The Marriage Festival

The town of Imilchil symbolizes Berber culture, celebrated for its festival officially known as the Betrothal Festival – the Souk Aamor Agdoud N’Oulmghenni. According to legend, two young lovers from different tribes fell in love but were forbidden to see each other by their families.

Their grief led them to cry themselves to death, creating the neighboring lakes of Isli (his) and Tislit (hers) near Imilchil. In honor of the anniversary of the lovers’ death, the families decided to establish a day when members of local tribes could marry each other. Thus, the Imilchil Marriage Festival was born.

In reality, the region consists of a collection of small villages, and when a young person seeks a partner, they cannot simply go out and look for one due to conservative social norms. The festival provides an opportunity for fathers to present their daughters and find husbands for them.

When a woman accepts a man’s marriage proposal, she says, “You have captured my liver” (Tq massa n uchemt). Up to 40 couples can take their vows on the same day.

The festival is vibrant with music, dancing, feasting, and colorful attire. The celebrations attract many tourists to the area, contributing to the local economy, yet there are concerns that foreign influence may affect the traditional rituals.