Maya, the Moroccan Dancer, In the Heart of A New Controversy

Moroccan Dancer Maya Dbaich

 The Moroccan dancer is known for shattering taboos and is undeniably one of the boldest women in Morocco, where a belly dancer is labeled a 'kehba' (whore).                                                                                                                                                                                             

Developing tough skin to the avalanches of criticism and attacks that trigger her, she seems not to care, even though she has already received many death threats in Morocco. She's safely moved to Los Angeles recently.

Maya Dbaich embarked on a belly dancing career in 2007 but only rose to stardom in the past few years, thanks to social media, and most notably when she appeared dancing in the company of Othman Mouline, known as "Moul Al Bandir" ("owner of Moroccan drum"). Before, her videos went viral online due to, in particular, her audacious and controversial dance moves, which ignited the audience.

She was the subject of a new controversy in Morocco when she took to Instagram to defend the Sheikha, which means a female member of a ruling Arab family in classical Arabic. But in Moroccan Darija, it means popular traditional folklore singer and dancer who has been part of the Moroccan cultural heritage for centuries.

L'Maktoub ('The Written') showed the actress Dounia Boutazout. She masterfully interpreted The Sheikha in a popular Moroccan TV series that aired during Ramadan, a big NO-NO, and created one of the biggest controversies during last Ramadan. I'll come back with the full details in my next article. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, Maya posted a video that was a tribute to the Sheikha, which is vital to Moroccan culture. She also posted an Instagram story in Arabic that read, "Imagine with me a nation that didn't like the Sheikh TV series is the same nation that makes a show like 'Elite' to #1 on Netflix during Ramadan, haha #SocialHypocrisy."

I couldn't agree more with her because when it comes to anything local like this Moroccan show, we Moroccans criticize to the brink of destruction. But a show like 'Elite' is Western, full of profanity, and sex scenes, including LGBT+ scenes, which is illegal in Morocco. They've been proudly binge-watching, causing it to jump to the #1 show on Netflix in Morocco.

If you don't call this the effect of white supremacy on people drooling over their dreams of getting a foreign visa out of the country, then go figure. While you're putting your brain thinking about it, the Moroccan drama continues…

By Simo Ben