Morocco’s Culture Minister Attends National Festival of Popular Arts in Marrakech

Marrakech – Morocco’s Culture and Youth Minister Mehdi Bensaid attended on Friday the second day of the 52nd edition of the National Festival of Popular Arts (NFPA) at the Royal Theatre of Marrakech.

Organized by the Grand Atlas Association in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication as well as the Regional Council of Marrakech-Safi, the festival’s theme this year centers around the “Secrets of Dances and Gestures.”

The Harti Garden, the Royal Theatre, the Jemaa el-Fna square and Moulay El Hassan esplanades are all expected to be filled with visitors until June 26, 2023, as they explore a program rich in performances by a large range of artists exhibiting diverse folklore arts representing all parts of Morocco, from the North to the Sahara.

Officially launched on June 22, 2023, the NFPA kicked off with a majestic parade from the Harti garden to the Royal Theatre of Marrakech where the first spectacle took place with dozens of popular groups performing and representing their origins and traditions.

A second spectacle was performed on June 23, with attendees including Morocco’s Culture and Youth Minister Mehdi Bensaid and Professor Mohamed Knidiri, President of the Grand Atlas Association.

Also in attendance at the Marrakech Royal Theater on Friday was renowned Moroccan artist Rhany Kabbadj, who is scheduled to perform at the Jemaa el-Fna square on June 24, 2023.

“I want to thank you, Minister, for your presence among us and for your significant support of the festival,” Knidiri told the minister.

For his part, Mehdi Bensaid spoke of the ministry’s ongoing support of the NFPA, stressing: “The Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication will always support this festival because of the importance of popular arts in our heritage.”

Morocco’s popular arts are considered as a non-material heritage, the minister argued, stressing the importance of continually exhibiting them to the public.

Bensaid added that the protection of our artistic heritage is also a necessary step that will be concretized with the creation of a “Moroccan label” which aims to prevent any attempt to misappropriate Morocco’s know-how in artistic creations.

Another challenge that the Ministry of Youth and Culture is working on is “for the concept of non-material heritage to become part of the cultural industry so that it benefits the people who live from their art” said the minister, who recently signed an agreement with the European Union in this regard.

Bensaid concluded his remarks by recalling that Marrakech will be named Cultural Capital of the Islamic World in 2024. “Many cultural activities are expected to be held in Marrakech next year,” he said.