The 23rd of Ramadan each year marks the solemn anniversary of the passing of the spiritual leader of the Ait Baamrane tribe, the late Si Ahmad Derham, who left this world on Thursday, July 15, 1982, corresponding to the 23rd of Ramadan in the year 1403 of the Hijri calendar. This day resonates with the memories of the significant figures from the Saharan regions, particularly in the city of Laayoune, who fondly remember the noble qualities, kindness, and generosity that characterized Si Ahmad Derham. Born in 1910 in Taloost, a village within the Ait Baamrane region, Si Ahmad Derham amassed his wealth through trade in the late 1930s and played a pivotal role in the development of his area despite the challenging political climate of the time.
Si Ahmad Derham's relatives and acquaintances were deeply influenced by his principles and ethics, as he was a self-made man with a profound love for knowledge and an unwavering sense of solidarity. His ability to impart knowledge in various forms was one of the core values that defined his character. With his strong personality, he initiated and fostered a spirit of social solidarity aimed at building a better life for the inhabitants of Ait Baamrane and the wider Sahara. This commitment culminated in the establishment of the Si Ahmad Derham Foundation for Social Work, initiated by his children, to reinforce and perpetuate the invaluable legacy of his spirit.
Si Ahmad Derham's life was significantly shaped by the major events that marked the history of the region, in which he himself played a crucial role. His memory and the life he led remain deeply ingrained in the minds of the local population, who continue to hold him in high regard and respect to this day. Si Ahmad Derham hailed from the lineage of the Zaouia of Ibn Abdullah Al-Sassi in the Huz region of Marrakech, a group that emerged to combat Spanish encroachment during the 16th century. He received a pure religious education, memorizing the Quran, which earned him the title of Si Ahmad (with 'Si' being a traditional title in Souss to denote learned individuals).
At the tender age of sixteen, Si Ahmad migrated to northern Morocco, to Tangier and Tetouan, which were under Spanish occupation at the time. He toiled diligently for several years, accumulating wealth that he later smuggled back to Ait Baamrane hidden among his clothing. In 1932, he settled in Tarfaya and established a small business. However, Tarfaya, known as 'Capi Ubi,' was at that time a testing ground for Aéropostale, a company that would later become Air France, where adventurers and visionaries like Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and Mermoz gathered to work. During the late 19th century, Donald Mackenzie founded the 'North West Africa Company' (1875-1890) there, a tribute to the well-known Company of Zand and its grand agricultural projects in the desert, which were rooted in a spirit of adventure and potential, even though many of its plans ultimately did not come to fruition.
On this occasion, we raise our hands in prayer to remember the struggle of Si Ahmad Derham. May God renew His mercy upon him and his wives. Amen, amen, O Lord of the worlds.
As reported by satv.ma.
