– History:
– Casablanca is a North African city with a Spanish name.
– Dar Khalifa may be the original white house that gave Casablanca its name.
– The white house on the coast was a landmark for mariners pinpointing Anfa.
– After Anfa was rebuilt, the white house became the preferred name for the city.
– The property’s name, The Caliphs House, suggests its age dates back to at least the thirteenth century.
– Current Occupation:
– Dar Khalifa was purchased by Tahir Shah in 2003 and renovated.
– The property was in the middle of a shanty town and had been unoccupied for ten years.
– Shah hired exorcists to cleanse the house due to locals’ beliefs in haunting by jinns.
– The shanty town was cleared between 2014 and 2021, with Dar Khalifa now surrounded by upscale apartment buildings.
– Shah’s life at Dar Khalifa is detailed in his books, including “The Caliphs House” and “In Arabian Nights.”
– Headquarters for The Scheherazade Foundation:
– Dar Khalifa is being renovated to serve as the headquarters for The Scheherazade Foundation.
– Artisans and craftsmen from across Morocco are working on intricate designs for the headquarters.
– Storytelling and Teaching Stories:
– Tahir Shah, from a family of storytellers, has studied traditional teaching stories for years.
– Teaching stories are seen as containing deeper meanings, likened to a nutritious experience.
– The Scheherazade Foundation aims to publish traditional tales and host a storytelling festival at Dar Khalifa.
– See Also:
– Category: Shah family
– References:
– Articles from sources like The New York Times, The Guardian, and Morocco World News provide further insights into Dar Khalifa’s history and current state.
