Fez – Under the roof of Zalagh Parc Palace in Fez, voices from across continents filled the air with warmth, reverence, and anticipation.
The festival’s artists, organizers, and others gathered to speak about everything from their art to cultural connections.
Abderrafie Zouiten, President of the Fez Esprit Foundation, took to the podium and greeted the room with a smile. “Welcome to all, and thank you for being here. A special thanks to the journalists and the artists who have traveled from afar to be part of this journey.”
Zouitene then spoke with conviction about this year’s chosen theme: Renaissances. “We often hear that word and think of Italy,” he said, pausing briefly. “But Morocco, too, is undergoing its own kind of renaissance. A renewal. Culture now claims a larger space in our society. And that matters because culture shapes the Morocco of tomorrow.”
He described Fez not just as a host city, but as a symbol. “Fez stands as the oldest city in Morocco, more than twelve centuries of wisdom, art, and faith. It has always welcomed difference, always held the door open to the sacred and the secular alike.”
The presence of artists from countries such as the Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mali, and Burundi, he said, mirrors the heartbeat of Africa, a continent powered by spiritual vitality and cultural exchange.
“Through this festival, we hope to show the strength and beauty that emerges when cultures cross paths.”
This year’s guest of honor, Italy, shares a rare and special connection with Fez.
Italy’s Ambassador to Morocco, Armando Barucco spoke of it with pride. “Florence, the cradle of the European Renaissance, is twinned with only one city in the world, and that city is Fez,” he said.
“Since 1961, our two cities have shared more than friendship. They share a mission, to preserve beauty, foster dialogue, and elevate the human spirit.”
Barucco also pointed to Italy’s role at the festival. “We asked ourselves what we could bring that would honor this invitation,” he said. “So we turned to our musical heritage. Monteverdi, born in Cremona, stands as a pillar of Italian sacred music. By bringing his work here, we do more than perform, we extend a hand, a gesture of cultural respect.”
Beyond the speeches, the room pulsed with stories. One artist from Senegal spoke of the joy he felt performing in the heart of Fez. Another, from Burundi, called the festival “a celebration of the soul.” Each voice added another thread to the event, proof that while instruments may differ, the music and culture often speaks the same language.
Moreover, Alain Weber, who served as the artistic director of the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music since 2010 was also present.
A key architect of the festival’s evolution, Weber introduced immersive productions like “Nights of the Medina,” which bring each year’s theme to life through multimedia storytelling and cutting-edge mapping technology at Bab Al Makina.
The Foundation also announced a deeper commitment to education. Through partnerships with five universities, UPF, Euromed, Sidi Moulay Ben Abdellah, Moulay Ismail, and the ancient Quaraouiyine, they seek to draw young minds into the world of heritage, tangible and intangible.
As the gathering closed, the atmosphere remained electric, but grounded in purpose. Fez, once again, positioned itself as a city of memory and meaning.
