# Azilal

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Provincial capital of Azilal, Morocco

Place in Béni Mellal-Khénifra, Morocco

Azilal ⴰⵣⵉⵍⴰⵍ / أزيلال Azilal Location in Morocco Show map of Morocco Azilal Azilal (Africa) Show map of Africa Coordinates: 31°58′1″N 6°34′10″W / 31.96694°N 6.56944°W / 31.96694; -6.56944 Country Morocco Region Béni Mellal-Khénifra Province Azilal Province Elevation 4,518 ft (1,377 m) Population (2024)[1] • Total 48,138 Time zone UTC+1 (CET) Postal code 22000

**Azilal** ([Standard Moroccan Tamazight](/source/Standard_Moroccan_Tamazight_language): ⴰⵣⵉⵍⴰⵍ, [Arabic](/source/Arabic_language): أزيلال) is a city that serves as capital of [Azilal Province](/source/Azilal_Province) in central [Morocco](/source/Morocco), in the [High Atlas](/source/High_Atlas). It is also the capital of the [M'Goun Conservation Area](/source/M'Goun_Conservation_Area).

## Etymology

Azilal’s name roughly means “[ridge](/source/Ridge)” in [Tamazight](/source/Tamazight).

## History

Azilal was originally a meeting place for various [Amazigh](/source/Amazigh) tribes to gather and trade. During the [French protectorate in Morocco](/source/French_protectorate_in_Morocco), the town was occupied by colonial forces and used as an outpost to spread further into the mountains. A colonial quarter remains inhabited to this day by local Amazigh families. The quarter is located on a hill within Azilal's municipal boundary and is separated from the town by a colonial-era wall. But the surrounded area are more famous for their resistance against colonial like Ait Attab, Tabia, Bzou, Tanant, Demnate and others.

## Geography

Given the rich geology of the surrounding mountains, Azilal is the capital of the [M'Goun Conservation Area](/source/M'Goun_Conservation_Area) and home to the M'Goun Geopark Museum.[2][3] Azilal has become a jumping-off point for tourists to visit various [World Heritage Sites](/source/World_Heritage_Sites). The [Ouzoud Falls](/source/Ouzoud_Falls), one of the most popular sites in the conservation area, is only 27 km away by road.

South of Azilal, there is a 304.8-meter high mast for longwave broadcasting.

## Demographics

Azilal is inhabited by Moroccans of [Amazigh](/source/Amazigh) descent. Most Amazigh families come from surrounding villages/communes. Azilal residents, therefore, often speak both [Moroccan Arabic](/source/Moroccan_Arabic) and [Tamazight](/source/Tamazight).

## Landmarks

### Thursday Souq

Every Thursday, residents of Azilal and surrounding villages gather at the southwest end of the city to buy and sell goods in an open-air [souq](/source/Souq). The souq is divided into sections based upon the goods being sold. A second [share taxi](/source/Share_taxi) stand is also set up just beyond the souq gate to streamline transportation from other towns. Rather than travel to the center of Azilal, passengers can go directly to the souq.

### Dinosaur statue

A dinosaur statue was built in Azilal to commemorate the establishment of the [M'Goun Conservation Area](/source/M'Goun_Conservation_Area). This statue is a popular attraction for both Moroccan and international tourists who stop to take pictures with it. At night, the statue is lit up with multi-colored lights and surrounded by water fountains.

## Culture

Azilal Museum

Along with Muslim and national holidays, Azilal residents also celebrate the Amazigh New Year according to the [Berber calendar](/source/Berber_calendar). A celebration of the holiday is often held in either a local cultural center or youth center and features reenactments of moments in Amazigh history and the singing of Amazigh pop and folk music. For the Amazigh New Year, many families in Azilal prepare couscous with seven vegetables.

The traditional song and dance, *ahidus*, is performed at most weddings and cultural events in Azilal. This [call and response](/source/Call_and_response) song has also been recorded by Amazigh pop artists and is occasionally played digitally rather than performed.

Other cultural practices such as saint worship and tribal face tattooing have begun to decline. These practices are now seen as sacrilegious by many Moroccans including those in Azilal. While the practices themselves are disappearing, facial tattoos can still be seen on older Amazigh women and the remains of shrines for saints are still standing in and around Azilal.

## Notable people

[Soufiane Bouftini](/source/Soufiane_Bouftini), footballer

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-census2024_1-0)** ["Population légale du Royaume du Maroc répartie par régions, provinces et préfectures et communes selon les résultats du Recensement général de la population et de l'habitat 2024"](https://www.hcp.ma/Population-legale-du-Royaume-du-Maroc-repartie-par-regions-provinces-et-prefectures-et-communes-selon-les-resultats-du_a3974.html) (in Arabic and French). High Commission for Planning, Morocco. 7 November 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["M'Goun Geopark"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200116095659/http://www.geoparc-mgoun.ma/). GM-Soft. January 2019. Archived from [the original](http://www.geoparc-mgoun.ma/) on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["M'Goun UNESCO Global Geopark"](http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/earth-sciences/unesco-global-geoparks/list-of-unesco-global-geoparks/morocco/mgoun/). UNESCO. January 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2020.

v t e Béni Mellal-Khénifra region Capital: Beni Mellal Provinces Azilal Province Béni-Mellal Province Fquih Ben Salah Province Khénifra Province Khouribga Province Cities Afourar Azilal Bejaad Beni Mellal Boujniba Boulanouare Bradia Bzou Dar Ould Zidouh Demnate El Ksiba Foum Jamaa Fquih Ben Salah Hattane Kasba Tadla Khouribga M'Rirt Ouaouizert Oued Zem Oulad Ayad Oulad Embarek Oulad Yaich Sidi Jaber Suq as-Sabt Awlad an-Nama Zaouiat Cheikh

v t e Azilal Province Capital: Azilal Municipalities Azilal Demnate Rural communes Afourar Agoudi N'Lkhair Ait Abbas Ait Blal Ait Bou Oulli Ait M'Hamed Ait Majden Ait Mazigh Ait Ouaarda Ait Oumdis Ait Ouqabli Ait Taguella Ait Tamlil Anergui Anzou Bin El Ouidane Bni Ayat Bni Hassane Bzou Foum Jemaa Imlil Isseksi Moulay Aissa Ben Driss Ouaouizeght Ouaoula Rfala Sidi Boulkhalf Sidi Yacoub Tabant Tabaroucht Tabia Tagleft Tamda Noumercid Tanant Taounza Tidili Fetouaka Tiffert N'Ait Hamza Tifni Tilougguite Timoulilt Tisqi Zaouiat Ahansal

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