In the 11th century, the enchanting Berber queen Zaynab Nefzaouia mastered the art of commercial and political negotiation. Today, she tells us about her expansion plans for the Almoravid empire. Its territory included Morocco, the Western Sahara, Mauritania, part of modern Mali and western Algeria, as well as the south of the Iberian Peninsula. There was no city worthy of this empire. Accompanied by her husband, she nourished every day the project of a bubbling capital: Marrakesh. 

Highly cultured, bold and determined, she was also involved in the empire's internal affairs. She breathed new life into women's lives: some were authorised to become involved in politics, to teach, and there were even two women doctors in her time! 

Zaynab and her attentive servant Kaïna give us access to Berber matriarchal traditions, where women were revered as guarantors of well-being and beauty. Have a good listening!

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