Will the Mawazine Festival Survive?

The Mawazine ("Rhythms") Festival is a festival of pop music featuring Arab and international music icons. It has been running since 2001 and takes place annually in Rabat. Mawazine is one of several events which are intended to promote an image of Morocco as a tolerant nation, with a post on the event's website declaring that the festival intends to promote and "support Rabat, as a city open to the world". However, Mawazine has never been far from controversy. Now questions are being asked about its future.

Over the years a section of the community has criticised Mawazine for "encouraging immoral behaviour". There has also been criticism from politicians. As The View from Fez reported back in 2010, (see story here) the head of the Justice and Development Party (PJD) parliamentary group, Mustapha Ramid, led the attack on Sir Elton John's appearance at the Mawazine Festival, "We categorically reject the appearance of this singer because there is a risk of encouraging homosexuality in Morocco," Ramid said at the time. "The problem is not with the singer himself but the image he has in society," another leading party member, Lahcen Daoudi, added. "Moroccan society has a negative perception of this singer and we must take it into consideration."

Elton John performs at Mawazine

The performer Kayne West became embroiled in a Mawazine controversy in 2011 (see our story here) when he refused to speak to the press to help promote the festival’s theme of peace, hope, and tolerance. Moroccans were also disturbed by the amount he was paid. West received a reported $1 million for his nearly two-hour performance. One festival organiser, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “In this poor country, we could have built two or three schools with that money. The least he could have done was sent a message of hope to the people via the media.”

Kayne West at Mawazine

At a time when the Internet has become fertile ground for Moroccan activists, social media has become an important set of tools for those wanting to take a stand against the festival. There are a number of  Facebook pages calling for the government to cancel the festival. The most active page,  “The National Campaign for the Abolition of Mawazine Festival” has the slogan,“We are not against art but we are against wasting people’s money”. The page has a total of more than 35, 511 supporters of the campaign.

Abderrazak from Casablanca states in a comment on the site: “The ruling party PJD, that was always preaching and raising its voice for the abolition of the previous editions of the festival and exposing the huge amounts of money that were spent there, should react to what’s happening this year too. They are ruling the government now and they didn’t issue any statement towards this year’s edition of the festival and in the meanwhile, the organizers are still signing contracts with foreign artists. This is a black spot in the history of the current government.”

It seems like 2012 will be a repeat of previous years as the 11th edition of the Mawazine Festival (18- 26 May) is again being criticised, not for the morals of the performers, but for excessive payments to artists. According to reports, Mariah Carey, is due to receive more than $830,000 for her gig at the closing ceremony of the festival in Rabat.

Mariah Carey - to perform for $830,000

Nidal Chebbak, writing for Morocco World News, says that with her performance pay, Mariah Carey will rank second on Mawazine’s list of the highest paid entertainers, just behind the late Whitney Houston who received US $890,000 for her 2008 performance. Ms. Carey’s performance pay will also top that of her Colombian counterpart, Shakira, who recently received $772,000 for 30 minutes on stage.  And, according to Chebbak, "These obscenely high compensations are heavily criticized by the majority of Moroccans who object to the lavish music festivals for their waste money on international singers as opposed to meaningful investments that could help improve living conditions of millions of Moroccans".

A very good point is made in the Morocco World News article when they ask questions about the intentions of the new PJD government. Given the political party's previous strong statements concerning the festival, one would have expected a rapid response to the controversy over payments to foreign performers. After the last festival, and before coming to power, Mrs Bassima Hakkaoui, now the PJD's Minister of Solidarity, Women, Family and Social Development, stated that she was, “totally against such events where money is wasted, instead of directing it towards a human societal cause that would benefit the people. The millions that were spent on the festival could have been invested to secure jobs for the unemployed Moroccan youth, or to provide food for the hungry, or set logistics for democracy. We need those billions that were given to a dancer to come to the closing ceremony of the festival,” she said.

Mawazine critic Bassima Hakkaoui

Morocco World News ends their story with a clever aside about sport and politics, saying that the Mawazine issue comes amid a heated controversy over the salary being paid to Morocco’s national team’s coach Eric Gerets. According to many news reports, he earns a monthly salary of 250,000 Euros, which turns him into the highest paid coach of a national team in the world. In exchange for this exorbitant salary he rewarded Morocco’s fans with a early and shameful elimination from the first round of the African Cup of Nations, which was hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

LINKS
Read the Morocco World News article here. Morocco World News
Festival organisers: Maroc Cultures
Festival Website:  Mawazine

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Rihanna to Headline Morocco's Mawazine 2013 Festival

The Mawazine Festival has confirmed that  seven-time Grammy winner, Rihanna, will perform at this year’s festival in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, as the headline attraction on opening night, Friday, May 24. 

Rihanna at this year's Grammy Awards

The Morocco Culture Association has announced that singer Rihanna will perform at the 12th annual Mawazine Festival, Rhythms of the World.

Rihanna will perform on the stage of the OLM Souissi in Rabat on Friday, May 24, 2013 as the headline opening act.

The performance by the R & B and pop superstar, before an estimated crowd of more than 70,000, will be part of her Diamonds World Tour. Rihanna won her 7th Grammy award at the 55th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, for Best Short Form Music Video, with “We Found Love.”

Each spring in May, the Mawazine Festival has rocked Rabat to the sounds of music from the four corners of the Earth, including exceptional artists such as Elton John, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Shakira, Mika, Sugababes, Stevie Wonder, Kylie Minogue, LMFAO, Pitbull, and Alicia Keys.

The Mawazine ("Rhythms") Festival is a festival of pop music featuring Arab and international music icons. It has been running since 2001 and takes place annually in Rabat. Mawazine is one of several events which are intended to promote an image of Morocco as a tolerant nation, with a post on the event's website declaring that the festival intends to promote and "support Rabat, as a city open to the world".

Over the years a section of the community has criticised Mawazine for "encouraging immoral behaviour". There has also been criticism from politicians.

As The View from Fez reported back in 2010, (see story here) the head of the Justice and Development Party (PJD) parliamentary group, Mustapha Ramid, led the attack on Sir Elton John's appearance at the Mawazine Festival, "We categorically reject the appearance of this singer because there is a risk of encouraging homosexuality in Morocco," Ramid said at the time. "The problem is not with the singer himself but the image he has in society," another leading party member, Lahcen Daoudi, added. "Moroccan society has a negative perception of this singer and we must take it into consideration."

The Festival lineup this year looks stunning and with no acts likely to upset the politicians. The inclusion of a wide range of artists including the legendary Deep Purple and famed Gnawa musician Hamid el Kasri, would suggest that the festival, in its 12th edition, is set to be a great success.


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Mariah Carey at Morocco's Mawazine Festival 2012

Since Mariah Carey attempted to opt out of the spotlight around eighteen months ago in order to have her twins, she has been under intense scrutiny. The main reason for all the attention was that Mariah and her husband, Nick Cannon named their children Moroccan and Monroe. At the same time Ms Carey showed the world the Moroccan-themed room in her New York apartment.

The choice of names was a great generator of media focus, but not always with the result an aspiring pop-diva might have hoped. The couple’s son Moroccan tied with Alicia Silverstone’s son’s name Bear Blu for the worst boy’s name of the year, according to Ministry of Gossip. More than 10,000 visitors to BabyNames.com voted on the worst and best names of the year.

But despite the adverse publicity in the gossip rags, it has paid off in one way. Mariah Carey has the closing night gig at the Moroccan Mawazine Festival. It will be her first performance since the birth of her twins last year.

 The 11th Mawazine Festival runs in Rabat from May 18th to May 26th. According to the organisers, Mariah Carey will close the festival with a set that includes at least two new songs.

 As The View from Fez has reported in the past, previous performers have included Shakira, Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Elton John and Whitney Houston.

Elton John at Mawazine

SEE UPDATED MARIAH CAREY AT MAWAZINE STORY HERE

See our previous Mawazine Festival stories here.


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Mawazine - The Not So Sacred Festival!

While the attention of sacred music lovers is turned to tonight's opening in Fez, there are other more secular offerings in Morocco. The 16th edition of the Mawazine Festival in Rabat and Sale also starts today and is expected to draw more than two million spectators

Running from today until May 20th the festival is offering around one hundred acts.

Tonight's opening features British pop star Ellie Goulding on the "international" stage of the festival and Charles Aznavour, in the Mohammed V Theatre.

The opening night of the Mawazine Festival

Other acts during the festival include American rapper Wiz Khalifa, the ex-singer of the Fugees Lauryn Hill, the very bling-bling French rapper Booba, New York musician Nile Rodgers and Rod Stewart.

On the "African" stage, at the foot of the Kasbah des Oudayas, at the mouth of the Bouregreg river, the Ivorian Alpha Blondy, the Malian couple Amadou and Mariam or the Angolan Bonga will be the main attractions.

It is encouraging to see that half of the programming is devoted to Moroccan artists and singers. These include Asma Lamnawar, Hatim Ammor, Latifa Raafat, Fatima Tabaamrant, Hamid El Kasri, Zina Daoudia and Saida Charaf.

In 2016, the Mawazine Rhythms of the World festival gathered 2.6 million spectators, according to its organisers.

The Fez Festival Opening

In Fez, the opening night spectacular, Tales of Water, takes place at Bab al Makina at 9pm

The opening night creation on the theme of water will be a look at water from both an ecological and spiritual perspective.

It was around water that were built the great founding cities like Fez and that will be the starting point of the show. The fountain gives purifying water from the spring.

Each fountain in Fes will be the beginning of a story and a different fable that will take us across oceans, rivers, mountain springs. Between references to the Bible, the Koran and Sufism, the great founding myths will help us to understand the importance of respect for water and nature for the future of the earth.

The ocean and the rivers will be evoked in Amerindian traditions, the Caribbean and South America as well as in the origin of Fez as a refined system of irrigation.

"In the Maghreb, the well-known Aïsha Kandisha, a giant djinn who protects lovers, haunts rivers ready to lure the solitary wanderer or lost shepherd to her nocturnal beauty. In Fes, she is hidden within the waters of Oued El Jawahir (River of Pearls) which runs on the outskirts of the medina, under the bridge at Place de la Noriah, just behind Bab al Makina. In this place, inhabitants talk of a mystical dimension, leaving offerings of candles, bread, and a slaughtered black cockerel to appease the djinn" - Artistic Director Alain Weber

Once again the show will employ sophisticated mapping and other scenographic techniques

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MAWAZINE Festival ~ Rhythms of the World

The 10th Mawazine World Rhythms festival will run from 20 to 28 May in the capital Rabat with a thrilling programme, organizers said at a press briefing in Skhirate (near Rabat).

The festival will take place at 9 Rabat venues: OLM Souissi, Espace Nahda' Yaacoub El Mansour, Scène de Salé, Bouregreg, Théâtre National Mohammed V, Chellah. Villa des Arts, and Grandes Artères de Rabat.


Aziz Daki, artistic director of the festival, reports that..."The invited artists have all confirmed their presence. Nelly Furtado is the only one who apologized. Due to a delay in her new album production, she decided to cancel her international tour and not only her performance in Morocco's biggest music festival."

The organizers said they managed to get the television rights for the concerts from all the scheduled artists. "This is important because on average, the festival is followed each year by about 7 million spectators,” said one of the organizers.

This year, the festival will remain true to the identity acquired four years ago: free performances will always be maintained by boosting Mawazine’s role as a platform for emerging talent in Morocco.

“With Mawazine, international artists accept to perform in Morocco and then attend other events,” explains one of the organizers.

Moreover, in ten years of existence the festival featured 6583 artists representing 60 countries.

As many as 746 concerts were held with more than 6 million viewers, representing an annual influx of about 2.3 million festival-goers.

Among the artists to appear are Kanye West (USA - Saturday, May 21), Sugababes (UK - Sunday, May 22), Yusuf Islam (UK - Monday, May 23), Earth, Wind & Fire Experience Featuring Al Mc Kay Et Les Sister Sledge (USA - Tuesday, May 24), Quincy Jones (USA - Wednesday, May 25), Joe Cocker (UK - Thursday, May 26), Lionel Richie (USA - Friday, May 27), Shakira (Columbia - Saturday, May 28), Rashed El Majid (Saudi Arabia - Sunday, May 22), Abdelouahab Doukkali (Morocco - Friday, May 27), Julian Marley (Jamaica - Saturday, May 21), Hoba Hoba Spirit (Morocco - Monday, May 23), Femi Kuti (Nigeria - Friday, May 20), Salif Keita (Mali - Saturday, May 21), The Mahotella Queens (South Africa - Monday, May 23), Papa Wemba (Congo - Tuesday, May 24), Youssou Ndour (Sénégal - Friday, May 27), Ute Lemper (Germany - Thursday, May 26. This is only a few of the dozens of artists performing.

Final Night of Mawazine Festival

The 11th annual Mawazine Festival, "Rhythms of the World", has once again been a huge success. Despite sniping criticism from the far right conservatives, the festival has drawn enormous crowds to Rabat to celebrate music, peace and tolerance.

The Festival director, Aziz Daki, was quick to claim victory. "This huge spectator attendance is a very clear sign of victory of the values of openness and tolerance of all other "edgy"ideas over those who want to marginalize the festival."

Countering criticism that state subsidies fund the Mawazine Festival, organisers vowed that the event would no longer use public money but continue to secure performers of the same high standard. "This is the only festival in Morocco – and possibly in the world – which does not receive any subsidies from the city which hosts it," Aziz Daki said.

Mariah Carey performing at Mawazine

A number of styles of music have been represented through performers including: Cheb Khaled, Asalah Nasri, Abdallah Al Rowaished, Vigon and the Dominos, Evanescence, Nancy Ajram, Pitbull, Yolanda Be Cool, Scorpions, Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz, Fadel Shaker, Dounia Batma and more.

The four main open-air stages designed to accommodate crowds of 15,000 to more than 100,000 have been packed with people, organisers said.

Mariah Carey and son Moroccan

A capacity crowd is expected for the final concert tonight with Mariah Carey. She arrived in Rabat yesterday.

Algerian singer Cheb Khaled, the "Prince of Rai"

More than 175,000 music lovers turned out to see headliner Cheb Khaled, the "Prince of Rai" drape Moroccan and Algerian flags around his neck as he sang songs calling for harmony between countries.

During a press conference Khaled stressed the need to create a united Maghreb, along the lines of the European Union, based on brotherhood. "It would be a great source of strength," he said.

Cheikhi Brahimi, who brought his son Mohib to listen to Khaled's performance, said: "This is a symbol of brotherhood between the peoples of the Maghreb, despite their political differences. Art unites the Maghreb."

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Sting in Morocco!

"Morocco will get the foretaste of my upcoming world tour with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra of England," British musician, singer, songwriter, activist, actor and philanthropist, Sting said on Tuesday. Omar Er-rouch reports from Rabat.

"In the Mawazine festival in Morocco, I'll be playing with the Moroccan Royal Symphony Orchestra and it will be the foretaste of my upcoming world tour," Sting announced during a live call conference from New York City.

The rock legend, whose newest passion is the orchestra, will be touring the world as of June accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. A tour that will run through Christmas.

The Moroccan symphony orchestra "have already the arrangements and they are practicing. By the time, I'll get there, everything will be working well," the Inductee on the Hollywood Walk of Fame said.

Mawazine Festival: big rendezvous, big names

The British singer said the Mawazine Festival Rhythms of the World has become an important rendezvous that attracts big names. "I know some big names will be playing there: Carlos Santana, Stevie Wonder, Elton John," he underlined.

"I know I will be in a good company," he said. Other names such as Micheal Bublé, Harry Connick Jr and BB King will also be on the different stages of the festival, which will run from May 21 through 29.

The 59-year-old singer said the festival is "an opportunity for meeting music from around the world." "Modern music will be mingled with Arabic music, Rai music, so we'll get a flavour of North Africa."

“I’m very much looking forward and excited to appear before the Moroccan public,” he said, adding that the festival gives him a “very good experience to work with the Royal Symphony orchestra of Morocco. A new experience.”

Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, better known by his stage name Sting, will be playing selections from across his career, including such Police classics as “Roxanne,” “Next To You,” “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” “Every Breath You Take,” along with solo favourites including “Englishman In New York,” “Fragile,” “Russians,” “If I Ever Lose My Faith In You,” “Fields Of Gold,” and “Desert Rose.”

Morocco, a good setting for clip shooting

“Morocco is a good location for clip shooting,” Sting said. “light is beautiful, the weather is beautiful, the architecture is beautiful,” he added. Talking about the possibility to shoot a video clip in Morocco, Sting said that “it’s something possible. I love the country; it is picturesque and beautiful.”

“I’ve spent a lot of time in Morocco, I have been to Rabat, Marrakech and Casablanca,” the rock star said. “I’m very familiar with the people, they’re very friendly, a great audience,” he added. “I like coming to Morocco, I have been there several times, I came on holidays many times. I have many friends. I’m looking forward to it,” Sting said.

“I have a relationship with music in North Africa, it tastes greatly,” Sting said, adding that “I love Darbouka.”

Talking about Arabic music, he recalled his duo experience with Cheb Mami in “Desert Rose”, saying that it “was very successful.”

The winner of sixteen Grammy Award said that he has no other projects of duos with Arab singers for the moment, but it’s something that can happen. “You never know,” he underlined.
He also noted that the way Arab musicians sing is very interesting, adding that “it’s a difficult skill, it’s something that I want to learn, I enjoy learning things.”

Sting and Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra to tour the world

Sting will be hitting the road for a world tour this summer accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, performing his most celebrated songs re-imagined for symphonic arrangement. The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra will be conducted by Maestro Steven Mercurio.

The tour kicks off on June 2nd in Vancouver and will perform in New York, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Portland, Seattle, and Washington before returning back to Canada, with stops in Toronto and Montreal. The tour will take him also throughout the UK and Europe.

English native Sting has been at the forefront of rock and pop music for almost forty years. He started as a lead singer and bassist with rock/pop band “The Police”, and he has also achieved great success as a solo artist.

Composer, singer, actor, activist Sting has won universal acclaim in all these roles, but he defies any easy labelling. He’s best described as an adventurer, a risk-taker. As he himself said, “I love to put myself in new situations. I’m not afraid to be a beginner.”

Husband and father of six, masterful guitarist and bassist, a devoted Yoga practitioner, and now a writer who published his memoirs in 2004, Sting has made a career, in fact, of new beginnings.

Details:  9th Mawazine World Rhythms Festival, Morocco, May 21st-29th 2010

Islamist call to ban Elton John dismissed

An upcoming Elton John concert in Morocco will proceed as planned this month, despite a call to bar him because he's gay.

The Islamist Justice and Development Party, Morocco's main opposition, called last week for a ban of the famed British pop musician, who is slated to play a concert in Rabat at the Mawazine Festival on May 26.

Party officials argued that John's concert had "a risk of encouraging homosexuality in Morocco."

Most commentators saw the call as a rather naive attempt at playing popular politics. However, the move backfired when the party was roundly ridiculed.

"Sir Elton is one of the world's top pop singers and composers,and the Mawazine organizers invite artists on the basis of the quality of their performance on stage and according to their artistic career… [John's] private life is none of our business." - Aziz Daki

Thankfully sane heads and common sense prevailed and the festival artistic director Aziz Daki defended the pop icon and refused to cancel the concert, saying that banning an act because of sexual orientation would "undermine the respect and privacy and breach certain values that the international Mawazine festival is based on."

Beating the Ban ~ Moroccan Popular Culture Wins Again

From time to time, conservative groups in Morocco have called for performers to be banned because of their provocative style of dress, their jaunty lyrics or even their lifestyle. Regular readers of The View from Fez will well remember the fuss over Lebanese singer Haifa Wahbi and the attempts to ban Sir Elton John. In the latest incident calls were made to stop a performance by Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram. Ibn Warraq reports.

Nancy Ajram

Back in 2010,the head of the Justice and Development Party (PJD) parliamentary group, Mustapha Ramid, lead the attack on Sir Elton John's appearance at the Mawazine Festival "We categorically reject the appearance of this singer because there is a risk of encouraging homosexuality in Morocco," Ramid said at the time. "The problem is not with the singer himself but the image he has in society," another leading party member, Lahcen Daoudi, added. "Moroccan society has a negative perception of this singer and we must take it into consideration."

The PJD even went as far as requesting the Moroccan parliament ban Sir Elton from performing in the festival.

Most commentators saw the call as a rather naive attempt at playing popular politics and the move backfired when the party was roundly ridiculed.

"Sir Elton is one of the world's top pop singers and composers,and the Mawazine organizers invite artists on the basis of the quality of their performance on stage and according to their artistic career… [John's] private life is none of our business." said festival artistic director Aziz Daki. He defended the pop icon and refused to cancel the concert, saying that banning an act because of sexual orientation would "undermine the respect and privacy and breach certain values that the international Mawazine festival is based on."

Then, back in 2006, there was the Haifa Wahbi saga. Moroccan authorities denied the Lebanese singer Haifa Wahbi entry to the Kingdom where the popular singer was to to hold a charity concert for HIV research. After submitting a request for permission to enter the country, Haifa was surprisingly denied.

Haifa Wahbi

Then, barely a month later, the ban was overturned and Haifa arrived in Morocco after an invitation from the Red Badge Organization.

And now, one of Haifa's rivals, was the centre of another attempt to censor who Moroccan young people can watch perform. Islamist groups called for the concert last Saturday in Tetouan by the Lebanese singer, Nancy Ajram, to be cancelled. Again they have misread the mood of the country and their call was ignored.

Nancy Ajram

Morocco's constitutional referendum may not have gone as far as many would like, but the country is on the move and the decision makers in Rabat have no intention of turning the clock back. As journalist Martin Jay put it so eloquently in Al Arabiya, "The problem is that democracy has broken out in Morocco."

Martin Jay is a veteran of the Moroccan scene and his thoughts on reform are worth noting. In part he says... "Let’s not forget who is really driving Morocco’s reform -- the European Union – which gave Morocco a special status three years back and continues to encourage it financially with reform, which, in Euro-jargon means shaping up human rights. In all fairness, Rabat has made some progress, in particular with women’s rights and a slight, but noticeable change, in freedom of speech for hacks here. But the fact the European Union is behind the reform plan is scary at best." (read Martin's article here: Martin Jay )

But for the young people of Tetouan, this means little. What was important was that they had a chance to see Nancy Ajram perform.  What the groups calling for performers to be banned fail to get is that people in Morocco have the freedom to watch and listen to what they like and that attempts to ban simply act as great publicity for the artists.

11 Dead, 40 injured at Mawazine festival in Rabat

The Mawazine festival in Rabat was a scene of chaos on Saturday night when 11 people were killed and about 40 other people were injured when a wire fence collapsed and caused a stampede.

According to police, five women, four men and two children died in the crush. Rescuers helped to pull out survivors and transport the injured to hospital, where seven people remain under observation.

A policeman on duty outside the stadium

According to local media there were some 70,000 spectators packed into the Hay Nahda stadium to see Morrocan singer Abdelaziz Stati. Earlier in the week the festival also featured Kylie Minogue, Khaled and Alicia Keyes.

The week-long Mawazine festival is one of several events aimed at promoting Morocco's image as a modern, tolerant nation. The festival was created in 2001 and is one of the most important cultural gatherings in Morocco. Some 1,700 foreign and local performers converged on Rabat for the 2009 event which ended on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, in Casablanca, an American, of Lebanese descent, was stabbed to death on Saturday night. The victim, his wife and sister-in-law were harassed by a group of four drunkards, when they were returning back home. Following an altercation, one of the drunkards stabbed the American businessman who died in the emergency room.

The culprit and his accomplices were arrested and will be brought before court to answer for their crime.

King extends condolences to the families of music festival stampede victims

King Mohammed VI sent condolence messages to the families of the stampede victims, which occurred on Saturday night at the Hay Nahda Stadium. In these messages, the sovereign expresses his sincere condolences and deep sympathy to the families of the victims.

The monarch has also decided to personally take charge of the burial expenses of deceased people and the hospitalization charges of the wounded. The king has also given his instructions to the authorities to take the necessary measures to provide support and assistance to the families of the victims.

The sovereign has also ordered the authorities to open an investigation into the causes and circumstances of this incident. "An investigation is under way to establish the exact causes and circumstances of the incident," the Interior Ministry said in a statement.


Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Yusuf Islam at Mawazine Festival - Performing for Peace

“Everybody has got the potential to try to fulfill their lives in the way that they choose without hurting or diminishing anybody else’s right to the same.” - Yusuf Islam in response to the Arab Spring protests

“I hope to sing some songs which remind people of the message that I always try to bear, that of peace and understanding to make this world better,” Yusuf Islam, formerly known as “Cat Stevens”, said in an interview, on Sunday.

Yusuf Islam, a name he adopted since he converted to Islam in 1977, said his fans in Morocco will have a chance to enjoy some songs about love from his rich repertoire. “It is not necessarily a specific love,” he explained. “It has to do with a universal love.”

He spoke with fond nostalgia about his visit to Marrakech in the 1970s, which, he said, was a part of a trail followed by renowned artists of his generation, such as Jimi Hendrix.

“Morocco is a mysterious place if you are coming from the outside. There are a lot of things to learn,” the legendary singer said, recalling that it was in Morocco where he wrote his two songs: “how can I tell you” and “If I love”.

When asked about the motivation behind his comeback to singing, Islam said “there are many reasons why I left the music business and there are many good reasons why I felt I wanted to come back.”

“In the beginning, I climbed a lot of mountains and achieved many of my dreams in the musical world, but there was something missing, which was the spiritual part,” he explained, noting that this part has “illuminated” many of his songs.

“When I finally found some of the beautiful answers, which I have been looking for, in the Quran, my life improved. At that pointed, I decided to start a family and then I began my work in education and didn’t have much time for music,” he went on to say.

After years of tireless devotion to education and humanitarian work, Islam realized that something needed to be done “to revive the original spirit of the religion,” deploring that the projected image of Islam has been distorted because of what he termed “the silence of the majority.”

“The majority happens to be residing in the middle, but we need a spokesman and Islam needs to revive the original spirit of religion which comes directly from the word ‘Salam’ ,” Yusuf stressed, saying that “every Muslim when he meets another Muslim or a group of people, the first thing to say is “peace” and the last word is “peace”. Therefore, he added, “this message needed to be communicated”.

For him, singing is “a way of healing and connecting” with fans, whom he left in the 1970s. “Sometimes we need music just to heal,” said the London-born artist.

Speaking about his spiritual awakening and the misunderstanding he fell victim to, Yusuf said that when he embraced Islam he “was looking for the spiritual,” but when “politics came in the way” his choice was perceived by some people “to be something of fracture” in his life. This, he said, led him to write songs such as “don’t let me be misunderstood.”

As a son of a Greek Cypriot father and a Swedish mother, Yusuf said he started learning about other culture since an early age to realize that “peace is the elimination of conflict”. To advocate peace and build bridges between different cultures, he explained, “sometimes you need music, sometimes you need to hear the right word”.

Yusuf called for more efforts to be geared in this direction, commending, in this regard, Mawazine festival which offers “a great moment of sharing.”

On the popular uprising in some North African countries and other parts of the Muslim worlds, Yusuf said that the region is going through “an awakening,” reminiscent of the 1960s. “Everybody has got the potential to try to fulfill their lives in the way that they choose without hurting or diminishing anybody else’s right to the same.”

The Mawazine Festival in Rabat is held under the patronage of HM King Mohammed VI  and runs until the 28th. Yusef Islam performs tonight.

Moroccan News Briefs

Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed al Nahyan victim of glider crash in Morocco

Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed al Nahyan, chairman of the board of trustees of the Zayed Foundation for Charity and Humanitarian Works and managing director of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, was a victim of a glider crash, on Friday near the Moroccan capital, Rabat.

The Sheik is a younger brother of the ruler of Abu Dhabi, who is also president of the United Arab Emirates, but is not immediately in line for succession. Reports say the pilot of the glider was rescued and is in good condition. The search for the sheik was continuing. It is believed that the glider crashed in a lake.

The pilot, a Spanish man, was recovering today in a Rabat hospital, said Maria-José Martinez, a representative of the Spanish Embassy in Rabat, referring to the man as a co-pilot.

Moroccan gendarmerie were stationed along roads leading to the lake on Saturday, and security officials barred access to the promontory near where Sheikh Ahmed disappeared.

The lake, near farmland and valleys, is a popular spot for recreation and fishing.

Sheikh Ahmed was 27th on last year’s Forbes list of the world’s most powerful people. He is the chairman of the board of trustees of the Zayed Foundation for Charitable and Humanitarian Works.

He is well known in Oum Azza, a tiny farming village several kilometres from the crash site, where locals say he has often given charity to poor families when visiting.

Maya Gold & Silver Resumes Drilling at the Amizmiz Gold Project

There are hopeful signs for precious metal production in Morocco. Maya released a statement today saying that it was pleased to announce that it had initiated its 2010 drilling program with two drill rigs. The drill program will consist of 35 to 40 diamond drill holes for approximately 6,000 metres. Untested high priority targets remain to be followed-up and a numerous rich gold and silver showings associated to strong IP anomalies discovered recently will be tested.

Hole A-1 is in progress at 175 metres with a 90 degree azimuth and 45 degree dip to test the southern part of the TIQLIT geophysical anomaly.

Guy Goulet, President & CEO said "We are extremely pleased to resume the drilling program on our Amizmiz Project. We also look forward to announce the new drill results from our property".

Moroccan Telco may sell stake

Reuters is reporting that Morocco's second-biggest telecoms firm, Meditel, is in talks with several foreign operators to sell a stake in the company, although no deal has been agreed for now, its managing director said on Thursday.

Meditel, which competes with former monopoly Maroc Telecom, has said it has the know-how to grow on its own after the loss last year of two major investors, Spain's Telefonica and Portugal Telecom.

Their stakes of 32.2 percent each were sold to Moroccan private group Finance.com and state investment vehicle CDG for $1.15 billion in September.

Finance.com and CDG said at the time they were not ruling out the possibility of a new shareholder if it added to Meditel's value. They also say they are open to a listing of Meditel on the Casablanca stock exchange.

"Of course, we are constantly solicited by foreign operators and responses are made," Meditel's Managing Director Mohamed Elmanjra told reporters during a presentation of its 2009 results in Casablanca.

"Nothing is closed. There are ... talks with lots of foreign operators," he said. "But to say that something is done or signed is not at all the case."

Emirates Telecommunications Corp. (Etisalat) has said it is still interested in Morocco after losing out in the bidding for the Spanish and Portuguese stakes last year.

The Mawazine "battle of the bands"!

According to the online journal Magharebia, judges for fifth Mawazine Generation talent contest are zeroing in on Morocco's up-and-coming musical talent in a first round of eliminations that began March 15th in Meknes.

Musicians are in hot competition for the grand prize: a three-year recording deal, help producing an album and videos, national distribution and the possibility of performing at the 9th Mawazine World Rhythms Festival in May.

Elimination rounds will also be held in Marrakech on March 27th, Agadir on April 3rd, Casablanca on April 10th and Rabat on April 17th. The competition, launched February 15th, has attracted musicians in all genres, including hip-hop, fusion, rap and electronic music.

Morocco and Turkey - announce "sister cities"

Turkey's parliament speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin, who is currently paying a formal visit to Morocco, met with Casablanca's Regional Governor Mohammad Halab. Sahin said, "there have been positive relations between the parliaments of Turkey Morocco. The two countries signed Interparliamentary Cooperation Protocol on March 25."

Sahin also welcomed signing of sister city agreement between Casablanca and Istanbul, "I believe that this agreement will further boost bilateral relations."


Ali Sahin met with Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi of Morocco in capital Rabat on March 25.

Do Moroccans Trust Obama?

Morocco Business News is carrying and interesting report that states that the majority of Moroccans have no confidence in the American President Barack Obama, revealed a survey conducted recently by the research agency Sunergia.

Commissioned by the Moroccan daily L'Economiste, the survey found that 57% of Moroccans do not trust President Obama's rapprochement strategy towards the Arab and Muslim world, against 36%.

The study conducted in February showed that more men distrust the American president than women, as two out of three men's responses were negative, compared to 53% among women.

Concerning the Palestinian cause, most Moroccans doubted Obama's ability to solve this problem, although young people (below 40) were more pessimistic than old ones who were little hopeful.

Moreover, an overwhelming majority of respondents agreed that the Zionist lobby has great influence over American policies in the Middle East.

Thus, more than 80% of Moroccans said that the American administration's submission to the Zionist lobby will prevent any solution to the Middle Ease problem.

It is worth nothing that the survey addressed a representative sample of 603 people through the phone, from all over Morocco.

However, L'Economiste voiced its amazement, in an article titled "Bizarre, Bizarre!", over the fact that at the beginning a third of respondents declined to answer the question concerning America.

It explained that these people answered most of the form's questions except those relating to America and the American president, which pushed the research agency to reconstruct its sample.

"It was an incredible surprise," says the daily on its Wednesday publication, adding that the problem was not a refusal to answer the whole survey and not because it was commissioned by the L'Economiste or conducted by Sunergia.

The problem was simply that they refused to answer the questions concerning America and its policies in the Arab world, it further explained, expressing its inability to understand why.

Moroccan News Briefs #128

After nine days of reporting on the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music we delve back into the real world, with stories about dodgy shellfish, clean beaches,  free jazz, kissing feminists and more...

2.5 million people and 600,000 vehicles expected

With Ramadan approaching there is expected to be the normal increase in traffic backwards and forwards from Spain.

Ramadan and Eid can have a considerable impact on travel in Morocco. It is worth noting that the actual dates are defined by lunar sightings and are not confirmed until very late. Dates for Ramadan and Eid in Morocco in 2015: Ramadan: 18th June - 17th July. Eid Al Fitr: 17th July and Eid Al Adha: 24th September

In less than two weeks, Spain will begin the operation of this years "Strait Crossing" (Paso del Estrecho operación) dedicated to Moroccans travellers. This year it is expected that nearly 2.5 million people and a little over 600,000 vehicles will travel across the Mediterranean.

This operation was the subject of a meeting this week between the Spanish and Moroccan authorities. The aim is to ensure the safety of tourists and fluidity of road traffic and shipping. The traffic is expected to build up from June 15th when many Moroccans leave during Ramadan while others arrive to spend the Holy month with their families.

No matter how well organised the operations are it is normal to expect delays during peak periods.

Crocodiles return to Agadir

It has been a very long time since crocodiles swam in the the swamps of Wadi Draa. Now a new tourist attraction has brought the crocs back to Agadir. A Crocodile Park, spread over an area of ​​4 hectares in the commune of Drarga was inaugurated Saturday evening with the cutting of a ribbon and the release of 300 reptiles. The organisers promoted the opening as  a "world premiere in Agadir".

Located at the entrance of the "Croco-park" is a giant crocodile head

In addition to the presence of reptiles to attract tourists and the curious, the project initiators have added attractions, including a small outdoor amphitheater, rest areas and playground, not to mention the inevitable "treasure caves" and other nocturnal offerings of events and shopping.

The park has four main gardens, including a "blue garden" consisting mainly of blue succulents. In addition there is a water garden with a collection of water lilies and tropical area of ​​giant bamboo and other rare floral species.

The cost of the project is said to be around 25 million dirhams much of which was raised by what the Economist describes as private funds advanced by the founders - old families of Agadir.

Ticket prices are set at 70 dirhams for adults and 40 dirhams for children. Special rates are available for groups. Similarly, the institution offers season passes set at 300 dirhams for adults and 200 dirhams for children.

The opening hours are: 10:00 to 7:00 p.m. until June 20 and then 10 to 11 p.m. from 21 June to 13 September.

Ban on harvesting and marketing of shellfish in Essaouira

The Department of Marine Fisheries has decided to prohibit the harvesting and marketing of all bivalve shellfish from Oum Toyour-Chouika in the Essaouira region.

The decision was made after the results of testing conducted by the National Institute Fisheries Research (NHRI) at the growing area of Oum Toyour-Chouika of the region of Essaouira showed abnormal levels of marine bio-toxins in shellfish.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fishing recommends "consumers only source packaged products bearing health identification labels and sold in authorised retail outlets.  The ministry warns that peddled or bulk shellfish have no guarantee of safety and pose a danger to public health.

Morocco raises the Blue Flag on twenty-three beaches

The Blue Flag is a voluntary eco-label awarded to more than 4000 clean beaches and marinas in 49 countries across Europe, South Africa, Tunisia, New Zealand, Brazil, Canada and the Caribbean. Morocco joined the program in 2002 and after extensive clean up work had 5 Blue Flag beaches by 2005. This year the number has risen to 23.

The international Blue Flag label is awarded by the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, chaired by HRH Princess Lalla Hasna, and the International Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).

In 2015, 23 Moroccan beaches will fly the Blue Flag for the summer season. The beaches are spread over much of the Moroccan coast. The beaches are: Achakar (Tanger-Asilah), Sidi Moussa Aglou (Tiznit) Arekmane (Nador), Ba-kacem (Tanger-Asilah), Bouznika, Skhirate El Moussafir (Dakhla), Essaouira, Foum loued (Laayoune) , Haouzia (El Jadida), Imintourga (Mirleft), Ain Diab, Ms. Choual (Ain Diab Extension), Oualidia, Oued Laou (Tetouan), Umm Labouir (Dakhla), Safi Saidia Sidi Rahal, Sol (Tanger-Asilah) , Souiria lkdima (Safi), Tourist Resort Saidia and Cap Beddouza (Safi).

The granting of the label to a beach is made ​​on the basis of four criteria, - quality of bathing water, information, awareness and education about the environment, health and safety, and development and management. These criteria are checked throughout the season by a national committee led by the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment.

Antique Art Auction in Casablanca

Saturday, June 6th from 5 pm is the time set for an auction of rare antiques at Elden Choukry Gallery in Casablanca. Included in the auction will be Moroccan paintings, orientalist art works and a collection of Islamic and Asian art,

As well as rare carpets, ruby crystal glassware (pictured above) and antique jewellery there are art works including ""La draperie rouge" de Jacques Majorelle, "La sortie du Sultan" by Ben Ali R'bati as well as "le cuivre patiné de Belkahia".

The art works and antiques are on view from today at Elden Choukry & Auctioneers: 100, Avenue Moulay Rachid, Casablanca

French Femen activists kiss in Rabat

Visitors and locals alike were bemused at the protest by two French Femen protestors who kissed this today at the Hassan Tower in Rabat. The activists Femen announced the event on Twitter and one of the women appeared with the slogan" "In gay we trust" painted on her chest.

"They are embraced publicly celebrating LGBT rights and denounce the injustice done to the homosexual community in Morocco," say the group. It then went further by asking Morocco "to abolish its homophobic laws and its commitment made during the drafting of its Constitution in 2011".

The movement says that homophobia is not a tradition or a culture and even less should be a law. The FEMEN activists defending the right to freedom of privacy and sexual life.

In Morocco, people prosecuted for homosexuality are often given between 6 months to 3 years imprisonment under section 489 of the Penal Code which criminalises "licentious acts against nature with an individual of the same sex."

Update: Both women have been hastily deported back to France

JLo too much for Islamists

The sexually-charged show offered over the weekend by pop diva Jennifer Lopez at the Mawazine music festival in Rabat disgusted Islamist members of the ruling Justice and Development Party. The communications minister calling the broadcast on public television "unacceptable." The Mawazine music festival, which attracted more than 300,000 fans and featured some of the music industry's biggest attractions, was criticised by local media after the pop star gave a performance filled with "suggestive poses" and for being "scantily" dressed during a show that was broadcast on public television.

Mustapha Khalfi, a member of the Islamist Justice and Development party, took to social media to voice his displeasure and strongly denounce the broadcast on state television. "What was broadcast is unacceptable and goes against broadcasting law," Khalfi wrote on Twitter. Al-Khalfi added that he had asked the channel's ethics committee to examine the ethical aspects of broadcasting the concert during primetime.

The music festival, which is in its 13th year, runs until June 6 and will also see live performances by international acts such as Sean Paul, Avicii, Placebo, Akon, Sting, Usher and Maroon 5.

There had been great anticipation over whether JLo would adapt her concert to conform more to the sensibilities of conservative Muslims. Although Lopez did tone down the show somewhat to make it more discreet, the glamorous Bronx-born singer basically offered the Moroccan public the same format as she does at any of her other shows: Lots of wardrobe changes – she donned seven different outfits for her different dancing and singing numbers – all of them involving scanty clothing and plenty of skin.


Jennifer Lopez and Nabil Ayouch: Much Ado About Nothing

There has been so much talk about Jlo and about the reaction to the banning of the film Much Loved by Nabil Ayouch. In a timely and well thought out piece in Morocco World News, Majid Morceli considers the issues. Here is an extract:

More often than not, I know how I feel about things. I am either for or against something. However, this time I started out conflicted. Watching a few clips from Nabil Ayouch’s film “Much Loved” and Jennifer Lopez’s lascivious opening act in Mawazine festival threw me off.

The Moroccan part of me feels that the movie is too vulgar and too low on class and has no place in any Moroccan artistic platform. Additionally, Jennifer Lopez’s orgy of twerking and sexually provocative performance was simply inappropriate for Moroccan television.

No matter how I looked at it, I kept thinking 99.9% of Moroccans are Muslims. Of course Islam in Morocco comes in different levels and flavors, but you can bet that any Moroccan family sitting in front of its television set watching JLO or “Much Loved” will be horrified. I kept thinking that Morocco is simply not ready and will never be ready for such spectacles.

Moroccan families do not disavow such events solely based on their religious belief; they do so because it is not part of their social fabric or culture. From the clips available online, many Moroccans attending JLO’s concert are more concerned about taking pictures and videos of the performance, unlike concerts in the US where the audience is truly immersed in the performance.

Moroccan authorities need to end their system of paternalism and allow people to be free. The majority of Moroccan households are equipped with satellite televisions that can easily stream X-rated movies. Therefore, banning the movie is such pathetic move. The movie is freely available online. Are they going to ban the Internet as well?

Or is it because of Nabil Ayoush’s gutsiness to bring to life something considered taboo? Prostitution in Morocco is alive and kicking and there is no sign that it’s going to vanish anytime soon. The reason for this phenomenon is very simple: poverty. Instead of going after a movie producer, it would be more helpful to tackle the real culprit: the poverty and lack of education that are so rampant in the country.

It is utterly ridiculous to tell the world that banning the movie is to protect the image of Moroccan women. To protect women, Moroccan authorities should start by looking closely at the annual Gender Gap Index which shows Morocco falling to 133rd place overall out of 142 countries.

Read the full story here

Jazz Concert at ALC in Fez this Saturday

The Jazz Concert at ALC Fez this Saturday (June 6 at 6:30 PM) features the University of Akron Jazz Quartet in Concert!

The University of Akron Jazz Quartet features four faculty members from the School of Music: Professor Jack Schantz, Coordinator of Jazz Studies, pianist Rock Wehrmann, bassist Tim Powell, and drummer Mark Gonder.

Jack Schantz has toured the U.S. and Japan with the Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, and Woody Herman Orchestras. He served as Artistic Director of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra from 1992-2009. He has recorded with Oscar Peterson, Phil Woods, Joe Lovano, and Nancy Wilson. He has been on the Faculty at the University of Akron since 1996.

Rock Wehrmann is a pianist, arranger and producer. He has recorded with Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, and Herbie Hancock. His company, Sudden Realizations, produces music and sound design for films and broadcast.

Tim Powell is first call bassist for all Playhouse Square Center Productions. He has recorded with Harold Danko, Rosemary Clooney, Paquito D'Rivera and Joe Augustine. He has been on the Faculty at the University of Akron since 1993.

Drummer Mark Gonder has toured internationally with the Glen Miller and Tommy Dorsey Orchestras, and has recorded with Pat Pace, the Jazz Unit, and the Jack Schantz Quartet. He has been on the Faculty at the University of Akron since 1996.

The concert, which is free and open to the general public, is sponsored by the US Embassy in Morocco and the ALC-ALIF Music Club

It will be held in the garden of the American Language Center-ALIF at 2 Rue Ahmed Hiba, Fes, Ville Nouvelle

Morocco has seven million smokers

According to the National Alliance fight against drugs cited by the newspaper Al Massae, seven million Moroccans are smokers, including 500,000 children. And, according to the agency, this number is rising.

Moroccan law prohibits the sale of cigarettes to minors

These figures are an opportunity to recall that the anti-smoking law dates from 1995 is still not enforced. The law bans smoking in public places (transport, hospitals, administrative offices ...). In case of infringement, smokers are liable to a fine of 100 dirhams.

Since 2008 this prohibition even extended to cafes, bars and restaurants over 50 m². The law also prohibits the sale of cigarettes to minors, forcing tobacconists to request an ID to the client.

Petitions asking the Department of Health to enforce the law are regularly launched without any effect.

According to figures from the World Health Organization, every year tobacco kills more than five million people worldwide - more than HIV / AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. Also according to the same organization, passive smoking is responsible for 600,000 premature deaths per year, of which a large proportion of children (31%).

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