Sidi Bou-Mehada: The Cedar Tree

If you grew up immersed in Christian theology like I did, you’re probably familiar with the Cedars of Lebanon. King Solomon famously used large quantities of this holy and most prestigious of wood to construct the temple which housed the Ark of the Covenant of the Israelites.

In Northern Africa, Morocco and Algeria specifically, there is another kind of cedar tree: Cedrus atlantica, also known as the Atlas cedar or Arz in Arabic. The Atlas cedar has been harvested to near extinction for its many beneficial properties. Only 163, 000 hectares of Atlas Cedar forests remain! Thankfully, the tree has been designated an endangered species, and is subject to intensive reforestation campaigns.

But one could say the efforts to preserve the predates the modern era. Don’t believe me? Listen to this week’s episode.

"Khénifra-cèdre" by Hadraj

References

• Cedrus Atlantica (Atlas Cedar): Botanical Description and Medicinal Uses

• The Cedar Tree of Sidi Bou-Mehada from Tales and Legends of Morocco by Elisa Chimenti.

Music

1. My Brother from Rifi: The Sounds of Morocco

2. Aziza from Rifi: The Sounds of Morocco

Can’t Get Enough?

Meet some American tree-friends of mine! And while we’re in America, here’s a lovely Cherokee legend about cedar trees.

Meanwhile…

T minus 8 days till “The Watkins Book of African Folklore” or the “Mythological Africans Book”, is out!

Not ready to preorder? Tell someone about the MA Book

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