Chraïbi «is not an inaccessible author». Through this series of public events, they hope «to make sure that everyone — but especially young people — don't feel intimidated by an author's name, and are instead encouraged to explore his work, which offers a vast intellectual openness for self-development beyond the traditional academic route».
Toward Chraïbi's Centenary in 2026
This edition of SIEL, which specifically honors Moroccan authors living abroad, also marks the launch of a new initiative by the Ministry of Culture to translate the works of Moroccan writers around the world into Arabic and safeguard this literary heritage.
To extend the tributes, a special screening was held the same day at the initiative of the CCME at the La Renaissance cinema, as part of a retrospective of pioneering Moroccan films on emigration and immigration. Audiences were invited to discover Conversations with Driss Chraïbi (2007), a documentary by Ahmed El Maanouni, followed by a discussion with Sheena Chraïbi and Kacem Basfao.
Looking ahead to the centenary of Driss Chraïbi's birth in 2026, Driss El Yazami announced that a major celebration is already in the works. It will include revisiting the author's archives, exploring his work through readings and academic colloquia, and reflecting on his contribution to critical conversations about identity, exile, and memory.