Henna refers at once to a plant (Lawsonia inermis), the powder drawn from its dried leaves, and the body-ornamentation practice that uses it. In Morocco, henna accompanies the passages: birth, circumcision, engagement, marriage. The session called laylat al-henna precedes the wedding night; a nqachat (master henna artist) draws floral or geometric motifs on the bride's hands and feet.
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to be replacedi. Origins and cultivation
The henna shrub, native to south-western Asia and North Africa, has been cultivated for its leaves for at least four thousand years. In Morocco, henna is produced mainly in the oases of the Tafilalet and the Drâa, as well as in the Souss region. The leaves are dried in the shade, then pounded into a fine powder; the powder is mixed with water, sometimes with added lemon juice, strong tea or essential oil to fix the tint.
ii. The Moroccan ritual
In Morocco, the henna ceremony is an integral part of the nuptial protocol. On the eve of the wedding, the women of the bride's family gather; a professional nqachat or an expert relative draws the motifs. The regional schools are distinguished by their grammar: floral motifs and fine arabesques in Fès, Amazigh geometries with tattoo motifs in the South, stylised Saharan motifs in Laâyoune and Dakhla.
iii. Symbolism
Henna carries a double signified: a cosmetic practice on the one hand, a ritual sign on the other. In tradition, it protects from the aïn (evil eye), accompanies fertility and calls down baraka. Its slightly camphorous smell is associated with purity and celebration. The dose, the colour (from pale orange to deep brown depending on the setting time and the quality of the paste), the precision of the drawing are all social markers.
iv. Economy
Henna production in Morocco, little industrialised, rests on oasis cooperatives and a bazaar trade. Since the 2010s the sector has experienced a revival tied to natural cosmetics. The Ministry of Agriculture has been studying since 2023 a possible PGI for Tafilalet henna, which enjoys an internationally recognised quality.