Moroccan-Born Trailblazers: From Politics to Arts, Global Influencers Making Waves

Mayor of Rotterdam since 2009, Ahmed Aboutaleb, originally from the Moroccan Rif, joined his father in The Hague at the age of 15. The latter worked as a maintenance worker.

From the confines of the Moroccan Rif, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem managed to climb the ranks to become the first woman to reach the position of Minister of National Education, Higher Education and Research in France.

In the art world, we find a famous Moroccan figure who has carved his way among the great names of Anglo-Saxon music. RedOne, originally from the city of Tetouan, has worked with international celebrities like Michael Jackson, Pitbull, J-Lo and Lady Gaga.

Elected best artist at the "MTV Europe Music Awards" in 2011, the Moroccan-origin rapper La Fouine, whose real name is Laouni Mouhid, obtained a "Gold Record" for his album "Team BS".

To talk about musical celebrities without mentioning French Montana would be a mistake. Karim Kharbouch, one of the great American rappers, was born in Casablanca before settling in New York at the age of 13.

When it comes to humor, the first names that come to mind are Jamel Debbouze and Gad Elmaleh. At the origin of the "Jamel comedy club" and the "Marrakech du Rire", Debbouze made his first appearances in cinema at the age of 17, with the short film by Nabil Ayouch. Born in 1971 in Casablanca, the "darling" of the French, Gad Elmaleh, has performed in Morocco, Canada, France and the United States.