The 1,200 year-old al-Qarawiyyin
library is buried deep in the centre
of Fez (Aziza Chaouni’s hometown),
and was born from the generosity of
local woman Fatima al-Fihri. Raised
in the city the daughter of a wealthy
merchant, she invested her entire
inheritance into the library, wanting
to provide the Moroccan people with
a place of knowledge. It opened
to the public in 839AD, but for the
last 600 years has enforced a strict
policy allowing only scholars inside.
When tasked with renovating the
ancient structure in 2012, Chaouni
– embodying the spirit of Fatima alFihri – fought tirelessly to have it
reopen to all. Her battle, made all the
harder, she claims, by the fact she is
a woman, was eventually won, and
when the library is relaunched in
January it will welcome everyone.
Aziza Chaouni
THE Woman behin
THE world’s olde
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africandesignmagazine.com