Rabat – Princess Lalla Hasnaa, President of the Foundation for the Safeguarding of Rabat’s Cultural Heritage, visited the Azerbaijan International Carpet Festival in Baku on Sunday, where ancestral craft continues to hold a central place in everyday life.
Held in the old city of Icherisheher, the festival draws attention to the enduring legacy of Azerbaijani carpet weaving. The art has long stood as a symbol of identity and cultural memory.
In 2010, it was recognized by UNESCO as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
Princess Lalla Hasnaa was welcomed as guest of honor by key cultural and civic figures. Among them were Emin Mammadov, chairman of Azerkhalcha, the national body responsible for promoting and preserving Azerbaijani carpet weaving, and Rufat Mahmud, mayor of Icherisheher.
Morocco’s ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mohamed Adil Embarch, and the Director General of the Maison de l’Artisan, Tarik Sadik, were also present.
During her tour, the Princess visited pavilions from participating nations, such as Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Tatarstan. Every display demonstrated a common regional commitment to textile heritage and craftsmanship.
She also visited the Azerbaijani Center of Traditional Arts, where young artisans and artists acquire techniques handed down through generations. The center has classes in ceramics, jewelry making, batik and woodwork. Its workshops impart not only techniques but an awareness of continuity of culture.
Central to the visit was the encounter with the process of weaving. The Princess saw firsthand how each carpet is made from raw yarn through to finished pattern. She saw pieces from across Azerbaijan, each one typified by distinctive colour combinations, geometric forms and interwoven motifs.
Princess Lalla Hasnaa also paid a visit to a digital artwork installation called Zaman (Time) by designer Narjis Asgarova. The installation presents a contemporary reading of Azerbaijani cultural symbols and brings Icherisheher’s mystic historic architecture to life. It was created to mark the 25th anniversary of the old city’s inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage list and the 15th anniversary of the recognition of Azerbaijani carpet art as a cultural treasure.
The festival brought together exhibitions, interactive displays, and educational programs that paid tribute to the country’s master weavers. It honored those who continue to pass on the quiet precision, patience, and artistry that define this timeless craft.
Princess Lalla Hasnaa’s presence at the event reflected Morocco’s commitment to cultural preservation and cross-cultural dialogue. Her visit also underlined the shared value placed on craftsmanship and tradition as living forces that shape collective identity and memory.
