El Jadida and its declining heritage
Twenty years is often considered the prime of life. Yet, El Jadida’s Portuguese City has stood for five centuries. This particular milestone, however, marks the 20th anniversary of its inscription on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in June 2024.
Seizing the occasion, the Doukkala Mémoire association hosted an event on February 20, 2025, in El Jadida to remind the forgetful of this heritage’s historical significance: “Heritage for Tomorrow: Preserving Cultural Assets Amid Future Challenges.” Despite the ravages of time and the negligence of government officials and elected representatives, the association’s president, Abdelahad Fassi Fihri, struck a courteous and poetic note in his opening speech: “To know is to love better. To love is to protect better.”
“The government is bound by the UNESCO convention, and we are responsible for safeguarding this heritage from looming threats,” urged the speaker from the historic Church of the Assumption, a 16th-century monument that hosted the event. Just behind it lies the famed Cistern, built in 1547 during the Renaissance. It has been closed to visitors for over five years—a mystery for the local residents and the neighborhood association led by Mohamed Ziane. The newly appointed provincial director of the Ministry of Culture offered no comment on the matter.
“We operate within our mandate and resources to protect El Jadida’s heritage. I hope this gathering results in actionable recommendations,” stated Abdelilah Nafis before leaving the hall. The Ministry of Culture, for its part, has yet to address any of our questions, including those concerning preventive archaeology and the draft law on heritage protection (see L’Economiste No. 6952, February 18, 2025).“The closure stems from structural collapses in two adjacent buildings near the Cistern, raising concerns about a potential cave-in. This 37-meter-long, 34-meter-wide structure has suffered from moisture infiltration, largely due to its proximity to the sea,” explained a source from the Ministry of Culture on site. As the supervising authority, how could it have allowed such deterioration?
The situation is exacerbated by the absence of a formal management plan for this historical site and the Ministry’s lack of financial resources, as highlighted in a presentation by Nisrine Safi, curator of El Jadida and Azemmour. The affected buildings also hold historical significance. Part of the Portuguese City, they were repurposed as a gallery honoring renowned painter Chaïbia Talal and writer Abdelkébir Khatibi. The critical state of the Portuguese City and its famed 25-column Cistern reflects the broader challenges facing the heritage of Doukkala’s capital.
Faiçal FAQUIHI
