This grand parade brought together Moroccan and foreign troops participating in the festival, who crisscrossed the main arteries of the ochre city starting from Harti Park (Place 16 November), then Mohammed V Avenue, Moulay El Hassan Avenue and Mohammed VI Boulevard, before reaching the Royal Theater, the official site that will host the main show of this major cultural event, initiated by the Grand Atlas Association.
An unmissable moment of this festival, this parade transformed the main arteries of the City of Seven Saints into a giant music mass where the whole city is an actor and not just a spectator.
In a statement to MAP, the director of the festival and president of the Grand Atlas Association, Mohamed Knidri, stressed that this edition sees the participation of around 700 artists representing folk troupes from different regions of the Kingdom.
And to note that China, guest of honor of this edition, participates with three artistic troupes, noting that the festival also plans thematic evenings during which shows on Sino-Moroccan art will be presented, in addition to the celebration of certain types of popular arts, such as Ahwach from the High Atlas as well as the arts of Rai and Reggada representing the eastern region.
For his part, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Morocco, Li Changlin, expressed his pride in the choice of his country as the festival’s guest of honor, noting that Morocco and China have a rich artistic heritage and a diverse culture.
This participation of Chinese troops is likely to contribute to strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries, he stressed.
In this context, he mentioned the numerous artistic forums organized by Morocco and China, highlighting the importance of cultural exchanges which occupy a prominent place in relations between the two countries.
For his part, Mohamed Al Qartaoui, president of the Rokba troupe in Zagora, indicated that the members of his troupe are happy to participate each year in this national festival of popular arts, the oldest of its kind dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Moroccan cultural heritage.
In this context, he stressed that this event represents an opportunity for young people to take an interest in this art with a view to preserving this artistic and cultural heritage.
Organized under the theme “Eternal Rhythms and Symbols”, this edition coincides with the celebration of Marrakech as the Capital of Culture of the Islamic World for the year 2024.
It is worth noting that the official show of the festival will be presented every night at the Royal Theatre with the participation of 30 popular troupes representing the regions of the Kingdom.
2024-08-31 21:29:24