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."