12th INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF AMAZIGH CULTURE

The twelfth international festival of Amazigh Culture will be held in Fez from 15 to 17 July 2016, under the theme: "Amazigh and Mediterranean Cultures: Living together"

This festival is part of the Royal Directives relating to the promotion of Amazigh culture and Moroccan culture in general. The highlight of this initiative is the emphasis on the important role of the Amazigh and intangible heritage of Mediterranean cultures in human development and their contributions to the culture of peace. 10 Mediterranean countries will participate in the Festival

The festival, organised by The Fès-Saiss Association and the South North Centre in partnership with The Spirit of Fes Foundation and with the support of the Fès-Meknès Region and the BMCE Foundation, focuses on intercultural and inter-religious dialogue and the role of Amazigh culture in the process of democratisation in the Maghreb and in the maintenance of peace. The festivals aim is to establish coherent strategies to consolidate intercultural dialogue, social cohesion and democratic culture throughout the Mediterranean region as part of the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures (2013-2022) and the program of action for a culture of peace and non-violence. The main festival venue is the Palais des Congrès.

The festival consists of four main events:
- An International forum on the theme: “Amazighness and Mediterranean Cultures: Living together”, to be held at the Palais des Congrès.
- A round table on the role and contribution of artists and intellectuals from the Mediterranean to the culture of peace (Palais des Congrès)
- An exhibition of arts and crafts at the Palais des Congrès.
- Amazigh and Mediterranean music concerts in Bab Makina

Morocco's legendary Nass El Ghiwane

Featuring in this international festival the Franco-Algerian artist Ali Amrane, Nouamane Lahlou, Nass El Ghiwane, the artists Cherifa Kersit, Badr Habit, the Ahidous dance, flamenco dance and many other stars of the Amazigh and Mediterranean song.

Cherifa Kersit

The Festival objectives:
- to bring together artists and intellectuals of the countries of the Mediterranean to create a synergy around the Arts and Cultures, as factors of dialogue, understanding and peace.
- to together the largest number of stakeholders of the Mediterranean countries without distinction of origin and religion, all those who work for the humanistic values ​​of freedom, solidarity, and peace to combat violence and extremism in a crucial time for the Region.
- to display a positive image of the Amazigh culture and the southern shore cultures by the quality and creativity of its artists and fruitful exchanges that may result from such gatherings, because there is a complementarity and mutual enrichment in the field of Arts Art and crafts.

The event is part of a larger project that began in 2005 and includes several components: training, production, promotion and transmission of experience between well known Amazigh artists and young emerging artists, between generations and between countries on both shores.

The festival also aims to bring together artists and intellectuals around humanist and progressive values, to educate the general public about the role of culture and its impact on human and social development, and also to promote Amazigh and Mediterranean cultures and their contribution to the culture of peace and rapprochement of cultures.

The festival is an opportunity to learn about Amazigh Culture

The Festival's Forum Objectives

One of the main goals of this international forum is to discuss an integrated approach to the role of cultural and religious dialogue in the consolidation of modernity and democracy, an approach that emphasises the human and social dimension, because at the heart of the issue of culture is a human and socio-economic dimension.

Topics on the forum agenda:

- The history of interchange between Amazigh and Mediterranean cultures
- The role of the Amazigh heritage and popular culture in the Mediterranean civilisation
- Multiculturalism, multilingualism and education in the Mediterranean region
- Amazigh, Islam and democracy
- Inter-faith Dialogue and Secularism
- Modernity and social change
- Fighting extremism and violence in the region
- The role of dialogue and language in conflict resolution
- Multiculturalism, migration and creative art in the Mediterranean
- The problem of refugees in the region

The forum is an opportunity for experts, researchers, and civil society leaders to discuss issues related to history, modernity, and cultural diversity and their role in the consolidation of peace, democracy, development, and social cohesion.

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