**To view CNN’s “Inside the Middle East” in Morocco,
click here for Part I, Part II, and Part III**
CNN, Inside the Middle East (In Morocco, Oct. 4, 2012) – This month, CNN’s “Inside the Middle East” journeys to Morocco, a North African kingdom located on the western edge of the Arab world. For many, Morocco evokes images of Arabia past, of casbahs and winding bazaars.
But modern Morocco and its capital Rabat are cosmopolitan, hip, and anything but ancient. It is a diverse nation, geographically and culturally, mixing Arab, African, and European influences.
In the first segment, host Leone Lakhani visits the bustling commercial hub of Casablanca, which for many recalls the film classic starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.
But modern-day Casablanca, like the rest of Morocco, is different than the movies. With many between the ages of 15 and 29 unemployed or out of school, there is frustration at the lack of opportunities. Some took to the streets this past year to protest while others took to the recording studio. The program meets several young rappers – from Casablanca to Tangiers – who are using their music to speak out.
The program also journeys to the southern stretches of Morocco’s Atlantic coastline, to the traditional Berber city of Agadir. Berbers were the first inhabitants of North Africa, and many still follow older customs and practice ancestral crafts. One of these – a beauty oil made from Argan tree seeds – is quickly becoming all the rage among celebrities and high-end shoppers in the West. Lakhani sat down with one Moroccan who is helping to produce the oil – and jobs for women in the country.
And what trip to Morocco would be complete without tasting the nation’s world-famous cuisine? The team heads north to Fes, Morocco’s culinary capital, to receive cooking lessons from Lahcen Beqqi, a top chef who has figured out how to blend traditional cooking with modern techniques.
The CNN show on Morocco is airing in October show at the following times (all GMT):
Wednesday, October 3: 1030, 1730
Saturday, October 6: 0530, 1930
Sunday, October 7: 1230
Saturday, October 13: 1230
Sunday, October 14: 1730, 1930
