By Alexandra Gritta
By Alexandra Gritta
Rabat – The Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) is organizing a promotional event called “Moroccan Week” in São Paulo. The event will run from April 27 – May 2, and will take place at the Conjunto Nacional building on Avenida Paulista.
In an effort to encourage Brazilian tourism to Morocco, ONMT is hosting the free event “Moroccan Week” to exemplify Morocco’s cultural diversity.
The event will feature music and dance performances, art demonstrations, henna body painting, Arabic calligraphy, a mint tea ceremony, and parades showcasing typical Arab garb, such as the kaftan – a traditional robe often made of silk, cotton, or cashmere, usually donned at weddings and religious celebrations.
There will be a total of six parades, which will take place on Saturday, April 28, and Sunday, April 29, at 2 p.m., 5 p.m., and 7 p.m.
Guests are encouraged to check out the Orquestra de Música Marroquina (the Moroccan Music Orchestra), which will be performing Andalusian music that dates back to the 9th century. It is considered a blend of Amazigh and Spanish influences, and differs drastically from other forms of Arab music.
The director of ONMT for Portugal in charge of Brazil, Abdellatif Achachi, will be attending the event.
“Morocco is located strategically between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, lending it geography of valleys and mountains which come together and leave tourists breathless,” Achachi states.
He continues, “[Between] Europe, Africa, and the Middle East are a melange, [Morocco is] a beautiful historic mosaic linking together the past and the present, and bringing incredible diversity.”
São Paulo is one of 26 states in the Federative Republic of Brazil, and contains the country’s most populous metropolis. Its population should help maximize the event’s exposure. This is the second time the region has hosted Moroccan Week; the first weeklong festival occurred in 2015.
