The Moroccan town of Safi is a busy metropolis that not only is the centre for the production of ceramics and phosphates, it is also where the country's sardine industry is located. There is a large port area where hundreds of vessels and even more fishermen go out into the cold Atlantic waters in search of fish. You can buy amazing fresh fish in Safi, and not just copious amounts of the humble sardine.
The port is split into two zones. One is accessible by the public and this is where you can buy fish or just watch the fishermen at work, fixing their nets and preparing for the next voyage. The other side is where boats are built and repaired and is not open to the public.
I made three visits to the port during my last stay in Safi and visited all the areas and found the shipyard the most interesting. I managed to get quite a lot of shots before finally being stopped and then questioned by the police. It wasn't a big problem though and a warning was just issued. By then, I had already got what I had come for.
It is fascinating to watch boats actually being constructed and I was told that a typical fishing boat will around half a million euros. On top of this it will need to be constantly maintained and also need some proper repairs each year.
Today I publish some images taken at the fishermen's side of the port. The next entry will focus on the shipyard.
The town of Safi on Morocco's Atlantic coast is the country's capital for the production of ceramics. If you walk through the old medina and come out the other side then you will find the area where all the products are made. You can see pottery being produced at literally every stage and the people here are friendly and don't mind visitors at all. It is also a good location for photography as the area is situated just above the old city and you can get a great panorama in front of you. Here are some images I took back in October 2011.
That’s why we rock the kufiyeh, cuz it’s patriotic. The kufiyeh, the kufiyeh is Arabic. That’s why we rock the kufiyeh, our essential identity. The kufiyeh, the kufiyeh is Arabic. Come on, throw up the kufiyeh (throw that kufiyeh up for me). The kufiyeh, the kufiyeh is Arabic.
This track from British-Palestine rapper Shadia Mansour is top draw revolutionary hip hop. The kufiyeh is the emblematic Arab headscarf whose symbolism has been devalued by those who think wearing one is just a cool fashion statement. Good to see a guest appearance from the brilliant M1 from Dead Prez, whose verse is pure fire.
My choice will have to be Lowkey's long-awaited "Soundtrack To The Struggle" which finally appeared but still has to surface as a physical product (after all the hype and expectation you would have thought that they would have got that sorted). Most of his killers were included but a couple of tunes fell a little short. As a searing political soundtrack of the times we live in though, it is an unrivalled set.
2. Re-issue Album Of The Year:
This one is an easy choice. Kourosh Yaghmaie's amazing collection "Back From The Brink" featured the most awesome pre-revolutionary psychedelic rock from Iran I have ever heard. It also wins praise for its brilliant packaging and super cheap price. Yaghmaie's name needs to be universally recognised for such wonderful music. Running it close though was the brilliant "Nippon Guitars" collection from Takeshi Terauchi which was chock-full of Japanese surf guitar and psych workouts. Other great compilations worth searching out include "Those Shocking Shaking Days" (Indonesian early 1970s psychedelia); "Life Is Dance" (more Lollywood musical gems); and a short but sweet self-titled retrospective from the Persian chanteuse Googoosh.
3. Gig Of The Year:
2011 was another great year for live concerts. I managed to see my old buddies Skindred five times with the three shows that I witnessed on their Union Black tour being stupendous. Gilad Atzmon and Jadid Ensemble all in Bradistan were wonderful occasions. There were also a slew of high octane punk gigs of which the Angelic Upstarts and Oi Polloi took my plaudits. However, this year there is a joint winner. First was the sheer heart-warming brilliance of Bradistan Reggae Sunsplash from August which provided an inspiring line-up with the community spirit of this town and its inhabitants. Second was Syrian legend Omar Souleyman's gig in Bradistan which put a big smile on the faces of all who attended.
4. Song Of The Year
This is a new category for this year and I award it to Lowkey for his killer combination with M1 (from Dead Prez) and Black The Ripper entitled "Obama Nation Part Two". Part One was superb but this reprise even bettered it. Righteous anger and indignation at the US President and his country's imperialism has rarely sounded so powerful.
5. Performer Of The Year:
I am making an unchanged choice this year and handing the title once again to Skindred frontman Benji Webbe. Skindred gigs are always an event and Benji is the catalyst at the heart of it all.
6. Film Of The Year:
I only made a handful of trips to the cinema this year mainly due to a lack of time, high ticket prices and a fairly underwhelming selection of choices. The powerful and moving "Incendies" which featured two siblings' search for the truth of their mother's life in civil war strewn Lebanon made a big impact on me. Some critics commented that the twist was stretched just a little too far but it was still mind-blowing with a incredible performance by Lubna Azabal.
7. Documentary Of The Year:
"The Black Power Mixtape 1968-75". This uneven yet revealing documentary about black American revolutionary leaders made by a Swedish crew was very illuminating and really gave the viewer a sense of those heady times and the key personalities.
8. TV Channel Of The Year:
Every year running there is only one winner and that is "Al Jazeera English". Their live transmissions of the Arab revolutions, particularly the battles in Tahrir Square in Cairo, were unmissable viewing. Their only flaw was the poor coverage of the revolution in Bahrain, the suppression of which was aided by the channel's owners.
9. Highlight Of The Year
My main highlight would be my photographic work being recognised locally and ending up being featured in an exhibition would be impossible to top. This has given me extra impetus and focus as a photographer and I am now concentrating on my Middle Aged Punks series which has made a good start and I plan to develop it further in 2012.
10. Scumbags Of The Year:
Israel. No more needs to be said.
11. Heroes Of The Year:
The youth of Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen and Bahrain in particular who rose up against their respective dictatorships.
12. My Blog Highlight Of The Year:
There have been many brilliant moments and events this year. I don't have one overall highlight but when it comes to my city Bradistan, I will have to mention the brilliant Vaisakhi procession that was a credit to the city; the powerful theatre of both "The Mill - City Of Dreams" and "It's Like He's Knocking"; and last but not least, the awesome Bradistan Reggae Sunsplash. A big thanks also to all those who posed for me and my camera in 2011.
JC leads the band these days who operate as a power trio with original bassist Chris Payne and the former drummer from The Damned, Rat Scabies. They tour regularly across the UK and Europe. He also works as a solo artist and has composed music for films and TV.
This portrait was taken last month, the day after The Members had played a concert in the nearby town of Hebden Bridge. It is the latest entry in my Middle Aged Punks series.
Back in October I made a week's visit to the coastal town of Safi in Morocco to visit my in-laws. As is usual I carried my trusty camera with me and came back with a decent haul of pictures. I have photographed the small old town (or medina in arabic) a few times before but I always like to keep going back and seeing what and who I can find. These images were taken over the course of a couple of afternoons.
I started my Middle Aged Punks photographic project back in May and slowly but surely it has taken shape. There are so many figures that I would love to photograph and last month I was privileged to take some portraits of the greatest punk rock drummer of all time, Rat Scabies.
Rat is known as being part of the original line-up of one of the best-ever punk groups, The Damned. Back in the days he had a reputation as being a wild man of the music, a bit like a punk Keith Moon. I first met him back in 1978 when The Damned had reformed as The Doomed for a short time before reverting back to their original name. He was indeed a larger than life figure and musically-wise deserves all his plaudits for being an icon of the time.
Nowadays, at fifty-four years of age, Rat still loves playing live music and keeping active in the scene. It has been fourteen years since he left The Damned and now is the rhythmic powerhouse of The Members. Despite his image, Rat is a softly spoken and humble character who doesn't crave or need to be in the limelight. He can hold his own on pretty much any subject, betraying a clear intelligence and an insightful point of view. Rat also has a deep interest in the Holy Grail and has even been the subject of a book about his search for it called "Rat Scabies And The Holy Grail".
