North Africa, the Evolution of Self, and the Emergence of the Fifth element.

North Africa, the Evolution of Self, and the Emergence of the Fifth element.

With the laws of nature avoidable, the face of North Africa has and will naturally continue to change. The region, despite its recent struggles has proven its ability to observe such natural laws wisely.
When following Tunisia, the scale and nature of the Egyptian revolution brought many unique qualities to a popular revolt. The people toppled a deeply rooted and corrupt government. They did this with superb balance. It was a movement Balanced by specific demand on one hand, and enormous restraint of the remarkable power of the people on the other.  It was testimony to the collective wisdom and grace of these people.
Indeed, moving forward there is no substitute for this kind of balance, not just political but more important appears to be cultural balance. What we see in North Africa is nature restoring its true balance by wrestling the autonomous spirit of man from the grip of tyranny both cultural and governmental.   
Devine; Healthy individualism is the spore from which innovation, spiritual and ultimately all aspects of human Evolution spawns.
Egypt and morocco being  the two most culturally influential countries of  North Africa and arguably the entire middle east, these two countries are our focus in the case for  cultural balance between healthy collectivism and the individual’s right to dignified self-discovery and self-expression as these are all critical elements of a viable nation’s progression.

Despite the apparent political challenges, the modern origins of these countries greatest challenges seem to be embedded in an outbound culture. A culture  which has all but erased  many of the key aspects of the “individual’s” life which  Ultimately, effects the life of our  society’s .

Strong family values pervade every aspect Egyptian and Moroccan life. 
Yet in these strong values a line drawn heavily at the family’s door step, 
One sees the undesired consequences of extremes.
Descriptively, while the inside of homes is adorned with the best a family can muster, the whole community suffers severe neglect at the municipal infrastructure and street levels.
The physical environment in and around the streets implies more than piles of burning garbage and consequently un-breathable air; it is a visible representation of a lack of institutions and effective community organization.
    As a result, the current physical environment contradicts the objective of our very north African cultural enfaces on building prosperous families.
For clarity we look at the substance rather than the shadow it casts. Until now we see both country’s cultural narratives and organized religions have been the institutional equivalent of government.
In fact, religion is viably the only form of citizenry. For all sects, the sense of belonging to a community and having a platform to contribute one’s self to community exists almost exclusively within the religious realm.
Yet we know in a modern world entire communities spring up around every topic known to mankind. Soccer, culinary arts, science, and martial arts, and philosophy. Yet still we find ourselves bound to a Nobel, yet, in worldly terms; limited community of religious.
Within both the Maghreb and Sahara regions the majority of spiritual, intellectual and material capitals all move within culturally appropriate religious confines.  While Religious practice continues a path of moral law, of right and wrong, inevitably its extremes have pushed the individual away from the community, as it until now has not afforded the youth the dignity of self-discovery.
Instead it has posed great obstacle in the individual moving closer toward one’s own true self-knowledge. It appears that above all factors this is a leading cause to the current massive swell of discontent within the society.
The inquiry’s into illumination of  “self-knowledge” through self-expression is occurring by the millions.
  This collective longing for the dignity of self-discovery, has clearly reached a critical mass, revealing the sprouts of a genuine cultural renaissance.
While there is an absence of resources to nourish and quench the curiosities and ambitions of the youth;
It is this braking loose from the confines of the old culture... which is the well from which resource will spring ,supplying institutions and platforms and resources to  serve the many needs of our populations growing in size and complexity.

Until now the individual faced an uphill battle in discovering and expressing his or her individuality. This was especially true when it did not conform to the current culture, style, customs and worldview. Yet we understand that forward thinking individuals are the bases upon which like-minded communities and institutions are built.
In the case of the majority of countries within the Saharan region we can see very clearly that oppression of self-exploration have been sure to fail.

It is said that a people get the government they deserve. If this is true then no change of power can liberate people.
Only a change in the consciousness of the people can guarantee the removal of tyranny and bring balance to power.

Be it political, economic or religious, the majority of these societies naturally seek to remove obstacles to the individuals’ relationship with “self” not out of selfishness, but rather out of the need to share the enormous wealth that resides within.
How, when, and where to create laws for society are a moral and philosophical debate in which the Maghreb (MENA) populations will be eternally engaged.

Yet it is a debate in which, Ones truth cannot be made by devoiding another of his or her own.
If the age old saying is true “As above, so below”
Then in all relationships …From the anatomy of an atom, to the male and female, from the powerful to the powerless; these complex relationships reveal wisdom of cosmic proportions. 
There is an undeniable benefit in the synergy caused by the individual’s own “truth/ nature” and their natural contribution to the whole of society.

North African societies especially Morocco embraces its diversity
. Jewel of Islam home to Judaism, Sufism, Christianity and even Buddhism. It has always been a region of multiple ethnicities, i.e. The Berbers, Twarege, Arabs, and blacks from the sub-Sahara. Morocco has historically been and continues to be a cross roads of the world. It is clear the younger generation is reaching far beyond political constitutions, and self-evidence. Reaching beyond the basic laws of nature, toward the "fifth element", the unseen manifestation in society. 

Devine; Healthy individualism is the spore from which, ultimately all human Evolution spawn.
When looking universally at cultures, not just North African, but also that of all nations, It is impossible to deny the overwhelming experience of a mysterious yet specific existence of the  “ONE”  and our “ONNESS”.  “The Masses and its individuals”
.  This relationship in its balance and full expression is the fuel for evolution, the emergence THE FIFTH ELEMENT.  Where “A healthy individual like the stone of the fruit is a societal treasure”.


By
Oziris Abdou