Scientific report on the field mission to Morocco (Rabat, Marrakèch and Fès) by Francesco Chiabotti (March 12-20, 2023)

Francesco Chiabotti visited Morocco between March 12 and 20, 2023. This fieldwork was part of his CNRS delegation project currently underway at IREMAM. The mission had the following objectives:

• Obtaining manuscript documentation in Rabat and Marrakech
• Launching an international project with the aim of publishing the works of the author studied as part of the delegation project. The ambition is to bring together a number of Moroccan researchers under its scientific direction, establish a contract with a publishing house that, ideally in partnership with INALCO presses, will publish the manuscripts edited by the research group in book format (Arab world distribution) and digital format (Inalco press, print on demand).
• A separate objective is to establish contact with the Ministry of Habous and Religious Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Toufik, with whom we have already collaborated in the past (ANR_DFG PROPHET project, 2019 colloquium).

The first objective was achieved with regard to documents held in public collections. A number of manuscripts in the Royal Library of Rabat and the National Library of Rabat have been obtained. Manuscripts held in private collections are more difficult to consult and obtain, but important information on their whereabouts has been gathered. Moroccan families who are custodians of important 19th-century documents and who are willing to share them as part of an organic project in the near future. Contact with a number of partners has been established:

In Fez: the Vice-Director of the Qaraouiyine University, Mr. Idriss al-Fahri al-Fassi (exchange around the project, request for links with potentially interested researchers, joint search for a scientific publishing house)
In Rabat: the Director of the Royal Library, Mr. Ahmed Binebine (exchange around the project, obtaining authorization for rights concerning their manuscripts); Mr. Mohammed Saïd Hinchi, librarian at the Royal Library and researcher in Arabic literature (discussion of the project, request for contacts with potentially interested researchers, joint search for a scientific publishing house)
In Marrakech: Mr. Jaafar Kansoussi, former collaborator of Minister Ahmed Toufik, independent researcher and president of a highly influential cultural association in Marrakech. We contacted researchers together and wrote a letter to the Minister to obtain funding for the project, the association will serve as a logistical and accounting base for the continuation of the project; prof. Mohammed Aït Lamine, professor of modern Arabic literature (he will take part in the publishing project); Hakima Chami (researcher, will take part in the publishing project); Mohammed Chouioubi, PhD and researcher, will take part in the publishing project).
Francesco Chiabotti also attended a cultural festival and gave a talk on his current research topic (the calligrapher al-Qandūsī)