Marrakech Popular Arts Festival – Dates Announced
Marrakech Popular Arts Festival - Dates Announced
The 45th annual Marrakech Popular Arts Festival will this year take place over the 9 days from the 16 – 24 July 2010
There will be both modern entertainment aswell as ancient folkdances, along with the traditional Berber musicians and Chaabi rhythms.
The festival celebrates the country’s rich musical and cultural heritage.
There will be three main venues for this year’s events – Bab Ighli, Akioud and Hart Palace (beside Palais Badii) and Theatre Royal – with a theme of ‘Mosaic of Musical Heritage’.
16 July 2010: The festival starts with a parade along Mohamed V Boulevard. There will be more than 500 artists, who will be singing and dancing in the streets.
17 July 2010: Representatives of the 21 regions of Morocco will be involved in the official opening, which will take place at the Palais Badii and directed by Moroccan director Abdessamad Dinia,. He will then perform each day of the festival.
Thy will represent the following regions of Morocco: Abidat R’ma, Ahidous Ain Orma, Ahouach, imintanout, Ahouach Tissnit, Aissawa, Assala, Ait Boughmaz, Dekka, Gnaoua, Guedra, Haiti, Hassada, Houara, Menghouchi, Ouled Sidi Hmed Oumoussa, Rokba, Taskiouine,Tazouite, Tkitikat and Ghiata.
17 – 19 July 2010: There will be traditional Aita folk music from varying regions of Morocco.
The best Aita musicians will perform everyday at the Theatre Royal with artists representing different styles of Aita:
- Hadda Ouaakki representing Aita Zayania
- Mohamed Laroussi representing Aita Jablia
- Oulad Benaaguida, representing Aita Al Marsaouia
- Khadija Al bidaouia representing Aita Al Abdia
- Oulad El Khabcha representing Aita Al Haouzia
- Satsa representing Aita Mellalia
- Abderrzak Lakhribgui representing Aita Lakhribiguia
18 – 22 July 2010: Over fthese ive days, the Akioud stage will have the Chaabi (popular music) with well known orchestras to include as Tahour, Hadj Abdelmoghit, Ghninou, Tagada, Al Bidaoui, Chef Amine Jad, Amayno, Basma and Fiegta.
18 – 22 July 2010: On these dates, the El Harti Stage will present pop music by the latest group of Moroccan artists – to include Mwansa, Tiraline, Mayara Band, Chouf T Chouf, Achele, Shabka, Gnaoua Stone, Zazz Band and Style Souss.
20 – 24 July 2010: On these dates, the biggest stage – Bab Ighli – will present Moroccan singers Abdelhadi Belkhayat, Latefa Raafat, Senhaji, Stati, Fatima Tihihit, Hamid Bouchnak, Nouri, as well as the Mazagan fusion bands Casa Crew and Ribab Fusion.
