Meet the makers: Hlima

We sit down at her house with a strange sense of absence, and it is only after a while that the reason becomes clear: the house is unusually quiet. This is almost unheard of in other households in the village, where three or four generations live together, and there are always children making noise in the background.

It soon turns out that Hlima has had ten children—seven sons and three daughters—but many of them never reached adulthood. Those who did are married and have moved to larger cities like Rabat, leaving her home an empty space filled with family memories. “They are so far away, and it fills my heart with sadness,” she admits.

Caring is at the heart of Hlima's life. “Several of my children suffer from chronic illnesses, and I try to manage their treatment,” she explains. “My husband and I live alone now, and my youngest son has moved to the other side of our house since his condition worsened.”

As our conversation unfolds, Hlima opens up about the great challenges she faces. “My smallest son has been struggling with a neurological disease for over twenty years, draining our financial resources. His condition often leads him to the hospital, which he keeps escaping. Most recently, it took us days to find him and take him back to the hospital in Salé. This is very hard, a constant challenge for us."

This condition places enormous emotional and financial burdens on her and her husband. “We spend the money we earn from weaving and farming on household necessities and medicines. All our income goes on these things; we don’t save anything,” she explains, highlighting the reality for many weavers and their families. Yet, her spirit remains unbroken. “Life is difficult, but I want to be strong for my family,” she asserts, embodying the essence of resilience.

At home, in the clean room, Hlima is working on a lovely pink flatwoven Hanbel. She has mastered flatweaving alongside the more commonly used hand-knotting technique in her village. She is one of the few people in her village who often makes Hanbels, using only a few of well-matching colour shades and geometric patterns.

For Hlima, weaving is magic, and she takes great care to ensure that her rugs bring good luck to their future owners. She showcases deep respect for tradition and spirituality tied to her craft. Before she begins weaving a new project, she takes special precautions. Setting up the loom, Hlima uses bones to tap out the wooden elements to keep the evil eye and malicious spirits from seeing the rug and harming its owner.

Her weaving tools hold stories of their own; her beloved hammer comb was a treasured gift from the Jewish neighbouring family to her mother some sixty years ago, before they left to Israel. "I have used this comb since I started weaving, I treasure it." - she smiles as she shows off the richly crafted metal tool.

She takes joy in her craft and the connections it fosters. “Weaving is a means to connect with the community and keeps our culture alive,” she says, explaining that the village weaving collective is a platform for the local women to meet, work and connect. “I have been weaving my whole life, and through it, I connect with my ancestors and my community. Also, weaving helps me get through the hardships of life.” she concludes, as a testimony to the enduring power of tradition.