The Modern Majlis - Third Spaces as Cultural Anchors for Global Communities Third Spaces Abroad - Building Communities Beyond Borders

RIGHT THIS WAY Yassine shouted breathlessly. I followed him, no questions asked. At this point, the 40-degree heat has taken a toll on me. I was tired and jetlagged but also filled with curiosity. It was late July in Marrakech, Morocco, and I was on a solo trip for a week and a half in the Red City. I had heard before visiting how friendly and welcoming locals are towards tourists (well, at least the respectful ones) so I followed Yasine, a local teenage barber in the Medina who I had befriended in front of my hostel. We navigated ourselves through hot and sandy alleyways in search of Yasine’s elder uncle. He’d told me they were always at this spot near a big abandoned bakery turned hangout spot. He went on to say how many townspeople and youngsters hung out here as it was away from all the noise of the popular hustle and bustle of the Jemaa el-Fnaa and in a nice shaded area away from the desert heat. You may be wondering who follows random strangers down strange and foreign roads, but I still don’t have an exact reason, and that’s okay. Although I acknowledge the danger behind this, I wanted to see how local people spent their time. How are people here so cheerful and energetic in such rough conditions? My curiosity has led me to all types of situations, good and bad, but I just had a feeling about this. I knew there was more than meets the eye. The Moroccan Majlis Let me familiarize you with the term Majlis.It is derived from the Arabic term place of sitting and is deeply ingrained in various North African and Middle Eastern countries, where they are the focal point in any home and are a sacred social space.Its design reflects the country’s diverse history, combining Berber, Arab, and Andalusian influences to create a distinct and welcoming atmosphere. What does that mean exactly? It can just come down to sitting spaces where community members gather to discuss events, and issues, drink tea, or play simple card games. They are typically large spaces with carpet...