Morocco World News
Fez, June 13, 2012
The 48th edition of the National Festival of Folk Art will take place in Marrakech from June 20 to 24 under the theme “Caravan”. It will be an opportunity to celebrate Moroccan national folklore and introduce a group of young artists to showcase their talents and learn from the experience of the pioneers in the adult folk arts. It will also be an occasion to ensure the transmission of this cultural heritage to the younger generations. Most of festival’s activities will be in El Badi Palace, in addition to other sites around the city.
This year’s edition of the festival will be based on a new vision of folk art, which is derived from Moroccan traditional cultural heritage with an innovative and creative blend.
The program of the festival includes a mobile exhibition, which will be roaming in Mohammed V Avenue to give a larger audience a chance to enjoy and experience traditional folk music, songs and dances first hand.
The program will also include setting a small village for the festival in the olive groves in the Shabab gardens of the red city, which will be dedicated to providing popular arts and traditions to the public in order to create a bridge for communication and definition of artistic expression that features authentic Moroccan cultures.
A large residence will also be provided for Lem’elmin (masters of Moroccan folk arts), their traditional bands, and Moroccan young artists from the younger generation in order to facilitate communication between generations and to involve them all in distinct creativity moments.
Among the traditional folk bands that will participate in the festival will be: ‘bidat Rma, Ahidous Ain A’arma, Ahouash Imentanout, Ahouash Ouarzazate, Ahouash Tisint, Aissawa, Daqqa lMerrakshiya, Gnawa, and lKedra.