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| Mohamed Benjelloun |
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Who better than Mohamed Benjelloun to speak of his own family? He states, in a book devoted to him in his country of origin, Morocco: ‘In memory of my parents, Abdelouahab and Fatima. To my wife Marie to whom I owe so many things. To my devoted children, Ismaïl, Hakim and Nabil.’
Deeply religious and united, together with his family Mohamed Benjelloun makes a stand. Despite his origins in Fez, which date back over twelve centuries, he became a self-made man, facing adversity with determination. Mohamed Benjelloun owes his success to a sturdy character, as well as a firm will and immense capacity for work. He remains aware that earthly things are but transient and as a fervent Muslim, he knows that his wife and children are his most tangible assets.
The Benjellouns are descendants of the village of Jilane (Ghilane-Kilane), very close to Kom in Iran, a noble family who lived in Landalous for centuries. They finally emigrated to Fez, after the fall of the city of Grenada. A cultural Mecca, the city of Fez is still a source of inspiration in which the Benjelloun family has rallied together and firmly anchored its roots.
The Benjelloun family has numbered many learned and lettered characters, as illustrated in the book dedicated to the family and as indeed underlined today by local historians. The Benjelloun cemetery in Fez is also a reminder of the presence of several worthy names among the ancestors of Mohamed Benjelloun.. |
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