Nigeria, April 23 -- I just returned this week from my first trip to Morocco. Before this journey, I had only known Morocco through books, maps and stories. It is a country steeped in history and mystery, especially for someone like me who has always been fascinated by the cultures of the Maghreb. Morocco holds a special kind of magnetism. Whether you think of Rabat with its political calm, or Fez with its spiritual and scholarly air, or Casablanca with its cinematic reputation, or Marrakech with its desert charm, each city promises a different experience. So, when the opportunity came to visit the country for a workshop in a city called Ben Guerir, I jumped on it with excitement.

My journey began in Abuja. Unlike the multiple flights I ...