Meet Chaimae Bouzagaoui | Published author, poetess, spoken word artist, and Forensic Science alumna

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chaimae Bouzagaoui and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chaimae, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

I’ve had a passion for art and creative writing since I was a kid. I specifically got into poetry when I was about sixteen. That’s when I discovered that poetry was the best writing medium for me personally to express myself in. After that, I created my Instagram account, @memoirsofamoroccan, to share my poems with the world, and I published my debut poetry collection, Cherry Blossom Season, in March 2021. Even though I’m an independent artist, I’ve slowly been getting more recognition for my work since this year. Organizations involved in social justice causes have been inviting me to speak on important topics related to their causes, and they want to collaborate on different projects with me.

That’s when I decided to create an actual business out of Memoirs of a Moroccan and take my poetry to a higher level in the form of spoken word poetry. I also offer creative writing workshops, copywriting services occasionally, and I regularly speak at events related to social justice, diversity, and inclusiveness. As a Moroccan, Muslim woman, this is very imporant to me. Growing up, I never felt like I had a role model that I could relate to as a young girl of color. So, I decided to become that person for myself and others.

My primary art medium will always be written poetry, but by performing as a spoken word artist as well, I’m able to blow more life into my poems, and connect with the audience in front of me on a more intimate/personal level. As of April 2023, Memoirs of a Moroccan is officially a registered and protected brand owned by yours truly. I figured that the work I’m doing is very important and needed in society. Therefore, my work deserves to belong to a protected brand.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

Like I said, apart from being a published author/poetess, I offer creative writing workshops, copywriting services, and I speak at different events. Even though these are all different things, they have one major thing in common: authenticity. It’s the core of everything I do. Being true to myself at all times is very important to me. The only way to be original as an artist in my opinion, is if you’re true to yourself. I don’t want to bend to someone else’s definitions or opinions of me, nor should I have to. I have my own mind, heart, and soul, and I want that to be perceived in everything that I do. That includes my art and work. Keeping authenticity alive automatically sets me apart from others, but more importantly, keeps me close to myself.

With that being said, what I’m most proud of/excited about, is the fact that others often pick up on my genuine energy because of this. What’s the point of art if it doesn’t connect us? And the best part is that this is only the beginning. I can’t wait to see what else my journey as an artist has in store for me in the future!

I can’t lie though, it’s not always easy being true to yourself and dedicated to your craft in a world that is, dare I say, very superficial and materialistic for the most part. But by reminding myself that I’m serving a higher purpose bigger than myself, I’m able to pull through, and navigate through those challenges. I’ve learned that even though hustling for my art can be rough at times, it’s totally worth it. Actually, rough would be conforming to what I don’t believe in, and genuinely don’t stand for as an intellectual individual. I don’t have to do what others are doing, and vice versa. I let my own God-given mind and intuition guide me through life.

So, what I want the world to know about Memoirs of a Moroccan, is that it’s okay to be your true, beautiful, weird self. We need more of that in the world. Ironically, the more we’re true to ourselves, the more others feel safe to be themselves too. I put a little part of myself in every poem I write, so that it may touch others and make them feel seen, heard, and understood (something I often lacked in the past). My brand and work; my art are not just a snapshot of a single moment, but an experience for a lifetime.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love this question, because I love travel and adventure. I’m Moroccan by descent, but I was born and raised in the Netherlands. I have many international friends. If they’d ever visit me in the Netherlands, then I’d take them to all the museums in South Amsterdam, and my favorite art galleries and food spots in West and East Amsterdam. And if my friends would ever visit me in Morocco, I’d start of by showing them where I’m originally from (Nador, up North), and then go on a road trip with them from the Northern Riff area of Morocco all the way to the Southern cities to proudly share my heritage with them. 

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Definitely my family/friends for their unconditional love and support. Also, the following individuals that inspired me, and made me realize that I have a higher purpose on Earth: the prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him), Olympia LePoint, Maya Angelou, Tupac Amaru Shakur, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., Morgan Freeman, Charles Bukowski, Sylvia Plath, Anaïs Nin, Rupi Kaur, Khaled Hosseini, Paulo Coelho, and Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers. But above all: God. 

Website: https://www.amazon.com/Cherry-Blossom-Season-Chaimae-Bouzagaoui/dp/B08XLJ91C8/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/memoirsofamoroccan/

Linkedin: https://nl.linkedin.com/in/chaimae-bouzagaoui-235647189

Image Credits
Amina Seghier, Gheranimo Symor, Rida Hamdi, Junaynah Waiti, Samir Mekran