Moroccan Author’s Legacy at Risk: Call to Preserve Edmond Amran El Maleh’s Works

"In the course of my research over several years, I was surprised by the disappearance of the works of the writer Edmond Amran El Maleh from libraries and second-hand bookstores, especially in Arabic," he wrote in a letter to the advisor.

To prevent the disappearance of the books and the immensity of the man from the collective memory, Hjiouij called for the rehabilitation of the writer’s works even if his books are in English and are no longer reprinted.

"Is this a mere coincidence or have his novels been hidden as is the case for many creators? And who is behind this act?" wondered Mohammed Said Hjiouij, urging the royal advisor to ensure that the writer’s novels are made available to new generations in French and that the rights to their translation into Arabic and other languages are granted to publishers.

He recalled that the "Edmond Omran El Maleh" Foundation was created in 2014, and that Azoulay, in the presence of the writer himself and Hassan Aourid, had declared "that in addition to its role in paying tribute to writers, the Foundation will be the starting point for restoring our history, our memory and our heritage in all its colors". For the novelist "these objectives are noble, and everyone is trying to achieve them in order to preserve our heritage with multiple identities".

However, he added, activities that enhance the multiple identities of Moroccans do not exist, noting that "the legacy of this writer, once described as the Moroccan James Joyce, has completely disappeared".