Support for Bihi and his family in Imsouane

Imsouane, a small authentic surfers paradise, is gone. Exactly one week ago the Moroccan authorities decided to demolish this beautiful little fisherman’s town, giving the locals only 24 hours to save all their belongings before entering with bulldozers to destroy everything they’ve built. Imsouane and its original charm is destroyed, making space for luxury hotels and resorts. The local community is left to their fate.

Brahim, a known local under his nickname Bihi, one of the pioneers of the beloved Imsouane (as it was), asked me to help him. Bihi grew up in a village in Tamazirt close to Imsouane beach. He started surfing 25 years ago, with the help of the very first tourists in the area that lent him a surfboard. In 2012, after two years of applying at the comune for a place to build a business, he opened his shop and restaurant as one of the first entrepreneurs in Imsouane. The last 12 years his surfcafé ‘Chez Bihi’ has been a place for locals and tourists to come together, to dine with homemade tajines, play traditional music, rent surf gear or take surf lessons.

Imsouane was getting more and more popular in the last 7 years. More shops opened and more surfers came, but the authentic vibe remained due to the locals, which made Imsouane special. Bihi’s place was one of the small businesses paying rent and taxes to the comune (not illegal like stated in various media sources), and providing a place to welcome tourists. With the upcoming Africa Cup which will be hosted by Morocco in 2025, and the World Cup hosted by Morocco in 2030, it seems that the government is starting some drastic changes to attract a different type of tourist. Destroying the authenticity of beautiful little villages like Imsouane. 

The demolition of Bihi’s place not only effects him personally, but also has a profound impact on his family and the community in Imsouane. With the uncertain future of Imsouane, Bihi now needs to find a piece of land to buy in order to start over, renting a place like he did will be to much of a risk considering what happened now. With your help he and his family can get back on their feet and try to rebuild a new house, restaurant and surfschool again. 

Words from Bihi

Horrible sadness and madness. Really need your love people. Imsouane is gone. The shop is gone. The restaurant is gone. My house is gone. My hope, future, family workplace, a place where locals and new friends meet is gone. I lost everything. Everything that I worked for in these last 12 years, lost in just one day.

I’ve met so many new friends from all over the world, made so many memories. I am devastated. I fear for the future of me and my family. I need your support. With this Gofundme platform I humbly ask for your assistance to raise the necessary funds to reconstruct ‘Chez Bihi’. Every contribution, no matter how small, will make a significant difference in the ability to rebuild and recover. I am grateful for any assistance you can provide and I look forward to the possibility to rebuild a new ‘Chez Bihi’ and welcome you again.

Love, Bihi