JUNE 2018

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4,000 moroccans are thought to live in North Kensington

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Moroccans first started coming to London in the late sixties and early seventies; most of those who settled along the Golborne Road came from Larache, a small town near Tangier. Everyone in Larache knows about Ladbroke Grove.

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The small fishing town boomed in economy over the years due to people setting up back home; building homes and thriving businesses. Initially Moroccans were invited to come over to the UK, contracted to work in catering and the NHS, some from Gibraltar, others from Northern Morocco: Tangier; Larache, which at the time had just gained independence from the Spanish protectorate (1912-1956). It was the affinity to Spain that influenced the decision to settle in North Kensington, the café culture, the food – these Moroccan’s were familiar with the Spanish language and, as the first settlers, they dictated the area and others joined them. At that time, Golborne Road was also very cheap and there was lots of shared housing for young men who were here to work. 

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Fast forward 50 years west london witnessed the Grenfell Tower fire where 65% of the deceased were reported to be muslim, majority from Morocco – Larache. We went on a photography retreat with a group to mark the one year anniversary