Ahmed Mohamed Nafai, Secretary-General of the Sahrawi Writers, Journalists, and Literati Union, affirmed that the Moroccan occupation continues its efforts to erase Sahrawi cultural identity by targeting its rich history and heritage.
In a statement reported Thursday by the Sahrawi Press Agency (SPS), Nafai noted that these attempts “go beyond erasing Sahrawi memory to distorting their culture—a core element of the Sahrawi people’s existence—requiring unity and cooperation to confront and protect it.”
He stressed the importance of preserving Sahrawi cultural heritage, describing it as “an integral part of national identity and a living memory,” warning that its loss would sever the historical link between generations, threatening the cultural foundation of the Sahrawi people.
Nafai called these actions “a colonial assault aimed at wiping out Sahrawi cultural landmarks and destroying ancestral legacies,” urging urgent measures to safeguard this heritage. He emphasized that “Sahrawis must take responsibility for preserving their legacy,” advocating collaboration with cultural committees, libraries, and modern technology to document and pass it down.
He praised achievements like the publication of poetry collections by Beibouh El Hajj and Sid Ibrahim Ajdoud, calling them “vital steps in raising cultural awareness and shielding Sahrawi poetry from ongoing attempts to diminish or marginalize it.”
Concluding, Nafai underscored that protecting Sahrawi heritage is a collective duty requiring unified efforts from all stakeholders, adding that “every contribution, no matter how small, helps counter the occupation’s attempts to erase Sahrawi identity and ensure its survival for future generations.”
