HIBAPRESS – A.Sayyad
The management of the "Gnaoua and World Music" festival in Essaouira has revealed details of the twenty-seventh edition of this international artistic event, expected to be held between June 25 and 27, under the slogan "Essaouira.. A Port for World Music".
The details of this edition were presented during a press conference held in Casablanca, where the organizers reviewed the outlines of the artistic program, confirming that the festival will provide a musical experience that combines authentic Gnaoua heritage with musical rhythms from around the world.
Festival producer, Naila Tazi, explained that this edition will present special artistic moments, noting that the opening ceremony will feature a musical meeting between Rwandan heritage and Gnaoua heritage, both musical traditions registered on the list of intangible cultural heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
The organizers confirmed that the city of Essaouira will experience exceptional artistic atmosphere for three days, as it will transform into an open space for music and cultural dialogue, combining the power of the Gnaoua heritage and the spirit of contemporary musical creativity.
The artistic director, Abdelsalam Alikane, indicated that the opening of the festival will feature a traditional parade of Gnaoua maâlems, a celebratory and spiritual event that roams the streets of the city and announces the start of the festival's activities, before the Moulay Hassan platform hosts a large concert led by Maalem Mehdi Nassouli, with the participation of the Rwandan band I B'hohoro, in addition to the Moroccan artist Sara Moulay El Bilal, the Indian singer Ganavya, and the French musician Sylvain Barou.
This edition will also feature a moment of appreciation to honor the late Maalem Mustapha Baqbou, one of the most prominent figures of Gnaoua art, in appreciation of his artistic career and his contributions to preserving this musical heritage and transmitting it to new generations.
The festival will also see the participation of a number of artists who represent various musical schools, including the Harlem Spirit of the Soul group led by Anthony Morgan, the band Forty-Seven Souls, the artist Yasmine Hamdan, Hoba Hoba Spirit, and Oudaden, in a program that combines well-known names and modern artistic projects, in addition to the presence of the new generation of Gnaoua artists.
According to the figures announced by the organizers, more than 400 artists will participate in this edition, including 42 Gnaoua maâlems, who will present musical performances across the various festival platforms spread throughout the city of Essaouira, between the major evenings and the spiritual nights known as "Lailat".
The activities of this edition will not be limited to music only, as Essaouira will also host the Human Rights Forum, which this year will discuss the topic of "World Youth: Freedom, Identity and the Future," with the participation of prominent intellectual and cultural figures, including the Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, along with thinkers and writers such as Souleymane Bachir Diagne, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, Rachid Benzine, Leïla Slimani, Raphaël Liogier, and Asmaa El Moudir.
With this diverse program, Essaouira continues to consolidate its position as a global destination for music and culture, where every year it turns into a space that combines Moroccan heritage and openness to world music.
