The World's Largest Flamenco Festival Begins its Tour in Morocco

Rabat – The World Flamenco Congress, considered the largest festival of this art in recent decades, starts its international tour featuring dance, music, and forums in Morocco on Monday, March 7, 2022.

The Cervantes Institute reports that the event celebrates the 30th anniversary of the institute and is organized with the Moroccan Ministry of Culture and the Spanish embassy in Morocco.

Its world tour will be held in several countries and will include shows and activities around the theme “The Word: Africa”.

The festival will arrive in Morocco starting March 7 through March 19 and appear in Casablanca, Fez, Marrakech, Rabat, Tangier, and Tetouan.

The performances begin with a recital by Sergio de Lope on flute and sax accompanied by vocalist Abir El Abad called “The Journey of the Blackbird,” which merges the characteristics of traditional Arab music and flamenco. They will perform the piece on March 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12 during the national event.

Faustino Nunez, a flamencologist-expert and Spanish musicologist, and Amin Chaacho, a Moroccan musicologist and musician, will host a talk on the theme “The Roots of Arab Music and Flamenco” at the festivals on March 9 and 10 in Rabat and Tetouan.

Other tour dates include performances of “Nacida Sombra” by Rafaela Carrasco, which represents a meeting of flamenco with the texts of great Spanish classical authors of the 16th and 17th centuries, and “Cuerpo Nombrado” by Paula Comitre.

Antonio Manuel, musician and teacher, will also be giving a lecture titled “Archaeology of Jondo. The Word Flamenco” in Marrakech, Rabat, and Tanger, on March 15, 16, and 17, respectively.

The Cervantes Institute in Rabat will screen a flamenco-related documentary, “So Close so Far, Chekara Orchestra and Flamenco ” by Pepe Zapata on March 18.

Inspired by the gypsy Gitano sub-culture in Andalusia, Flamenco is a manifestation of the majestic nature of the Flamingo bird. The bird is a symbol of Spanish identity. Due to the proximity and immense history of cultural exchanges between Morocco and Spain, it is ideal for Morocco to be chosen as the first country to host the international festival.