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Rabat – The world is just hours away from a new year and a new decade, and what better way to celebrate than to reminisce over the best moments of the year?
Morocco definitely has some great moments to remember from 2019, so let us take a look at the people who made them happen.
Celebrities, journalists, inventors, artists, and sports personalities have all been part of Morocco’s impressive year on the world stage. Here are just a few of the Moroccans that have made 2019 an incredible year:
Rachid Yazami, Morocco’s pride
A Fez native and world-renowned battery researcher, Rachid Yazami was honored this year on September 17, when he received the Arab Investor Award in the “Green Application category.”
The scientist accepted the award in a ceremony at the UNESCO headquarters. The award, an initiative of the International Form of Arab Investors (FIIA), recognizes his life-changing inventions.
Yazami has been a source of pride for Morocco for years and years, inventing new technology that received dozens of prizes, such as the Scientific Invention Award in November 2018, and the Charles Stark Draper award in 2014 from the Washington-based National Academy of Engineering.
The scientist also received a decoration on Throne Day in 2014 from King Mohammed VI.
Lahcen Oulhaj, the brilliant brain
On November 4, Moroccan student Lahcen Oulhaj amazed the world with his incredible, photographic memory after he won Russia’s international competition the “Incredible people.”
The Moroccan student outperformed several participants from across the world with his ability to instantly memorize anything.
The incredible people competition is a Russian competition inspired by the world-renowned show “The Brain.”
Majid El Bouazzaoui, the multiple prize winner
The name of Moroccan inventor Majid El Bouazzaoui also made international headlines in the global 16th International Exhibition of inventions after he won a gold medal in November.
El Bouazzaoui’s prize-winning invention was an “analog to digital converter.”
The invention is able to convert the sights and sounds from the real world that are captured in videos, pictures, and audio. into digital information. The invention helps telecom networks use 5G and other technologies more effectively.
The invention won several other gold medals at the International Competition of Invention iCan-2019 in Canada and the International Fair of Inventions in Istanbul (ISIF-2019).
El Bouazzaoui also won a gold medal for Morocco at IIIC in November 2018.
El Bouazzaoui received the Wissam Al Istihkak Al Watani (medal of national merit) of 2nd Rank on Throne Day in 2016 from King Mohammed VI.
Achraf Hakimi, Borussia Dortmund’s Atlas Lion
Achraf Hakimi, a Moroccan football player and soon-to-be father, is shining in Germany’s league, known as the Bundesliga, with his club Borussia Dortmund.
Several international football clubs are reportedly courting the player, who delivered astonishing performances on the pitch this year. Hakimi recently won has won the Young Arab Player awarded by Globe Soccer on December 29 in Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah Resort, UAE.
The 21-year-old player plays for Dortmund on loan from Real Madrid.
The football player, who is also key with Atlas Lions, is also competing for CAF’s Young African Player of the Year. CAF will announce the winners on January 7.
French magazine France Football recently listed Hakimi among the shortlist of players nominated for the 2019 Best Maghreb Player of the year award.
Two other Moroccans, Hakim Ziyech and Yunis Abdelhamid, also made it to the French magazine’s shortlist.
Fatima Zahra Akhyar, Morocco’s young star
The 2019 Arab Reading Challenge was marked this year by the participation of Morocco’s sweetheart, Fatima Zahra Akhyar, a Moroccan student from northern Morocco.
Akhyar was not able to win the competition, but reached the final and shone through her remarkable participation with her fluent efficiency in Fusha, or classical Arabiclanguage.
Youssef El Azzouzi, life-saver
Moroccan doctor Youssef El Azouzi made Moroccans across the world proud after winning the Grand Final of Arab Stars of Science Season 11 on November 8. The Moroccan doctor became the Arab world’s top innovator.
El Azouzi invented a blood flow modulator, a new system to help congestive heart failure patients by ensuring efficient blood flow through the heart.
Glory fighters dominate
On the same night that Moroccan heavyweight legend Badr Hari abandoned his rematch against Rico Verhoeven, two Moroccans shone at the Glory competition on December 21.
Both Moroccan kickboxers Zakaria Zouggary and Mohammed Jaraya won their fights.
The kickboxers defeated their rivals at the Glory Collision 2 event that featured Hari and Rico as the main event.
Zouggary, competing in the featherweight division, won by unanimous decision against American fighter Asa Ten Pow.
Jaraya also won his fight by unanimous decision against Indonesian fighter Massaro Glunder.
Moroccan Sim’Cup 2019 winners
A group of Moroccan medical students won the Sim’Cup 2019, an international competition for response to simulated medical emergencies.
The finals of the competition took place in the Czech capital, Prague on October 14. The students outperformed teams from Brazil, the Czech Republic, France, Ireland, and the UK.
An innovative trio
From November 6-8, Three Moroccan inventors shone with their brilliant minds at the BIXPO 2019 fair for energy transition and digital transformation in Gwangju, South Korea.
Younes Karfa Bekali and Abdallah Ayache won “The best invention” award, while their compatriot, Rachid Oulad Madani, earned a bronze medal in the same competition.
While this list features just a few of the reasons for Morocco’s pride in 2019, the country is full of stars across all sectors and fields.
Happy New Year to all the Moroccans who honored their country in 2019. We cannot wait to see what you do next year!
