Morocco’s Beloved Bookseller
- A viral World Book Day post profiled Mohamed Aziz, Morocco’s oldest bookseller, who began with nine books in 1963. - Aziz has read over 4,000 books across languages and his story earned over 2,100 likes online. - The post’s recurring line, “a book is a gift you can open again and again,” circulated widely as part of April 23 celebrations (x.com) (x.com).
On World Book Day, April 23, a post about Mohamed Aziz — Rabat’s veteran bookseller — went viral online. (news18.com) Aziz began selling books in 1963 with nine titles laid out on a rug in Rabat’s medina and opened a permanent shop by 1967. (moroccoworldnews.com) Profiles say Aziz has read more than 4,000 books across Arabic, French, English and Spanish and spends six to eight hours a day reading. (moroccoworldnews.com) The World Book Day shares often included Garrison Keillor’s line, “A book is a gift you can open again and again,” which circulated widely on April 23. (goodreads.com) Online accounts also repeat Aziz’s practice of leaving books unattended and his remark: “Those who can’t read don’t steal books, and those who can, aren’t thieves.” (moroccoworldnews.com) Aziz was orphaned at six, left school at 15 because textbooks were unaffordable, and has described bookselling as his personal “revenge” on poverty. (moroccoworldnews.com) A 2019 profile recorded him working 12-hour days, selling one or two copies a day from a five-by-five-foot shop on Mohammed V Avenue in Rabat. (moroccoworldnews.com) Renewed April 23 attention amplified earlier features and social clips — related TikTok videos about Aziz have drawn hundreds of thousands of likes — and Aziz’s pledge stands: “I’ll be here till everyone can read.” (tiktok.com)
