Inzerki
Moroccan village and apiary
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Inzerki (Arabic: إنزركي; Tachelhit: ⵉⵏⵣⵔⴽⵉ) is a village in the rural commune of Argana, in the Sous valley of Morocco.[1] The village is located 82 km north of Agadir.[2]
Inzerki
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| Coordinates (Inzerki): 30.7990°N 9.1913°W | |
| Country |  Morocco |
| Region | Souss-Massa |
| Founded | 1520 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Brahim Chtoui |
| Population | |
• Estimate (2023) | 250 |
The village is known for having the oldest and largest apiary in the world.[3][4] Built in 1520, the apiary is composed of over 3,000 beehives.[5][6]
History
The apiary was built in 1520 using wood, rock, and adobe by a Shilha beekeeper seeking barakah (blessings) and counsel from a Sufi Sheikh, Sidi Mohamed ben El Hussain in the nearby village of Tafilaft.[6][7][8] The Sheikh prayed for the beekeeper's success, and advised him on scouting a location to lay the first beehive.[6]
Once he harvested honey from the hive, he visited the Sheikh's zawiya to gift the honey to the Sheikh.[6] The Sheikh divided the honey amongst his students at the zawiya and made further prayers for Allah to give barakah upon his beekeeping efforts.[6]
After visiting the hive, the Sheikh suggested to the beekeeper that he build an adobe hut to house multiple hives.[6] Upon hearing news of the Sheikh's visit, local villagers were eager to settle and construct their own huts to participate in the enterprise.[6]
The apiary was renovated in 2005 in collaboration with USAID and UNESCO, after two floods in 1990 and 1995 that nearly destroyed the apiary.[9][1] There currently are plans by the Taddart Inzerki Association to restore the apiary further.[9] As of 2013, the Inzerki apiary contained 2,160 hives on three floors.[10]