Safi - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

Safi (Arab: آسفي) is a city of the Morocco located on the Atlantique littoral. It is the capital of the area Doukkala-Abda and prefecture of its province. Its port is one of most important country, the city also shelters, since the years 1960, an important industrial complex of transformation of Phosphate.

Safi counts currently more than 300.000 inhabitants.

History

There are few writings on the birth of Safi. Phénicien counter - if it is necessary to believe the geographer Ptolémée - probably attended later by the Romains, it appears in the Arab texts under the name of Asfi, as from the 11th century, it is then a small port of local interest.

Safi (Hadirat Al Mouhit) or Quoted of the surrounding sea, according to the expression of Ibn Khaldoun, ensured, as a port of the capital Marrakech of the empire Almohade at the 12th century, of the direct relationships with the Andalusia and was presented in the form of a space strongly urbanized, in particular equipped with important fortifications and a large central mosque. The latter was attached at many institutions.

At the end of the 12th century, Abi Mohammed Salih, Patron saint of the city since, founds a ribat or brood strengthened, in a joint suburb of the city, which was going to give to Safi a religious function, of national and international significance.

It institutes, indeed, two religious orders, the first of the kind organized in Morocco, Tariqa or sees mystical and Tafa of Houjjaj, remarkable organization of the pilgrimage in Mecque, through an immense network of reception centres (Sijilmassa, Tlemcen, Bougie, Barqa, Alexandria,…), at one time or this obligation was suspended for reasons of insecurity.

Constituted by two urban entities, the city grows rich, at the 14th century, of a Medersa, built by Aboul Hassan Al Marini, from a bimaristan (hospital) and many other institutions, a qaysaria, a mohtasseb, as Safi is essential like places exchanges of importance which trades with Genoa, Seville, Marseilles, etc…

At the end of the 15th century, the Portuguese pressure is accentuated, and leads to the occupation of the city which will last of 1488 until its recovery by the Saadiens, in 1541. Safi was then the principal Portuguese place strengthened for the control of the maritime area, extending until Marrakech.

Again connected to Marrakech under the Saadiens, Safi remains one of the most important ports of the Kingdom until the creation of Essaouira, in second half of the 17th century. There remains however seat of foreign consulates and will take part, during the 19th century, with the commercial opening of Morocco on the foreign powers.

Just as with Tangier, the Jewish community is important and is not installed in a Mellah. The existence of mixed worships, judéo-Moslem, such that returned until the middle of the 20th century in Oulad Zmirro, the seven buried Jewish saints with Safi, testifies to the agreement which has prevailed for several centuries between the two communities.

The opening on Europe

At the 15th century, Safi opens with the European trade. The Portuguese appreciate even if well its natural roads that they seize some in 1488, by a combined operation (by ground and sea) rise starting from their base of Mogador (Essaouira). Around the city, they raise an enclosure and build a fortress at the seaside. But this occupation lasts little, because as of 1541, the Portuguese who have just lost the town of Agadir voluntarily evacuate Safi.

That does not stop the exchanges with the Europe which on the contrary intensifies. The French have their share there.

At the 17th century, the French Consul has his residence with Safi and it is in its walls that the commander of Rasilly signs in the name of Louis XIII several commercial treaties between France and the Empire Chérifien. But, at the 19th century, it is the complete decline.

The turning of the XXe century

The revival first of all came from industrial fishing: the Sardine is the speciality of Safi since the development of the canning facility opened with its fishermen an enormous market. Then the ores of Jbilet and the Phosphate S of Youssoufia (80 km in the North-East of Safi) invaded the quays, involving the extension and the modernization of the port.

Lastly, it is in Safi that the country took its first steps in large the Industrie by the construction of an important chemical complex (1972) with a few km in the south of the city. As from 1920, the port of Safi is the object of progressive extensions, thanks to the increase in the export of phosphates. But it is during the Second world war, that the flotilla of fishing knows a considerable growth related to the development of the preserve, which will make of Safi, with the beginning of the year 1950, the first port sardine boat of the world, for fishing and the canning facility. Safi is also famous for the activity of its potters, attested as of the 12th century. This activity knew a renewal of intensity at the 19th century, and a progressive rebirth, thanks to creation, about 1920, of a ceramics school and a pilot workshop, with Maître Lamali, which made it possible to renew and perpetuate this activity on the Hill of the Potters.

Safi is also known for its role in resistance and the fight for the independence of Morocco. 3 personalities of Safi signed the Manifeste of the independence of which mainly Haj Mohamed Bouamrani. Bouamrani, which received the Al Qaraouiyine teaching, was responsible for resistance to Casablanca and Safi and had a central role in the resistance and the creation of the party of the Istiqlal.

Monuments of Safi

Castle of sea: it is strong Portuguese who dates from the 16th century. It has as a characteristic to be practically built on water.
the Portuguese Cathedral: first Gothic building of Africa
Dar asultane: old residence of the sultans Alaouite, it was also used as protection for the city because of its position; today it was transformed into museum (National museum of Ceramics) and its roof offers a pretty panorama on the city.
the tagine: a large tagine planted in full center town. It is largest of the world!

Population

The population of the Province of Safi is made up of two large Arab tribes, namely:

Abda : name of its ancestor Abdel-Kais or Abdel-Qais, installed at the 12th century time of Almohades, in the plain known previously under the name of Doukkal Al Hamra, coming from Tunisia but originating in the North of the Arabic peninsula. This tribe gave rise to three great fractions which are: Bhatra Rabiaa.

Ahmar : Arab tribe of Yemeni origin and overall of the South of the known Arabic Peninsula under the name of Himyar, installed in Morocco coming from the Algeria.

To also note that Safi had an important Jewish community which emigrated today towards the France, the Canada or Israel and which represented at the time more than 20% of the population.

Industry

There exist two important production facilities with Safi:

a unit of the Phosphate Office Of the sherifs (OCP), which is a national company in load of all the die phosphates/manure. It is the second phosphate productive enterprise of the world, just after American IMC Agrico Co (group Freeport McMoRan). Mining is carried out on three great sites: Khouribga, Gantour and Boucraâ, which delivered in 2000 respectively 14,1 MT, 5,2 MT and 2,2 commercial phosphate ore MT. The centers of transformation of phosphate into phosphoric acid (2,7 MT in 2000) are established in the littoral industrial park of Jorf Lasfar and with Safi; those of the development of manures (2,4 MT) are it in the chemical whole of Safi and Jorf Lasfar. The OCP is by far the first world exporter of rough phosphates and phosphoric acid and one of the largest international suppliers of manure such as triple superphosphate (TSP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP).

the Cement Factory of Morocco of the province of Safi:

The factory of Safi was brought into service in 1993; it is located at 35 km in the north of the town of Safi. The factory is equipped with a line of cooking to Polysius dry roads with a furnace of a diameter of 4,2 m and a 62 m length, with a tower of 5 stages provided with minis preca. The principal workshops are:
- Crushing: HAZMAG with marteaux.
- Pre-homogenization: circular Pre-homogenization and BEDESCHI.
- Believed Crushing: Crusher vertical PFEIFER.
roller - Line of cooking: POLYSIUS.
- Crushing Cements: Ball mill FCB.

Sports

Safi is a big city of surfing, recognized by the largest surfers. It offers to the amateurs of slips one better lines of Africa, which breaks on more than 100 Mr. The board with veil is also with the honor.

In spite of the modest sporting infrastructures of the city, this one has a sporting club: The Olympic of Safi evolving/moving in division 1 of Football. The OCS is also a large team of Rugby. The city is also a genuine bastion of the athletics. Indeed three Safiots are currently veterans of the discipline. The pigeon fancying also has its share it, there are three associations of pigeon fanciers in the city namely: Al Fath, Assalam and Korse. That is due to the fact that Safi is a town of quitters of carrier pigeons for the Canary islands.

Safi is becoming the nautical destination of the center of Morocco and consequently occasion the beach nearest to Marrakech.