2024-07-11 15:47:06
Organized by the Casablanca-Settat region and the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, in partnership with the municipality of Casablanca, this festival offers a rich and varied program, including musical evenings, headlined by renowned artists such as Abdelaziz Stati, Zina Daoudia, Ould El Houate, Said Senhaji, Abdellah Daoudi and Oulad El Bouazzaoui, among others.
Also on the menu are debates, film screenings and an exhibition dedicated to the art of Aïta. The aim is to highlight this musical heritage deeply rooted in Moroccan culture, it was indicated during a press conference dedicated to the presentation of this festival.
In tribute to the pioneers of Aïta, this first edition is dedicated to Bouchaib El Bidaoui, an emblematic figure of Aïta Marsaouia. A tribute will also be paid during the event to the artist Donna.
The festival will include an academic component with a study day on the theme “Aïta between rural roots and urban extensions”, as well as a round table entitled “The art of Aïta between tradition and attempts at renewal”. In addition, a professional meeting will bring together three artists to discuss the different aspects of this musical art.
On the sidelines of the festival, an exhibition will present various elements related to Aïta, including instruments, costumes, photos and historical documents, highlighting in particular the role of this musical genre at the time of resistance against the colonizer.
In a statement to the press on this occasion, the president of the Casablanca-Settat regional council, Abdellatif Maazouz stressed that “Today’s meeting was an opportunity to present the first edition of the region’s festivals, starting with the Aïta Marsaouia Festival. This event aims to boost the regional cultural sector, promote this traditional art and gradually create added value in the cultural and artistic field, as well as job opportunities in this sector.”
“The interest in Aïta Marsaouia, as an intangible artistic heritage, aims to celebrate it and contribute to its preservation, conservation and ensure its continuity across generations,” Mr. Maazouz stressed. “It is also about promoting its influence through the activities of a festival whose program includes numerous concerts hosted by artists and groups dedicated to this authentic Moroccan art,” he continued.
“This is just the first step,” noted the regional council president. He added: “We have planned various festivals that will cover the entire territory of the region. Cultural events will be organized in different cities, thus offering a wide range of artistic events.”
For her part, Hafida Khouyi, director of the festival, stressed that this important artistic event is an opportunity to celebrate the art of Aïta Marsaouia and to contribute to its preservation, in particular by introducing young generations to this cultural heritage that our country abounds with.
Ms. Khouyi, who is also the regional director of Culture in Casablanca-Settat, explained that the festival has scheduled artistic evenings over different periods and in three cities – Oualidia, Settat and Casablanca – taking into account the regional dimension, and also to allow lovers of this art to travel between these cities to enjoy the shows.
She also noted that the artists participating in this festival contribute to the preservation of this art, this event is thus an opportunity to recognize their valuable contributions in this field. In the same vein, she noted that the festival pays tribute to the artist Douna, who has contributed a lot to this musical genre.
Please note that this first edition of the Aïta Marsaouia festival is part of a partnership agreement aimed at diversifying and developing the regional cultural offering, in accordance with the 2022-2027 regional development plan.
2024-07-11 15:47:06