Marrakech – As the first rhythms echoed across the ancient stones of El Badi Palace this Friday night, it became immediately clear that this wasn’t just another festival, it was the heartbeat keeping Moroccan musical heritage alive.
The opening night of the 54th Festival National des Arts Populaires (FNAP) marked the beginning of a five-day celebration of Moroccan heritage and a revival of the soul of the nation.
Under the theme “Patrimoines immatériels en mouvement” (Intangible cultural heritage in motion), this year’s edition bridges ancestral memory with modern-times. Organized by Association Le Grand Atlas in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, FNAP 2025 brings together over 750 artists from across Morocco and beyond, including a special performance by a visiting troupe from China.
The night began with Arabic poetry. As the Moroccan national anthem played, the audience rose in unison, then softly broke into “Sla wa slam A’la Rassol Allah,” echoing like a sacred refrain across the historic palace.
Soon after, the Chinese dragon dance swept across the stage, a gesture of friendship and intercultural dialogue. But when the Moroccan troupes took over; Ahidous, Ahouach, Reggada, Guedra, Mizane, Gnaoua, the palace trembled with life. Each performance brought more than dance or music. They told stories of love, loss, war, harvest, resistance, migration, and rebirth. Each performance was a ship taking us to the region that music came from.
It was the Reggada (traditional dance troupe) of Oujda that sent feet flying. An Ahwash (traditional Amazigh music) group from Tafraoute followed as a unified moving body of rhythm and chants, followed by a local Gnaoua group from Marrakech that shook the ground with chants and the sound of krakebs that felt like spells.
From the melodic yells of Amazigh group Aouad Ait Baamrane to the romantic ballads of Tisset Tata, every performance was a window into a distinct cultural world. The Aabidat R’ma of Oued Zem group had the crowd clapping and laughing uncontrollably, mixing music with comic relief and audience participation in a way only they know how.
The night also included heartfelt tributes. Cultural icons such as Rokiya Al Gadir, Abdessamad Leguessiss, and the leader of Ahwash Tissent Tata were honored on stage. The applause that followed felt less like celebration and more like collective gratitude.
From the seats of El Badi, one could see the past and present collide in real time. Young people danced beside elders, tourists smiled in awe, famous figures such as singer Fouad Zbadi and Actor Abdellah Farkouss witnessed their culture prevail in front of their eyes, and artists stood tall in their traditional garb. Their heritage on full display, not in a museum, but in motion.
As the night unfolded, the opening ceremony of FNAP 54th edition revealed itself as a living, breathing portrait of Morocco – a celebration of rhythm, memory, and rich culture.
