Guelmim Beads

I've looked over several thick guidebooks on Morocco in order to find out more about  Guelmim. Very little is said about this city of over 100,000 people. The cities of Fez, Marrakech, and Tagiers are given the most attention since that is where the tourists flock to visit the souks with their merchants.

I cannot say that I saw any tourists in Guelmim proper. I did see some French tourists in oasis camping areas in the country side, but they really kept to themselves.  Guelmim is known for its nickname, the Gateway to the Sahara. This is where the great desert begins that stretches across the African continent. It is also known for its camel souk, the largest on the African continent. More on that later. 

Guelmim is also known for its colorful beads that became a cultural fad in the US during the hippy era of the late 1960s. The story is one of globalization. Originally made in Venice, Italy, these beads were a commodity used in the Saharan trade routes. For students of world history, this does not seem extraordinary. Luxury items have been flowing across continents for thousands of years, and these beads were very beautiful.  I can also see how hippies were attracted to them. The carefree Berber nomadic lifestyle was something that the hippies admired. The beads also have an exotic look that fits their aesthetic.

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