Bzou (Arabic: بزو Berber languages: ⴱⵣⵓ)is a town in the northwest corner of Morocco’s Azilal Province, just off the main road between the major cities of Beni-Mellal and Marrakesh. The sprawling commune of Bzou is composed of various Berber (Tamazight) and Darija-speaking douwars (hamlets) tucked into the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains. The main, Darija speaking cluster of douwars (Lamdarssa, Aghbalu, Bahi) forms Bzou's heart; on its flanks are an assortment of smaller, generally Berber douwars up in the surrounding mountains and cradling the banks of the river Oued el Abid.
With a population of approximately 4,200 people in its center[1] and 14,505 in the commune as a whole,[2] Bzou is regionally and nationally famous for its production of the highest quality fabric used in the tailoring of a specific piece of traditional Moroccan clothing known as Djellaba. Additionally, Bzou produces a considerable amount of olives, olive oil, and honey. Economically speaking, Bzou is heavily dependent on this basic agriculture and the extremely labor-intensive, handmade fabric for which it is famous.