Two years ago, Mohammed Laghmari was one of the young writers in our MLP Short Story Competition. His modern retelling of a frightening Moroccan myth of "the mule of the cemetery" was one of the winning stories that year. In May 2024, we were so happy he joined us in Fes for the National Gathering of Student Writers in English, with his counterparts from around the country. Mohammed reflects on what these experiences have meant to him.
by Mohammed Laghmari
A couple years ago, while in my 3rd year of high school, I had just learned that I had to get my appendix removed. My then-English teacher proposed that I participate in a writing competition organized by the "Morocco Library Project"of Oliveseed to kill the boredom and anxiety.
I wrote a story about the Moroccan myth of Baghlat Lakbour, which can be translated into English as "the mule of the cemetery." Set in the village of Tafraout in the Anti-Atlas Mountains, this story has floated around for as long as anyone can remember. It is believed that this half-woman, half-mule creature would kill any man she met who displayed signs of fear or cowardice. My story was about three college-age boys who dared to look for Baghlat Lakbour in the cemetery. And guess what? I was one of the three prize winners (2nd place)!
At that time, it meant the world to me. I had just come out of a painful operation and didn't get to celebrate my birthday. The news was a huge morale boost, and it encouraged me to do better academically and to continue writing in my free time. Now my story is published in the 2nd anthology of the MLP Short Story Competition.
The day my story was recognized by my teachers and the Oliveseed MLP leaders
Two years later...
In May of 2024, I finally got to celebrate that moment with Oliveseed, at the first-ever National Gathering of Student Writers in English, held in Fes. It was awesome sharing that special moment with students from all over the country; students who appreciate the art of writing and help keep it alive in the era of everything digital. The joy of speaking with people my age or younger about our shared passion to write was unlike anything else.
I was truly thrilled to take part in this occasion to support and empower young, promising writers in Morocco. It was also really special networking with teachers and professional writers from all across the country and with visitors from the U.S., Kenya, and Europe. I shared memories with everyone as we got to attend workshops held by the writers and listen to speeches from professionals from across the country and beyond. All while reminiscing on the amazing experience that was the Short Story Writing Competition by MLP.
I'd like to thank everyone who was involved in that amazing project, and mostly Mr. Larbi Arbaoui and Ms. Barb Mackraz. I hope to see more and more Moroccan students flourish and grow through writing, just like I did and still do.
"They waited for a few minutes, but nothing out of the ordinary happened. At least not until a beautiful woman appeared out of the shadows. Had she not been standing right before their eyes, they could have sworn that, with her long, silky-smooth brown hair and a gorgeous face, she was not real. She looked like a woman straight out of one's most beautiful dreams, or nightmares..."
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