Rabat - The world lost a number of prominent Moroccans in 2015. Morocco World News remembers them here and pays tribute to their achievements in and contributions to their various fields.
Haj Mohamed Bouzoubaa
On January 21, news of the death of renowned Malhoun artist Haj Mohamed Bouzoubaa struck a blow to Moroccan music.
Bouzoubaa was known as the godfather of the Moroccan majestic art of sung poetry. He died at the age of 75 and now rests in Al Lakbab cemetery in Fez.
Comedian Hicham El Fenni "Tikota"
On January 26, Moroccans were saddened by the death of Hicham El Fenni, known by his stage name of “Tikota.” He died in the capital of Rabat after a fight with cancer. He is buried in his hometown of Marrakech.
Actress and Comedian Zineb Smaiki
Morocco was saddened on January 29 by the death of popular Moroccan actress and comedian Zineb Smaiki. She was known for her great performances in several films and soap operas.
Amazigh Singer Ammouri Mbarek
On February 14, the master of Moroccan Amazigh music, Ammouri Mbarek, died after a lengthy fight with cancer.
Although largely ignored by mainstream media, Mbarek is regarded as a reviver of Moroccan Amazigh music because of his dedication to promoting the Amazigh art.
Professor Abdelhadi Tazi
On April 3, renowned historian and professor Abdelhadi Tazi died at the age of 94.
Tazi was a prominent writer and diplomat, and had been a member of the founding committee of the Academy of the Kingdom Morocco since 1980. He is buried in the Mausoleum of Abi Bakr ibn Al Arabi in Fez.
Footballer Driss Bammous
Moroccan football suffered a great loss on April 17 with the death of Driss Bammous, a former president of the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and the captain of Morocco’s national soccer team during the World Cup held in Mexico in 1970.Bammous is buried in the Chouhada Mosque in Rabat.
General Abdelaziz Bennani
On May 20, the Royal Armed Forces lost one of its leaders with the death of General Abdelaziz Bennani at the age of 80 after several months of palliative care. The General and inspector of the Royal Armed Forces died after being hospitalized in the Val de Grace Hospital in Paris in 2014 due to health issues.
Former Minister of Communication Mohamed Larbi Messari
The former Minister of Communication and Morocco’s Ambassador to Brazil, Mohamed Larbi Messari, died on July 25 at the age of 79.
Messari was also a prominent historian, journalist , and diplomat. He authored numerous books in Arabic, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Gnawa Musician Mahmoud Guinia
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Mahmoud Guinia[/caption]
Gnawa art mourned the death of Gnawa music pioneer and guembri player Mahmoud Guinia on August 2. He died at the age of 64, after a lengthy illness.
Inventor Abdelah Chakroune
On November 6, the tragic news of the death of young Moroccan inventor Abdelah Chakroune at the age of 31 shocked Moroccans.
With 37 patented inventions, the death of Abdelah was considered a great loss for Morocco and the Arab World.
Sociologist Fatima Mernissi
The death of Moroccan sociologist and prominent feminist writer Fatima Mernissi at the age of 75 was a great sorrow for her readers.
Mernissi had published over 15 books and inspired her followers as an Islamic feminist and prolific contributor to the literary field for many years.
Mernissi is buried in Messaoud cemetery in Hay Riad, Rabat.
Royal advisor Zoulikha Nasri
On December 16, Morocco woke up to the sad news of the passing of the first female Royal Advisor in the history of Morocco. Zoulikha Nasri, who had been appointed to the position of Royal Advisor by King Hassan II in 1998, was in charge of social and economic affairs.
She had also served as the former Director of the Insurance Department at the Ministry of Finance, the Head of the Mohamed V Foundation in 1999, and the Head of the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Reintegration of Prisoners in 2002.
Edited by Elisabeth Myers
The post In Memoriam: Prominent Moroccans Who Died in 2015 appeared first on Morocco World News.