Rabat – Mawazine festival has regretfully announced the cancellation Ziyad Rahbani’s performance at the Mohammed VI Theatre on June 22.
In place of the Lebanese composer and pianist, Syrian singer Mayada El Hennawi will perform. El Hennawi is known for her unique and melodic voice, which has earned her the nickname “the singer of love.”
Her career kicked off in the 1970s, when at age 18 she was discovered by legendary Egyptian singer-songwriter Mohammed Abdel Wahab. Since then, she has accumulated an extensive discography and collaborated with the greatest Arab lyricists and composers such as Ahmed Rami and Riad El Sonbaty.
Egyptian Baligh Hamdi is to thank for composing the majority of her top hits including Sidi Ana, Al-hob Elli Kan, and Ana Baachaak.
Festival goers that already purchased tickets for Ziyad Rahbani’s concert will remain valid and can be used to attend the Mayada El Hennawi concert. Refunds will be administered at the Mawazine point of sale where the purchase was made.
Mawazine, a festival in Rabat with six venues will take place from June 21 to June 29 and is organized by Maroc Cultures under the patronage of King Mohammed VI. Having drawn over 2.5 million attendees in recent years, Mawazine is the second largest music festival in the world, after Donauinselfest in Vienna, and the largest festival in Africa.
The festival brings in artists from countries all over the world as well as highlighting local Moroccan musicians. Last year, the festival saw major international acts perform such as Martin Garrix, Bruno Mars, Luis Fonsi, and The Weeknd.
The festival lists the democratization of culture in Morocco as one of its initiatives and provides free access to 90% of its shows each year.
