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Ya Biladi
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Ya Biladi
Morocco's 2025 festival season : Dates, headliners, and highlights
The festival season is kicking off in Morocco this mid-May and will run through the summer. With a diverse lineup of music genres ranging from pop and jazz to rap and traditional Gnaoua, the 2025 festival season offers something for every music lover. Whether you're a casual festival-goer, a music enthusiast, or a tourist planning your summer holiday around music festivals, this article is for you. Yabiladi will be listing some of the major festivals taking place this season, their locations, and their headliners. A Strong Start This festival season kicks off with several events in mid-May. The first major event is the Timeless Festival in Casablanca, blending nostalgia, especially for millennials and early 2000s teens, with today's music scene. The Timeless Festival takes place on May 16 and 17, 2025, at Anfa Park. It promises «iconic sounds from the 1980s to today in an electrifying atmosphere», according to the organizers. The first day, starting at 6 p.m., will feature French-Moroccan rapper La Fouine followed by early 2000s R&B star Craig David. The second day will showcase global dancehall icon Sean Paul and Moroccan-Canadian artist Beny Adam, known for his blend of R&B, pop, and urban sounds. The festival will also feature DJ sets, interactive zones, and a food court to keep the vibes alive. Tickets start at 600 MAD for one-day passes. Not far from Casablanca, the Timelapse Festival 's third edition will be held on May 23-24 in Bouznika. This electro music festival boasts a stellar lineup, with Italian DJ Moblack, a pioneer of Afro-house, on the first day. The second day will feature Casablanca duo DJs Nomads, known for «blending deep, soulful beats with the pulse of Morocco». The festival will also showcase local talent with DJs Didiss and Bouta in a back-to-back session and a B3B trio featuring DJs Caiiro Da Capo and Enoo Napa. Tickets for Timelapse Fest start at 600 MAD for a one-day pass, and accommodations are available at The View Bouznika Hotel. A Spiritual Experience in Fès If you're looking for a spiritual musical experience, we recommend the 28th edition of the Sacred Music of the World Festival in Fès, from May 16 to 24. This year's theme, «Renaissances», celebrates cultural, spiritual, and artistic renewal. The festival will host over 200 artists from 15 countries, including Turkey, France, Spain, Switzerland, the Sultanate of Oman, and several African nations such as Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo. The program includes performances like Azerbaijani Mugham and Kazakh Songs of the Steppes (May 21), Armenian music by The Naghash Ensemble (May 23), Senegalese Sufism with Mouride Khassaide chants (May 19), and Moroccan master Jojoukas (May 18). Other highlights include Tariqa Tijjanya (May 20) and Aissaoua (May 21). While most concerts are free, some are paid, with prices ranging from 150 MAD to 500 MAD. As May wraps up, Rabat will host the second edition of the Summer Sound Festival from May 29 to 31. Held at Club Wifaq in the leafy Ambassadors district, the festival promises a diverse musical lineup, including headliners: Eliades Ochoa (May 29), a legendary Cuban musician and member of the Buena Vista Social Club; Franglish (May 30), a rising star blending Afropop and R&B and Ninho (May 31), one of the most influential names in contemporary French rap. Ticket prices range from 400 MAD for a one-day pass to 1300 MAD for a three-day pass. Rap fans will also have their own festival in Morocco this season: the 212'FlowFest, taking place on May 15-17 at Salle Renaissance in Rabat. The lineup will feature top Moroccan rap stars such as L'Morphine, Mister You, Snor, Shobee, and Dada, alongside rising local talents. Tickets for this festival start at 400 MAD for a one-day pass and can go up to 5000 MAD for a VIP all-access three-day pass. Nostalgia in Casablanca For fans of retro music, the Nostalgia Lovers Festival returns for its second edition in Casablanca from July 3 to 5. The event will take place at the city's converted Velodrome, bringing back the energy of the 80s and 90s with legendary artists and DJs. The first day will feature electrifying performances by 1990s British dance-pop band Londonbeat and electronic music star Rozalla. The second day will keep the party going with Lou Bega, known for his 1999 hit «Mambo No. 5». The third day promises an explosive finale with Brazilian diva Salomé de Bahia and American group C+C Music Factory. Tickets range from 590 MAD for a one-day pass to 1590 MAD for a three-day pass. Gnaoua Festival in Essaouira June brings another major festival: The 26th edition of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival, taking place from June 19 to 21 in Essaouira. This year's edition will feature 33 Gnaoua Maâlems alongside international artists. Maâlem Khalid Sansi from Casablanca will perform with Cuban funk artist Cimafunk, while Maâlem Morad ElMarjan will collaborate with Tunisian oud master Dhafer Youssef. Other highlights include Asmaa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou with Malian singer Rokia Koné, and Nigerian singer Ckay, embracing Afrobeat. Tickets for VIP access are available for 1200 MAD for a three-day pass. Mawazine Returns to Rabat From June 20 to 28, Rabat will host the 20th edition of the Mawazine Festival. Spanning six stages, five in Rabat and one in Sale, the festival promises a diverse lineup, including American rapper 50 Cent (June 21), reggae icon Julian Marley (June 28), Egyptian pop star Ruby (June 20), and K-pop group aespa (June 24). Other headliners include Will Smith (June 25), Kid Cudi (June 23), and Moroccan rap star El Grande Toto. The concerts are for free with paid VIP access available. Back to Casablanca, Jazzablanca 2025 is set to light up the city from July 3 to 12. This year's lineup includes big names like the Black-Eyed Peas, the soulful Seal, the legendary Kool & the Gang, and Grammy-nominated Lebanese trumpet virtuoso Ibrahim Maalouf. But that's not all – Moroccan stars like Oum, Hamid El Kasri, and Mehdi Nassouli will also take the stage, showcasing the rich local talent. The festival will be held at the Anfa Park with tickets ranging from 600 MAD per day to a 3000 MAD full pass.
Maroc
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Maroc
Tarragona Celebrates Morocco's Cultural Richness
Morocco Festival, an event that celebrates the richness of Moroccan heritage in all its diversity and serves as a cultural bridge between the two shores of the Mediterranean, started Friday evening in Tarragona, Spain. Organized by the Consulate General of Morocco in Tarragona in collaboration with the city's municipality, this economic, cultural, and artistic event aims to highlight the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Spain and Morocco—a land of cultural intermingling and a cradle of ancient civilizations. The opening ceremony of the festival, which features a rich and varied program designed to showcase Morocco in all its splendor, was marked by a reenactment of a traditional Moroccan wedding, offering the audience a fascinating journey into the Kingdom's ancestral customs and traditions. The evening was enlivened by a performance from singer Saïda Charaf and a Gnaoua music group, followed by a Moroccan caftan fashion show, highlighting the elegance, craftsmanship, and refinement of Moroccan designers, and shedding light on the Kingdom's authentic and ancestral heritage. On this occasion, Morocco's Ambassador to Madrid, Karima Benyaich, praised the organization of a festival in Tarragona dedicated to Morocco, noting that this initiative reflects the strength of the human ties between the two Kingdoms. This cultural and artistic event in Tarragona celebrates the richness and diversity of Morocco's cultural and artisanal heritage, offering visitors a unique immersion into the various facets of Moroccan identity—a cultural crossroads between tradition and modernity, she said. The diplomat also reviewed the progress achieved by Morocco in recent years, under the enlightened leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, through numerous political, economic, and social reforms aimed at elevating the country to the ranks of great nations. For his part, the Spanish government delegate in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto Gómez Nombrado, stated that this festival is "a representative showcase of Moroccan culture in all its dimensions," highlighting the richness and depth of Morocco's heritage. Gómez Nombrado also emphasized the strength and excellence of Morocco-Spain relations, which are clearly demonstrated through mutual solidarity during difficult times. The Morocco Festival in Tarragona features an eclectic program designed to bring Moroccan culture closer to the Spanish public, while shedding light on the historical, human, and commercial ties that have united the two countries for centuries. MAP: 10 mai 2025
Maroc
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Maroc
26th Gnaoua & World Music Festival Unveils First Highlights
The 26th edition of the Essaouira Gnaoua and World Music Festival, to be held from June 19 to 21, 2025, is shaping up to be an exceptional event, and has unveiled today some of its first major highlights. For over a quarter of a century, the Gnaoua and World Music Festival in Essaouira has been much more than a musical event: it's a living cultural project, a driving force for transmission, dialogue, and innovation, the organizers said in a press release. This globally unique Festival celebrates the richness of Gnaoua heritage by bringing it into dialogue with music from all over the world, transforming Essaouira into an international crossroads where tradition meets modernity in the spirit of fraternity and creation. The festival reaffirms its key role in shaping the Moroccan and African cultural landscape, by launching major transmission initiatives, such as its partnership with the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and with the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) to establish a university Chair of Cross Cultural and Globalization, based upon the Gnaoua experience as a strategic laboratory of cultural hybridizations. The tradition of fusion: unforgettable musical events Over the years, Essaouira has been the scene of memorable encounters between the masters of Gnaoua and jazz and world music giants such as Pat Metheny, Joe Zawinul, Marcus Miller as well as Oumou Sangaré, Salif Keita and Youssou N'Dour. The Festival continues to build bridges between cultures and musical sensibilities, offering audiences rare moments of grace and communion. This year, the Festival will once again invite spectators to experience unprecedented and spellbinding fusions. Opening concert : Maâlem Hamid El Kasri, Bakalama dance company, Abir El Abed, and Kya Loum (Morocco, Senegal) Maâlem Hamid El Kasri—emblematic master of the Gnaoua repertoire—will join forces with the rhythmic power of the Senegalese dance company Bakalama, a leading reference in traditional West African dance and percussion, accompanied by the singular voices of Abir El Abed (Morocco) and Kya Loum (Senegal). Together, they will weave a vibrant musical bridge across the Atlantic, blending Morocco's trance traditions with the complex polyrhythms of Senegalese sabars. This concert officially opens the Festival under the sign of a living Africa, spiritual fervour, and shared vital energy. Fusion - Maâlem Houssam Gania with Marcus Gilmore (Morocco, USA) Heir to the great Gnaoua tradition through his father, the legendary Mahmoud Gania, Maâlem Houssam Gania embodies the new generation of an ancestral music in perpetual motion. Sharing the spotlight will be Marcus Gilmore, American prodigy and one of the most inventive drummers in contemporary jazz, bringing rhythmic finesse and modern composition to the stage. Having worked with giants such as Chick Corea, Esperanza Spalding, and Steve Coleman, Marcus Gilmore combines technical virtuosity, bold rhythm, and stylistic openness. Their meeting promises a free and inspired conversation between the deep percussion of the guembri and the sophisticated metrics of jazz. Fusion - Maâlem Mohamed Boumezzough with Anas Chlih, Aly Keïta, Tao Ehrlich, Martin Guerpin, Quentin Ghomari, and Hajar Alaoui (Morocco, Mali, France). Maâlem Mohamed Boumezzough will explore new horizons, sharing the stage with young Moroccan talents and renowned international musicians. Alongside him, Aly Keïta, master of the balafon from Mali, Anas Chlih (guitar), Tao Ehrlich (drums), Martin Guerpin (saxophone), Quentin Ghomari (trumpet), and Hajar Alaoui (vocals) will form a daring hybrid orchestra. Together, they will reinvent the codes of Gnaoua trance, blending African beats, jazz flights, and modern grooves in a creation that's all about celebration, musical freedom, and shared experience. Global Afrobeats phenomenon CKay joins the adventure ! (Nigeria) Since its inception, the Gnaoua Festival has always welcomed major pop and soul artists such as Ayo, Selah Sue, and, more recently, Saint Levant. In keeping with the spirit of openness, this year we welcome CKay, the rising star of Afrobeats. Originally from Nigeria, CKay is the author of the worldwide hit Love Nwantiti, which has been streamed over 6 billion times. A singer, songwriter and producer, he breathes new life into African music with a unique style known as Afro-Emo, fusing African rhythms, soul, and intimate lyrics. With his albums Sad Romance and Emotions, CKay has established himself as a leading voice of his generation, nominated for BRIT Awards, BET Awards and double-winner at the BMI Awards. His concert in Essaouira promises to be one of the highlights of this 26th edition. Since 1998, the Essaouira Gnaoua and World Music Festival has shone through its ability to combine heritage and modernity, tradition and innovation. By investing in training, research, and creation, this Festival has played a significant role in building a genuine Moroccan and African cultural ecosystem, while offering audiences rare and unforgettable musical experiences. MAP: 06 mai 2025
CairoScene
15-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Gnaoua Festival: Celebrating 25 Years of Essaouira's Musical Legacy
Gnaoua Festival: Celebrating 25 Years of Essaouira's Musical Legacy After spending a few days enjoying the beautiful Moroccan coast last summer, I arrived in Essaouira for the 25th edition of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival, joining over 400,000 attendees. Founded in 1998, the Gnaoua Festival was created to highlight and restore Essaouira's neglected splendor, reclaiming the beauty and cultural richness of Morocco's music while uniting musicians, artists, and aficionados from Morocco and around the globe. 2024 brought some of the world's most exciting artists to the stage, from revered Gnaoua master musicians like Maâlem Abdleslam Alikkane, Maâlem Hassan Boussou, and Maâlem Mustapha Baqboub, to contemporary electronic Moroccan-Tunisian duo Aïta Mon Amour, Brazilian artist Ilê Aiyê, flamenco artists Nino de Los Reyes and Sergio Martinez, and many more. Neila Tazi—festival producer, founder of A3 Communications, and one of the most prominent advocates of Gnaoua music internationally—has dedicated years to bringing the Festival to its current global prominence. Francesca, an architect from Rome visiting the festival, remarked how Essaouira's urban fabric was energized by concerts spread across the city: "As an architect and music lover, I was really struck by how the city's urban fabric was in synergy with each event, creating intimacy in each space. I felt hosted and gathered by the city through the music." For its 25th edition, the festival expanded its offerings, partnering with Berklee College of Music for a week of talks and workshops around Essaouira. Additionally, it established a dedicated Gnaoua culture chair in collaboration with the Center for African Studies at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Benguerir. These initiatives build upon the festival team's monumental efforts over the past quarter-century, placing Morocco firmly on the global cultural stage and encouraging musicians from Africa and beyond to participate, honoring the Gnaoua heritage. "When the idea of a collaboration between Berklee and the Gnaoua World Music Festival first emerged, it felt like a natural fit," said María Martínez Iturriaga, Senior Vice President of Berklee Global. "Both institutions share a deep commitment to celebrating and preserving the rich musical traditions of Africa and the African diaspora while fostering spaces where these traditions can engage in dialogue with cultures from around the world. The educational program we launched together last June embodies this vision, serving as a dynamic creative laboratory where musicians from diverse backgrounds learn not only from Berklee's esteemed faculty but also from one another. We are thrilled to continue this collaboration and eager to witness the new sounds and artistic exchanges that will emerge from this unique learning experience." Berklee has confirmed its participation for the 2025 festival, following their successful inaugural partnership. Saint Levant's headline performance was celebrated by fans from diverse backgrounds, delivering a powerful message of Palestinian liberation on the main stage. Marek Razzouk, founder of Abu Recordings and Saint Levant's manager, highlighted the importance of participating in the festival: "Gnaoua is one of the most fascinating genres to ever come from North Africa. Its fusion of culture and influences transcends borders, and in many ways, Gnawa is our very own jazz." Razzouk added, "It's great to support local festivals and initiatives, but we as young artists and budding executives are genuinely grateful for these platforms and opportunities." A highlight of the festival was the vibrant array of workshops. A standout was the Zaouli Tradition workshop by the Gnaoua Festival team, spotlighting dance and storytelling from the Gouro people of Ivory Coast. The two-hour session drew an audience of all ages and backgrounds, blending storytelling, music, and dance into an unforgettable experience. "Beyond the impressive lineup, the Zaouli tradition workshop was a joy," shared an attendee. "Learning beginner dance steps with such a diverse crowd was exhilarating and offered a real sense of connection." The Gnaoua Festival celebrates the convergence of musical communities from Africa and beyond, providing an essential, unique space to learn, dance, and engage in authentic community spirit. The next Gnaoua and World Music Festival will take place from June 16th to 21st, 2025, in Essaouira.
Morocco World
09-02-2025
- Morocco World
National Geographic Mesmerized by Essaouira's Tourism Assets
Rabat \u2014 International entertainment website National Geographic has dedicated a lengthy report, discussing the mesmerizing <\> tourism<\><\> assets in Morocco's wind city of Essaouira.<\><\> The North African country has been <\> strengthening<\><\> its position as a primary destination for many tourists, with many preferring cities like Marrakech, Fez, Rabat, and Chefchaouen.<\><\> But Essaouira's vibe and vibrant atmosphere, ranging from seafood to Gnaoua music, continue to attract thousands if not millions of tourists on an annual basis.<\><\> \"Centuries of cultural exchange have made this Moroccan city a haven for lovers of food, music, and design,\" the website said, recalling celebrities' experience \u2014 particularly that of Jimi Hendrix.<\><\> The old medina, the mellahs, and the colorful rags hanging on the city's walls are themselves a vibe. Strolling in the old medina's neighborhoods and smelling artisans' handmade Moroccan traditional cloths, and the smell of fried fish or tagine can attract not only foreign tourists, but also locals who flock to the city year around \u2014 especially during the summer to celebrate Ganaoua music.<\><\>\>\> \>\> \>\> \>\> \>\> \> \>\> \>\> \> Click allow to get notifications on every article we post.
