Inauguration of the Agadir Reconstruction Museum

This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:

Hibapress

The head of government, Aziz Akhannouch, inaugurated on Friday the museum of the reconstruction of Agadir, located at the former headquarters of Bank Al-Maghrib.

This project, inaugurated in the context of commemoration activities of the 65th anniversary of the reconstruction of Agadir (February 27-March 5), is part of the city development program of the city 2020-2024.

Inaugurated in the presence in the presence in particular of the Wali of the region of Souss-Massa, governor of the prefecture of Agadir Ida-Outanane, Said Amzazi, the president of the Council of the Souss-Massa region, Karim Achengli, as well as the President of the National Museum Foundation (FNM), Mehdi Qotbi, this museum highlights the memory of Agadir since the first moments of the earthquake On February 29, 1960, until its reconstruction.

This museum establishment will also allow visitors to feel the extent of this disaster, as well as the resilience of the inhabitants of the city.

In a statement to the press, Mr. Akhannouch said that this day marks the 65th anniversary of the reconstruction of the city of Agadir, launched by the late Mohammed V and the royal family, adding that the construction continues thanks to the royal programs which improve the city from day to day.

Mr. Akhannouch, who is also president of the municipal council of Agadir, said that this museum aims to feed the memory of the inhabitants of the city and the Moroccans, noting that this establishment exhibits photos which highlight the history of Agadir before the earthquake, the life of its population and the reconstruction process.

For his part, Mr. Qotbi explained that this museum is “a place of memory and preservation” allowing future generations to discover Agadir pre-and-seconding, the process of reconstruction and how the solidarity between the king and the people made it possible to transform pain into hope, stressing that it is necessary, for a city like this to be able to make known its past, its present and its future.

In addition, the president of the FNM welcomed this inauguration, which comes after the inauguration of two other museums this week, namely a museum of Islamic arts (Fez) and a museum of memory (Casablanca), specifying that King Mohammed VI makes culture a priority allowing all Moroccans to go to museums.

Spreading on an area of ​​1,790 square meters with modern architecture, the Agadir reconstruction museum has a large number of fixed and animated images that highlight the extent of destruction and devastation caused by the earthquake.

These images are spread over several spaces, including a reception area, a permanent exhibition hall, a temporary exhibition hall, a digital space dedicated to the visualization of the clichés documenting the event, a literary coffee and a space for researchers.

At the same time, Mr. Akhannouch and the delegation accompanying him kicked off the rehabilitation of four old places created immediately after the earthquake, namely the place of the Crown Prince, the Place Rialto, the place of the departure of the Green Marche and the Place du Market Municipal.

The rehabilitation works, for which an amount estimated at 20 million dirhams has been allocated, funded by the Municipality of Agadir (10 million dirhams) and the Ministry of National Regional Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and City Policy (10 million dirhams), include the paving of places, the creation of green spaces, Fontaines, Aquarium.

The Head of Government also visited a photographic exhibition entitled “Agadir is reborn again”, which presents a series of photos, including a photo of King Mohammed VI chairing the signature ceremony of the urban development program of Agadir 2020-2024, a photo after the earthquake, a photo representing the unshakable faith despite the disaster, another architects as well as photos of the new city with the city of 1959 (Headquarters of the Wilaya of the region currently).

Mr. Akhannouch also visited an exhibition of students from the National School of Architecture at the Tourist Information Center at the Corniche of Agadir.

The celebration of the 65th anniversary of the reconstruction of the city of Agadir continues with a number of activities, including a photographic exhibition and creative lighting shows that will decorate urban spaces.