Ramadan TV in the 1990s and early 2000s marked a golden era of Moroccan drama and comedy, blending social critique, family tensions, humor, and history through iconic series that became collective rituals after ftour. Today, these shows live on as shared memory, capturing a generation's struggles and dreams, and fueling a deep nostalgia every time Ramadan returns. DR ‹ › The 1990s and early 2000s brought a golden era of drama and comedy to Ramadan television—series that reflected the values, habits, fashion, and everyday struggles of a different generation. As Ramadan approaches once again, we look back at some of the most iconic TV shows that lit up Moroccan screens many Ramadans ago. Diab Fi Daira: Wolves in a Circle A 1997 Ramadan production, Diab Fi Daira plunged into corruption, unemployment, and family power struggles. With a heavyweight cast, the series starred Hassan Skalli as a successful businessman, Mohammed Atir as a corrupt employee, and Mohamed Tsouli as the honest, hardworking company executive, alongside Souad Saber and their unemployed son Saad Tsouli. Directed by one of the pioneers of Moroccan television, Chakib Benomar, the series follows Tsouli as he uncovers invoice fraud inside a private company, a discovery that turns his life upside down. The show made history when Benomar became the first Moroccan to win Best Director at the Cairo Television Festival in 1998. A rare coincidence added depth: Mohamed Tsouli and Saad Tsouli were real-life father and son, playing the same roles on screen during that Ramadan. Serb Lahmam: «You're heading straight for ruin, oh Hemmadi!» In 1998, Moroccans observing Ramadan would impatiently wait for the iconic opening theme of Serb Lahmam to kick off the sacred post-ftour TV ritual. Once that music played, silence fell in living rooms. The series followed Hemmadi and his sharp-tongued companion as they navigated city life after leaving their village, chasing prosperity, dignity, and, in Hemmadi's case, a way out of constant family tension, especially with his father. Directed by actor and filmmaker Mohamed Atifi, the series tackled heavy social issues with a deceptively light comedic touch, largely carried by the unforgettable Nourredine Bakr. His legendary line, delivered as advice to his friend (played by Rachid El Ouali): «You're heading straight for ruin, oh Hemmadi!». This has since become prime meme material and a timeless political metaphor. Beyond the laughs, Serb Lahmam was a mirror of its time: language, outfits, gestures, daily struggles, and the big worries of Moroccan society, rural exodus, unemployment, the village–city divide, land, family pressure. Looking back, Rachid El Ouali said, in a 2024 interview, he remains «proud and happy» to have taken part in such a series, one made with extremely modest means. Serb Lahmam was filmed using a single camera, and to prepare for his role, El Ouali bought Hemmadi's clothes from Souk Lghzal, Rabat's legendary flea market. Oulad Nass: Women, Roots, and Broken Promises A 1999 Ramadan staple, Oulad Nass was quietly feminist for its time, directed by Farida Bourkia, one of the few women shaping Moroccan TV drama then. The story follows Fatouma, a young woman desperate to escape her father's suffocating control through marriage, at any cost. Her hope rests on Maati, who turns out to be far from the man she imagined. He takes her money, mistreats her, and slowly destroys her expectations. The series opened with the enchanting theme song by El Bachir Abdou, instantly recognizable to an entire generation. Its cast was iconic: Naima Lamcharki, Abdelkader Moutaa, and Mohamed Bastaoui, who would later become a Ramadan legend. Oulad Nass spoke of heritage, generational conflict, and the return to roots, centered around a family pottery business, craft, land, and identity woven into drama. Jnan El Kerma: History Meets Ramadan Drama Ramadan TV wasn't only about everyday struggles, it also merged fiction and history through Jnan El Kerma. Directed by Farida Bourkia and written by Taoufik Houmani, the series is set during the Makhzen era before French colonization, portraying oppression, land seizure, enslavement, and resistance. An authoritarian caïd, a rebellious son, and intersecting destinies filled Moroccan post-ftour evenings with tension and reflection. The cast included Mouna Fettou, Mohamed Khouyi, Mohamed Bastaoui, and the incomparable Touria Jabrane. Ana O Khouya O Mratou: Abbas, Please Leave Ramadan wasn't Ramadan without comedy, and Said Naciri ruled the 1990s. A 1998 production, Ana O Khouya O Mratou followed Abbas, an unemployed man who moves into his brother and sister-in-law's house… and never leaves. No matter how hard they try to kick him out, Abbas stays, creating endless absurd, annoying, and hilarious situations. Light, fast, and wildly popular, the show aired around ftour time and became so successful it ran for multiple seasons. The cast included Abderrahim Bargache, Touria Alaoui, Hamadi Amor, and a rotating door of comedy legends. A Typical Moroccan Family: Si Marbouh A hard-working father. A loving, patient mother. A teenage brother and sister, undeclared enemies. Chaos guaranteed. The Si Marbouh Family, an Al Aoula production from 2001 directed by Hassan Ouahidi, explored everyday Moroccan life with warmth and humor. The cast brought together comedy heavyweights Mohamed Ljam, Mustapha Dasoukine, Ramadan favorite Saida Baadi, Abdessamad Miftah Lkheir, and Hasnaa Haboune. Through simple daily situations, the series delivered laughter night after night, and yes, it also came in two seasons, because Morocco clearly wanted more. Ramadan TV in the 1990s and early 2000s wasn't just entertainment. Today, it lives on as memory, identity, and pure nostalgia, returning every time Ramadan comes around. Those were the days.
