The Sahara, the Atlas, and Tangier

Context: a larger access to the web facilitates the sharing of digital information and plays a crucial role in the Arab uprisings and revolutions. In 2009 prescient Benlyazid writes “The Opening of the Maghreb is also cultural.” During the “Arab spring,” she contributes a short story to an Arab collection of essays and short stories in which she shares her hope and optimism for Morocco and its youth. The makhzen starts to modify its official view of an Arab, Muslim monolithic identity in Morocco to include Imazighen and celebrate diversity. Benlyazid makes several films: ashort for a campaign against corruption, The Bag (2011); a docu-fiction, Frontieras (2013), on Western Sahara; and a series of documentaries on Amazigh music and culture with Dounia productions for the Meziane foundation. She is therefore giving her latest output a museal function. She also receives multiple honors in Morocco.