Khaïr-eddine, Mohammed (1941-95). Berber writer from the south of Morocco whose early work Agadir (1967), taking its inspiration from the earthquake which destroyed that town, gained much notoriety because of its modernistic techniques and its iconoclasm. Its apparent attack on the monarchy led to a long period of living abroad for its author. Khaïr-Eddine's later work has been more autobiographical in tone and is extensively concerned with his Berber roots. Une vie, un rêve, un peuple, toujours errants (1978) is based on the traditional story-telling and legends of the Sousse. In Légende et vie d'Agoun'chich (1984) Khaïr-Eddine relates the story of an outlaw figure of this area whose demise coincided with the arrival of the French. This novel is one of the very few francophone works in Morocco to deal directly with French colonialism. Khaïr-Eddine returned to Morocco in 1980.
[Jackie Kaye]
