Homeless Moroccan Musician in Bordeaux Struggles to Survive Through Street Performances

"I play music every day! I get bored a lot, so it keeps me busy. Playing the guitar also allows me to earn a living. On Fridays it’s prayer day and on Saturdays I go play the djembe on the market square. It will soon be Christmas, so I’ll go sing in front of the church for the Christians," assures Fathallah, 50, to Actu.fr. He often plays in the commercial alley of the city center of Mérignac (Gironde), near Bordeaux.

The 50-year-old Moroccan remembers his ex-wife he had met in Morocco. "I met Nathalie at the Marrakech airport. I was a tourist guide in my youth, it allowed me to earn a little money for university, my family didn’t have the means. She had come to Morocco on vacation. I took such good care of her that she fell in love with me!" he recalls painfully.

After this meeting, Fathallah left Morocco to settle in France. From one day to the next, his life took a turn due to the consumption of alcohol, to which he was not addicted before. "When I arrived in France, I discovered alcohol. I couldn’t do without it. That’s why we parted ways," confides the one who claims to have lived in a large castle, near the beach, facing the King of Morocco. "Since her, I’ve never known another woman. I still love Nathalie. I’ll never forget her."

Today, Fathellah claims he no longer drinks alcohol. His wish is to find a job so that he can receive his retirement and get out of poverty. He remains optimistic for the future: "In the meantime, I have music. It helps me survive."