Moroccan Youth Between Protest and Repression: Thematic Analysis of the Film “Raise Your Voice” by Nabil Ayouch

Authors

  • Rania Mjahad Department of English, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fes, Morocco https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9676-9248
  • Ahmed Boukranaa Department of English, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fes, Morocco https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7026-8787
  • Abderrahim El Karfa Department of English, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fes, Morocco
  • Kebir Sandy Department of English, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fes, Morocco

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32996/jhsss.2025.7.1.5

Keywords:

film, hip-hop, Moroccan Cinema, Moroccan youth, rap music, thematic analysis

Abstract

Hip-hop and rap music are frequently associated with youth culture. Nobody can deny that many people, particularly the youth, prefer Moroccan hip-hop and rap because they appeal to and represent their anger and dissatisfaction over their country. Nevertheless, some believe this music and culture genre lacks moral values as it uses street language (slang and vulgar terms) and sometimes addresses taboo subjects such as politics. Therefore, this article attempts to examine how hip-hop and rap genres of music are depicted as the outlet or a voice for the oppressed young generation living under severe and harsh socioeconomic situations via using a thematic film analysis of the Moroccan movie Raise Your Voice (2021) to recognise the dominant thematic patterns utilised to reveal the disappointment and the anger of Moroccan young generation over their country. The major interrelated themes generated by the film are gender inequality, religion, terrorism, and tyrannical society.

Author Biographies

  • Rania Mjahad, Department of English, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fes, Morocco

    Rania Mjahad is a PhD researcher at Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fes, Morocco and a lecturer at Jazan University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. MA holder in Applied Language Studies and Research in Higher Education. Writer of two books published by Lambert House of Publication and various other articles in indexed journals. She is interested in media studies, film theory, discourse analysis, language teaching and cultural studies. She participated in many workshops and international conferences. 

  • Ahmed Boukranaa, Department of English, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fes, Morocco

    Ahmed Boukranaa is a PhD Researcher at Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fes, Morocco and a lecturer at Jazan University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He holds a Master's Degree in Gender Studies and the Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA). He is interested in research and studies linked to discourse analysis, Film theory, Translation/ Gender Studies, Language Teaching, and Media.  He participated in many workshops and International conferences and has multiple academic publication in indexed journals.

  • Abderrahim El Karfa, Department of English, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fes, Morocco

    Abderrahim Elkarfa is a full professor of Applied Linguistics and Leadership, Department of English, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco. He is a member of the University Council. He is also a member of the Faculty Council. As such, he is a former Director of the Research Laboratory: Language, Literature and Communication. Research Interests: Applied Linguistics, Leadership Education, Critical Thinking Education, Gender and Language, Gender and Education, English Language Education, and lifelong Learning. He is an author of many books and articles in different topics.

  • Kebir Sandy, Department of English, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fes, Morocco

    Kebir Sandy is a full professor at Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fes, Morocco. He is the coordinator of the master's program of Translation and Cross-Cultural Communication and the director of the PhD laboratory Psychological, Sociological and Cultural Studies. He has participated in various international conferences, workshops and study days. He produced many academic publications as an author and co-author. He is interested in translation studies and theory, Higher Education, diaspora and postcolonial studies, literature, literary theory and cultural studies.

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Published

23-01-2025

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1

Section

Research Article

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Rania Mjahad, Ahmed Boukranaa, Abderrahim El Karfa, Kebir Sandy

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Mjahad, R., Boukranaa, A., El Karfa, A., & Sandy, K. (2025). Moroccan Youth Between Protest and Repression: Thematic Analysis of the Film “Raise Your Voice” by Nabil Ayouch. Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Studies, 7(1), 43-51. https://doi.org/10.32996/jhsss.2025.7.1.5