Morocco abounds with entertaining and creative festivals
2008-08-27
As the number of festivals grows each year in Morocco, the Ministry of Culture is handing the reins of festival organisation and management over to civil society and regional authorities.
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 27/08/08
 [File] Moroccan Culture Minister Touriya Jabrane announced that "festivals previously organised by the ministry will be handed over to the regions and communes". |
The number of festivals organised in Morocco is increasing year after year. Even the smallest towns have taken to hosting events, to coax their residents out of isolation and into active participation in local and national social life.
Currently, the Ministry of Culture organises 17 regional festivals each year. Civil society and local authorities organise more than 13 others, and enthusiasts of the silver screen have at least 30 film festivals to choose from.
The increase in festivals has been concurrent with a trend towards local control of their organisation and management.
"Starting this year, the seventeen festivals previously organised by the ministry will be handed over to the regions and communes," said Culture Minister Touriya Jabrane.
"We shall provide our financial subsidy, but that is where our contribution will stop. From now on, the ministry is to manage just three festivals directly: The Volubilis Festival, the Meknès Drama Festival and the Casablanca Book Fair," the minister said.
"This is part of our future strategy, where our involvement in all cultural events will be simply that of regulator, co-ordinator and evaluator," Jabrane added.
Art critic Mahmoud Meziane explained to Magharebia that the burgeoning number of festivals is an opportunity to establish exchanges with other cultures and increase the visibility of Moroccan art. "Festivals in Morocco have never been so numerous, so diverse in theme and so widely distributed geographically... A festival enables the public to be educated, it encourages people to go to cinemas for example; and as a result, we're seeing the nation's art flourish," he said.
Young people in particular are delighted with the multitude of festivals and view them as an opportunity to have fun and to discover new talent.
Sofiane Bandali, a young musician, told Magharebia that thanks to festivals such as Mawazine, young people have been able to find a way into the hearts of the Moroccan people.
"Without these events, young people cannot gauge the public's reaction and continue to perform and innovate... Young troupes have been able to showcase their talent in recent years, performing live in various places across Morocco," he added.
Student Karim Boudali likes the festivals because they provide a good source of entertainment. "We can't wait for these annual events," he said, "even though some of the festivals are poorly timed, because they clash with the examination season."
Music teacher Ahmed Meliane told Magharebia that above all, festivals encourage young people to explore their abilities.
"The festivals held in recent years have enabled musical trends among young people to seen, along with their creativity. It's a real push in the right direction for art."
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saidani miloudi Posted 2008-08-27
In my opinion the financial budget allocated both to the Ministry of Culture and Sport should be banished since it is a waste of public money.
Anonymous Posted 2008-08-28
Yes, make more festivals and forget the lost youth. Why are these monies not invested in projects?
Ram-jane Posted 2008-08-29
The monies of the poor Moroccan people are wasted away on ceremonies and festivals. The rate of sheer poverty has reached 14% in Morocco.
nadia Posted 2008-11-06
Toraya Jabran must invoke the Moroccan reality which she was representing on stage so that it can be saved. The resources of one festival can cover the requirements of 1,000 young men. No to wasting money.
salma Posted 2008-12-28
In my opinion, these festivals are a waste of time. Morocco’s young people do not need music and art; given most Moroccans are poor, they need the money that is being wasted.
Soumeya Abdelziz Posted 2009-02-26
Know, young people, that only culture can save Morocco, which can only rival the other countries of the world in this regard with the gift of our countries musical wealth. It cannot be competitive technologically or in scientific research or otherwise. Three musicians alone, Paul McCartney, Phil Collins and Elton Join, bring in as much to England as phosphates do to Morocco. And, if the United States is the number-one world power, it is because of their music and cinema, not their technology as one would believe. California, which is just one single state of the USA, is the seventh world power thanks to Hollywood. With their music, they have imposed their language and ideas on the world, and thanks to films demonstrating all their military and technological means in our faces, they have also intimidated us. Culture means currency in the USA as well as arms. Britney Spears, a 25-year-old American singer, has already sold 80 million albums at a minimum of 25 dollars each. Do your math. Here, our festivals fill our hotels, which each employ 100 to 300 people given that tourism without services cannot work. The State’s waste goes on top of that, I assure you. Young people need a system that is not corrupt so that they can easily create businesses and move forward. Festivals also offer jobs to thousands of artists and act as a great lifesaver and an opportunity for openness for a population that risks sinking further into obscurantism. Bravo to the Ministry and to Miss Jabrane for this initiative! And, roll on even more festivals so that the young people may cultivate themselves and no longer write such stupid things.
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