The Bus Trip 5: The al-Qarawiyyan Library in Fez, Morocco

The oldest library in Africa and arguably the oldest operating library in the world was established by a woman by the name of Fatima El-Fihriya. She was a scholar and devout Muslim who used her rich family inheritance to build the library, mosque, madrasa and other parts of the old medina of Fez in Morocco. Opened in 859, the Library holds manuscripts in theology, law, languages, and astronomy dating back to the 6^th century. ‘Operating’ is the operative word, but who’s arguing?

In 2012 the Moroccan government commissioned Moroccan-born Canadian architect Aziza Chaouni to renovate the library to its original splendour. Her account of what she found and what she did next can be read about here: http://ideas.ted.com/restoring-the-worlds-oldest-library/

Aziza Chaouni Projects of Toronto and Fez devotes this neat page to the work: https://www.azizachaouniprojects.com/copy-of-sidi-harazem-thermal-bath-s-3

Restored over four years, the Library was re-opened in May 2016. One of the best general reports of this event and the Library’s history is in a newspaper. Readers who advance to Comments need to remember what I mean by ‘operating’ being the operative word, a word that seems to be missing from the vocabulary of too many of the commentators: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/sep/19/books-world-oldest-library-fez-morocco#comments

While for those who expect more action during a library tour, El Jazeera posted this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsbBC1dgUbo 

This link meanwhile is precious. It takes you to the fascinating and detailed entry on the Muslim Heritage site for the history of Islamic libraries:

https://muslimheritage.com/libraries-of-the-muslim-world-859-2000/ 

Not surprisingly, al-Qarawiyyan Library makes regular appearances in lists of Most Amazing Libraries and Oldest Libraries in the World. Two of these are in the bus’s onboard movie selection.

Most Amazing Libraries in the World. Mentioned here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pHZhdLg4G4

Oldest Libraries in the World. Mentioned here: https://www.oldest.org/culture/libraries/ 

Philip Harvey

Tour Guide