Fez Sacred Music Festival Opens with a Spellbinding Tribute to Renewal, Sacred Beauty
Rabat – The 28th edition of the Fez Festival of Sacred Music opens this Friday with an ambitious creation that promises to leave a lasting impression.
This year's theme is all about 'Renaissances, From Nature to the Sacred', and it conveys more than just the start of a globally acclaimed cultural event.
A lyrical journey into what it means to be human, to evolve, and to reconnect with the sacred awaits those who will attend.
This year's opening act brings together dozens of musicians, dancers, narrators, and visual artists from across Africa and beyond.
At the heart of it all stands Fez's Bab Makina, the monumental gateway that has become a canvas for the festival's now signature projection mapping. As night falls, its ancient walls will light up with vivid visuals, wrapping audiences in a unique performance.
What will bind all performances together is the idea of Renaissance in all its splendor and depth, and not just as a historical period or artistic style, but as a living force.
Fez embodies that force. It once gave birth to Al Quaraouiyine, the oldest existing university, and for centuries shaped religious and intellectual life across Africa. Today, it continues to inspire, drawing a line from its multilayered legacy to the rebirths, spiritual, artistic, and cultural, that still define our age.
The show draws from its depth and diversity: from the hypnotic rhythm of Burundi's drummers to the ritual dance of the Ivorian Leopards, from the poetic chants of Senegal's Mouride brotherhood to the sacred feminine voices of Mayotte's Deba tradition. Each performance speaks to a different expression of the sacred. Sometimes solemn, sometimes playful, always alive.
The stage will also welcome voices from beyond the continent. Omani Sufi chants will echo alongside the mystical Sama dance of Meknes. Corsican mezzo-soprano Battista Acquaviva will breathe new life into Renaissance hymns. Malian actor and storyteller Habib Dembelé will guide audiences through the evening as narrator, grounding the spectacle in the power of spoken word.
The result is a carefully crafted narrative, one that moves from elemental nature to spiritual awakening.
This opening night stands as a continuation of that effort and as an invitation. Fez does not just host a festival; it opens a space where cultures meet, where memory breathes, and where the soul finds room to rise.
The sacred music event will welcome the public on Friday, May 16. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., close at 7:15 p.m., and the show begins shortly after at 7:30 p.m.
At its core, the Fez Festival of Sacred Music has long acted as a living platform for South-South dialogue, and the organizers plan for this year's edition to deepen that commitment.
The inclusion of spiritual traditions from Mayotte, Oman, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Mali is no mere happenstance. It shows a deliberate effort to foreground connections between southern societies whose sacred practices often intersect and echo across borders.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
3 days ago
- Morocco World
Fez Captivates the UK's Daily Telegraph
Rabat — In a glowing travel feature— straightforwardly titled 'Ditch Marrakech for Fez, Morocco's Real Capital of Culture' — British newspaper The Daily Telegraph invites readers to explore the spiritual and artistic richness of the ancient city. From the rooftop of Riad Fez to the winding alleys of the medina, the piece paints Fez as a city that rewards those who slow down and dive deep. 'Marrakech may hog the headlines, but elegant Fez is the country's cultural heart,' stressed the author Paula Hardy. Fez is described not just as a historic gem, but as Morocco's true cultural capital—'a Tardis that rewards those who make the effort to get beneath the surface.' The article highlights the city's layered past, with nods to figures like Idris II and Fatima al-Fihriya, founder of the world's oldest university, and follows the footsteps of poets, scholars, artisans, and spiritual seekers. The Telegraph praises the recently reopened Al Batha Museum, the spellbinding architecture of Bou Inania and Attarine madrasas, and the sensory richness of the souks—filled with spices, incense, carved cedarwood, and colorful zellige tiles. 'Drama and intrigue is knit into the fabric of this great labyrinthine medina,' writes Hardy. The author encapsulates the city's charm most vividly through the lens of photographer Omar Chennafi who describes Fez as 'a place of intense, condensed human experience,' while rooftop views over the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and the Fez Festival of Sacred Music evoke a sense of timeless wonder. Whether sipping mint tea at the Chouara tannery or listening to flamenco under the lanterns of Jnan Sbil, Fez offers, in the Telegraph's words, something 'beautiful, fascinating, and unlike anything ever seen.'
Morocco World
22-05-2025
- Morocco World
From Basel to Fez: Swiss Ambassador's Ode to Cultural Kinship Through Sacred Music
Fez – In the historic city of Fez, where ancient medina walls whisper centuries of cultural exchange, Swiss Ambassador to Morocco Valentin Zellweger found himself particularly moved during the 28th edition of the Fez World Sacred Music Festival. As the crystalline harmonies of Renaissance polyphony filled the air, the ambassador saw more than just a musical performance – he witnessed the living embodiment of cultural diplomacy. In an exclusive interview at the 28th edition of the Fez World Sacred Music Festival, Ambassador Zellweger reflected on the deep historical ties between the two countries. 'Well, first of all, it's an old relationship, if I may say,' he began. 'It's more than 100 years old and it's getting better and better. I would say today it's a very close friendship. We have a lot of exchanges and a lot of common interests. So it's a very positive view of our bilateral relations.' The ambassador noted the unique role of cultural exchange in strengthening international connections. 'Well, you know, culture is a very important ingredient. Of course, our relations are commercial, economic, they are political, they are social. There are many Moroccans living in Switzerland and culture is the one thing that glues everything together,' Zellweger explained. He elaborated on the power of cultural expression: 'And in culture, you can bring things to. You can express things that I think are difficult to be said or expressed in other ways. So culture is a very important ingredient for our relationship.' Of Switzerland's participation in the festival, Zellweger shared: 'I give you the example of this evening's concert. The topic or the theme of this festival is the Renaissance. And there will be a Swiss group from a very prestigious musical school singing songs from the Renaissance. So it will be the Swiss perspective on the topic chosen by the organizers of this festival.' Drawing parallels between the two countries, the ambassador noted: 'I see a fundamental similarity between Morocco and Switzerland. Morocco is at the crossroads of cultures, of religions, also geographically speaking. And the same goes for Switzerland. Although we're at the heart of Europe, we are composed of a German part of our culture, a French part, an Italian part. And I think what unites Morocco and Switzerland is this sense of finding an equilibrium.' With visible enthusiasm, Zellweger shared his personal connection to the event. 'Am I excited?' he asked. 'Of course I'm excited. No, this is a fantastic opportunity and for me it's a particular pleasure. The musicians, the school that will be present this evening since it is my hometown represented tonight.' The ambassador's personal connection to the performance added a special dimension to the evening. The performing ensemble, Zenaida, hails from Basel's prestigious Schola Cantorum Basiliensis – Zellweger's hometown. The young but accomplished group, formed just last year by international students in the Advanced Vocal Ensemble Studies (AVES) program, brought a carefully curated selection of Franco-Flemish sacred music to Moroccan audiences. Zenaida's program featured masterworks by Renaissance composers Josquin Desprez and Pierre de la Rue, including Desprez's contemplative 'Gaude virgo' and La Rue's majestic 'Credo (Missa cum jocunditate).' The ensemble's innovative approach to these centuries-old compositions – blending traditional Gregorian influences with fresh polyphonic interpretations – created a musical dialogue that transcended time and geography. From Swiss concert halls to Moroccan nights Though newly formed, Zenaida has already established itself as a rising star in early music circles. Their emotional debut performance of 'Lamentation' at the Erasmus Klingt Festival under Björn Schmelzer's direction showcased their ability to breathe new life into ancient musical forms. The ambassador's remarks at the Fez World Sacred Music Festival point to the bond between Morocco and Switzerland. As the two countries celebrate over a century of diplomatic relations, cultural exchanges like this festival performance prove that their partnership is evolving beyond traditional political and economic ties into something deeper and more resonant. The presence of Swiss musicians in Fez, interpreting Renaissance melodies for Moroccan audiences, demonstrates how culture serves as a dynamic bridge between the two countries. Just as Morocco thrives at the crossroads of civilizations and Switzerland harmonizes its multilingual heritage, their collaboration at this festival reflects a shared commitment to dialogue, understanding, and mutual appreciation. Initiatives like the Fez Sacred Music Festival reinforce this connection with each passing year, ensuring that the relationship between Morocco and Switzerland does not merely endure, but flourishes.
Morocco World
20-05-2025
- Morocco World
Senegal's Mouride Brotherhood Brings Spiritual Power Fez Festival
Fez – On the fourth evening of the Fez Festival of Sacred Music, the serene Jnan Sbil garden echoed with the deep, devotional sounds of Senegal's Mouride brotherhood. Represented by Cheikh Ahmadou Bambandaou and his ensemble, the performance offered an intimate look into one of West Africa's most influential Sufi traditions; rich in rhythm, reverence, and rooted spirituality. Hailing from Dakar, Bambandaou and his group are spiritual artists devoted to the teachings of Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, the 19th-century founder of the Mouride order and the holy city of Touba. Their performance was far more than a concert, it was a living form of prayer. Through layered chants and lyrical praise, they brought to life panegyrics dedicated to the Virgin Mary, written by Bamba himself. The result was a powerful blend of devotion and musical mastery that captivated both seasoned festival-goers and newcomers alike. 'We were responsible for delivering this sacred chant,' Bambandaou told Morocco World News 'to honor a moment of shared reverence through the lens of our tradition.' The Fez Festival, now in its 27th edition, is known for bringing together diverse spiritual voices from across the globe. Yet there was something especially moving about this Senegalese performance. The Mouride brotherhood's deep-rooted Sufi philosophy, centered on surrendering to God, renouncing material excess, and emulating the Prophet's example, resonated strongly with Morocco's own Sufi heritage. 'Fez is a magnificent city,' Bambandaou said to MWN. 'We were touched by the warmth and openness of the people, and by the cultural similarities between our communities.' Jnan Sbil, with its fountains, ancient trees, and twilight atmosphere, was the perfect setting for such an encounter. As the chants rose into the night air, they seemed to dissolve borders: geographical, linguistic, and even religious. This kind of performance is what the Fez Festival does best: it reveals common ground through sacred sound. Bambandaou and his group didn't just share their music, they invited the audience into a living tradition, one shaped by spiritual discipline, artistic continuity, and cultural pride. And they left an impression. As the final chant faded and the applause echoed through the garden, it was clear that something meaningful had transpired, something that spoke not only to the past and present of Senegalese Sufism, but also to the future of global spiritual exchange.
