Poponi, the underground eye of Agadir
I met Poponi back in the wild days of the Machi Mouchkil food truck. My cook had introduced us, and between the smoke of the grill and the buzz of the street, this tattooed artist showed up with a sketchbook full of attitude. Between two tattoos, he took our very first fish logo and gave it a new soul — sharper, bolder, with that raw moroccan energy that would later become part of our DNA.
From there, the connection just kept flowing. We started working on stickers, visuals, small collabs that always had his colorful chaos and that mysterious “eye” watching over everything. And funny enough — when I finally opened the restaurant — it was Poponi again who unknowingly shaped the team. He’s the one who introduced me to Rachid, now our chef de partie.
Adrien : Hello Poponi, can you introduce yourself ?
Poponi : I’m a local artist from Agadir. I do tattoo art and graffiti. For me, art isn’t about business — it’s about sharing. I want to share art for nothing, for the culture, for the underground scene.
I’m also developing my style into branding — especially T-shirts and visuals — and collaborating with other artists. I’m working with a few Moroccan rappers, like 3abins from Salé and Little Biggy from Khouribga. I design their covers, always keeping my own artistic signature. I do digital graffiti also.
Adrien : I’ve seen that you have a character that come often
Poponi : Yes, my character wears a balaclava and has big, round eyes — like through a fisheye camera. He’s mysterious, with an earring like mine. The eye is my signature — you can find it in all my previous work.
I’ve also done a collab with a photographer and I’ve add my eye inside.
Adrien : I’ve seen a lot of artist on your Instagram account
Poponi : I’m part of two graffiti collectives: ABK (Agadir Bomber Crew) and Fritter Impak Crew, which also has members in Meknes. Together, we explore abandoned factories, paint walls, and chill. I also do digital graffiti, bringing street art into the online world.
Adrien : How did you start graffiti ?
Poponi : I started graffiti in 2010. Before that, I was just drawing on paper and showing my friends. Then I began painting with the Ultras of Agadir. One day, I tried a wall — and I never stopped.
When I was young, always hanging out with older guys, an old man from the neighborhood started calling me “Poponi.” It sounded cute, and it stuck.
Graffiti has allowed me to connect with artists from all over the world. When they come here, we share not just techniques, but culture — hip-hop, lifestyle, and street energy. My character became known, but me, not really. That’s fine — I like staying in the shadows.
My inspiration comes from the street — from what it gives me every day. I love certain colors like pink, blue, and yellow, and I always keep a cartoonish, bubble style with distorted perspectives — like you’re seeing through a fisheye lens. There’s always a play with size and proportion.
Adrien : What techniques do you use ?
Poponi : In the street, I use spray cans for speed. When it’s more chill, I might use paint and brushes. Sometimes I use Posca markers for details.
My character appears in many forms — sometimes as a zombie, sometimes as a mermaid, or just a simple bubble form. You can find my work around Imi Ouaddar, Anza, and abandoned buildings in Agadir.
We often combine graffiti with parkour, jumping from walls, discovering hidden places — sometimes you meet homeless people, sometimes the police. It’s not legal, but I hope one day it will be.
Adrien : You’re also a tattoo artist right ?
Karim : Yes. I started tattooing around 2014. My first machine, I built it myself — I didn’t have the money to buy one. I really began professionally in 2019, with my first real tattoo machine.
My tattoo work is darker. It’s another side of me. I use only black ink — while graffiti is full of color. I created a Tamazight-inspired style, especially around the symbol of the Yaz, representing roots and resistance.
Now I work in a studio called Weshma — it means “tattoo” in Arabic. I share it with Shaddy — we’re two artists, two worlds blending.
Adrien : Could you explain the meaning of each design exposed ?
Poponi :
- Taghazout Favela :
One of my favorite pieces shows a tourist running through the favelas of Taghazout, chasing waves — that’s how I see the village. I focus a lot on detail — like the sole of the shoe.
- Streets of Agadir : Another artwork represents the street life of Agadir, filled with tags, rollers, bubbles, my crew names, and numbers like 33, 34, representing my city.aw n real as a child capturing everything he founds and notice around him.
Adrien : What is your favorite street food ?
Poponi : Sardine chouwaya with lentils — always. When I was a kid, my mom and I would walk for hours in the souk. I was always hungry, and we’d stop anywhere to eat. You didn’t even know what you were eating — but it was real, and you never forget that taste. And don’t forget the harissa.
Poponi is part of a new generation of Moroccan underground artists who mix graffiti, tattooing, and digital expression. His eye-shaped signature has become a symbol of Agadir’s street identity — colorful, mysterious, and full of stories.
Discover more photography of Poponi on his instagram account @poponi.one