In an academic endeavor that transcends borders and cultures, two researchers at the Faculty of Translation and Interpretation at the University of Granada have completed a scholarly Spanish translation of the acclaimed travel literature book Moroccan Travel Caravan by Egyptian author and traveler Ashraf Aboul-Yazid. This project was conducted as part of the university’s academic activities for the 2019/2020 academic year, under the supervision of the esteemed professor Dr. Ahmed Kissami Mbarki.
The original Arabic work, which documents Aboul-Yazid’s evocative travels through Morocco, presented a series of rich cultural references and regionally nuanced expressions — elements that often pose significant challenges in cross-cultural translation. Recognizing this complexity, researchers Astrid Ruz Marzo and Alba Grandal Galeote undertook the task not only as a linguistic exercise, but as a simulated professional mission, approaching the work with scholarly rigor and an eye for the subtleties of both language and culture.
The translation process extended beyond mere textual equivalence. It became a deep interpretive project involving the careful unpacking of cultural codes embedded in the narrative. From local Moroccan customs and geographic landmarks to idiomatic Arabic expressions, the translators were tasked with rendering the text intelligible and engaging for a Spanish-speaking audience without sacrificing its original flavor and depth.
Central to their methodology was the development of a comprehensive transcription system, along with the compilation of a dedicated glossary. This glossary cataloged culturally specific and exotic terms that might otherwise challenge the reader unfamiliar with North African heritage. In doing so, the project not only aimed at translation fidelity but also at accessibility and reader immersion.
Teamwork proved essential throughout the endeavor. Both researchers collaborated closely to ensure that no cultural detail was overlooked, offering critical feedback to one another and refining their interpretations in tandem. Their shared efforts culminated in the division of the book’s translation into two distinct but complementary parts: the first section was presented by Alba Grandal Galeote, and the second by Astrid Ruz Marzo — each providing a segment of the narrative that was examined, contextualized, and rendered for a Spanish readership. Their work, guided and assessed by Dr. Mbarki, reflected the standards of a professional translation commission.
Originally published in Arabic by Al Mutawassit Publications (Milan) and Dar Al Suwaidi Publishing and Distribution (Abu Dhabi), Moroccan Travel Caravan is a 104-page journey through some of Morocco’s most storied cities and landscapes, including Ouarzazate, Meknes, the Ziz Oasis, Errachidia, Sijilmasa, Chefchaouen, Tetouan, and Larache. The book forms the third volume in Aboul-Yazid’s growing travel literature series, which also includes The Biography of a Traveler, A River on Travel, and later, Damascene Days, published by House of Lines and Shadows.
A prolific writer, Ashraf Aboul-Yazid has published 44 books across multiple genres — from poetry and novels to critical studies, children’s literature, and translations. His works have reached a truly global audience, with poetry collections and novels translated into Korean, English, Russian, German, Spanish, Persian, Turkish, Sindhi, and Malayalam. The translation of Moroccan Travel Caravan into Spanish is yet another testament to the universal appeal of his literary voice and to the growing importance of intercultural dialogue through the arts.
This academic project at the University of Granada not only introduced Spanish readers to Aboul-Yazid’s poetic and reflective travel prose but also highlighted the evolving role of academic institutions in fostering literary exchange and cultural understanding. Through the careful and collaborative work of its researchers, a Moroccan journey written in Arabic found new life on the shelves — and in the imaginations — of Spanish readers
