Amazigh Art and Identity Honored at Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech

On October 23, the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech hosted an inspiring evening celebrating Amazigh culture, led by architect and anthropologist Salima Naji. The event, organized by the Fondation Jardin Majorelle, brought together art lovers, historians, and cultural enthusiasts for a captivating talk and book signing dedicated to Amazighes. Cycles, Motifs, Parures.

A Celebration of Amazigh Women and Symbolism

Through her latest publication, Salima Naji sheds light on the creative power of Amazigh women and their role as guardians of cultural memory. Each motif, ornament, and color reflects a deep symbolic language rooted in identity and emotion. The book originally published alongside the exhibition held at the MUCEM in Marseille invites readers to rediscover ancestral craftsmanship through a contemporary lens.

A Dialogue Between Marseille and Marrakech

The exhibition Amazighes. Cycles, Motifs, Parures, presented at the MUCEM from April to November 2025, features over 150 works and objects, many from the Pierre Bergé Museum of Berber Arts. By bridging the Mediterranean through art and storytelling, this collaboration between Marseille and Marrakech highlights the living legacy of Amazigh culture ancient yet profoundly modern.

A Night of Transmission and Exchange

During the Marrakech conference, Salima Naji shared her reflections on symbolism, tradition, and the essential role of women in cultural continuity. The evening concluded with an intimate signing session, where guests engaged directly with the author, celebrating both knowledge and emotion in equal measure.

About Salima Naji

A graduate of the École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Paris–La Villette and PhD in Social Anthropology from the EHESS in Paris, Salima Naji has dedicated her career to preserving Morocco’s architectural and cultural heritage. From restoring the Ksar of Assa to the Agadir fortress, her work combines sustainability, craftsmanship, and community engagement an architectural philosophy rooted in human connection.