This concerns the trees along Mohammed V Street. I do not know their exact name in Arabic, and I am not entirely sure of their French name either, but I believe they belong to the Tiliaceae family. Until we confirm it, let’s simply call them Tiloula.

In an interview, the new president, Maimoun, stated that he intends to remove these trees because they “create too much shade” and replace them with palm trees. However, he added that he would not do so before hearing the opinions of the residents.

In another interview, the former president, Merzouki, said that after losing the Sanadiqa, the only thing left for us to be proud of are these trees.

Hamida Ennajjar recalls the days when these trees were planted. He explained that the sidewalk of the boulevard used to be lined with mulberry trees. Children would climb them to pick mulberries, and everything was fine… until the son of the director of the postal center fell and broke his leg. The director filed a complaint demanding the enforcement of the law that prohibits planting fruit trees in the city. His request was granted, and all the mulberry trees were uprooted—except those near the Kzir. They were replaced with Tiloula trees.

Had the child who broke his leg been the son of a café owner, or had the postal director’s son not been so mischievous, we would still be enjoying mulberries today. And regarding the law that forbids fruit trees, it seems we will have to wait until an olive branch blinds the eye of some official’s son for it to be enforced.

 

Amar Jelloul 2012