Near Merzouga, at the foot of the Erg Chebbi Dunes, there is an Oasis that local families use for farming.  The Irrigation system is a canal down the centre, with long narrow plots off to either side.  The families take turns opening their section up to the water by knocking down a mud barrier and letting the flow in.  It is a simple, traditional method based on cooperation and it is amazing that they have been farming like this for generations.

Outskirts of Oasis

After visiting the beautiful Oasis we stopped at the village of Khamlia to listen to some Gnawa Music.  The Bambara tribe, also called Gnawa, trace their origins to sub-Saharan Africa.  They came to Morocco as slaves and brought with them their culture, customs and traditions.  Their music is a mixture of Bambara, Berber and Arabic and it has a strong link with their spirituality.  You can have see the Groupe des Bambaras on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQMzGn-knz8.  What I find sad and yet also inspiring is that the sound of the castanets is said to mimic the sound of the clanking of the chains that the slaves endured though their forced march across the Sahara desert when they were brought to Morocco.  Focusing on the rhythmic sound helped them to chant together and stay focused on a steady pace.