i. The maghribi script

The maghribi is the Arabic script proper to the Muslim West (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, historic Andalusia, West Africa). It is distinguished by its rounded loops, its descents prolonged below the writing line, its dots placed differently (notably the fa and the qaf).

Gallery

scroll →

Three variants of the maghribi are recognised in Morocco: the mabsout (elongated), used for the Quran; the moudaffar (compact), used for literary manuscripts; the mojawher (jewel), shaped for administrative and private cursive.

ii. The qalam and the ink

The Arab calligrapher's unique tool is the qalam, a reed cut at a bevel. Its tip determines the thickness of the strokes — a calligrapher owns several qalams according to the size of the letters. The ink, traditionally, is made of soot (from wood or oil), gum arabic and water.

The gesture follows precise rules: a stroke in a single movement without lifting the hand, the length of the uprights proportional to the dot (nuqta) which serves as a unit of measure, respect for the geometric grids derived from the square and the circle.

iii. Calligraphy and architecture

In Morocco, calligraphy did not stay on the manuscript. It invaded the walls. The calligraphic friezes in stucco, in zellige, in carved wood adorn all the madrasas, the mosques, the palaces. The flowery Kufic — angular, geometric, sometimes interlaced with foliage — is the monumental script par excellence.

A few masterpieces:

• Bou Inania Madrasa, Fès — 1350-57, Kufic stucco friezes.
• Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss, Fès — monumental thuluth calligraphies.
• Ben Youssef Madrasa, Marrakech — 16th century, cursive calligraphies in carved wood.

iv. Learning and transmitting

The classic apprenticeship takes place at the khizana (traditional school) before any move to the formal school. The young copy models (mashq) until they can faithfully reproduce the letter. In Morocco, the Higher School of Traditional Arts and Crafts of Casablanca and the National Institute of Fine Arts of Tétouan today offer formal curricula.