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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Morocco in May - A Cultural Feast!

From Fes to the Valley of Roses, from Essaouira to Rabat and Tan Tan, Morocco will turn into one big stage for the month of May with concerts, meetings and performances up and down the country 

Fes Festival

Top of the list is the  Fes Festival of World Sacred Music (Festival Musiques Sacrées du Monde) in Fes from May 6-15, a musical and cultural event that animates the imperial city by creating a synergy between art and spirituality each year. Women are the protagonists of this 22nd edition with the theme "the women founders" celebrating the role and influence of women of the Orient in music and poetry.

Kelaat M'gouna, approximately 100 km from Ouarzazate, hosts the Moussem des Roses, or rose festival, from May 8-10 in honour of the Damask rose growing in the valley. The colourful and perfumed festival includes concerts, dancing and events including the election of Miss Rose.

Kelaat M'gouna Rose Festival - 8th to 10th of May

From May 12-15 it is the turn of the Festival Gnaoua et Musiques du Monde in Essaouira, one of the world's most important music festivals attracting roughly 500,000 people each year. Numerous artists will entertain the eclectic public again this year with a variety of music ranging from Gnaoua to jazz, hiphop, offunky, afrobeat and world music.

Gnaoua Festival in Essaouira

The capital Rabat is to host the 15th edition of the Mawazine Festival bringing together pop, jazz and soul legends from all over the world from 20-28 May. This year the festival will open with an inaugural concert by pop king Chris Brown and close with a performance by Christina Aguilera.

The Amazigh Tan Tan Festival

Last but not least, the Amazigh (Berber) Tan Tan festival from May 23-27 brings together around 30 nomadic tribes from southern Morocco and other parts of northwest Africa in testimony to the cultural patrimony of the region's various ethnic groups. The guest of honour of the 11th edition of the festival is Tunisia.

NOTE! The Fes Festival has been extended. See details here: Fes Festival

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The Robert Plant Saga ~ A New Twist.

There was much excitement when news leaked that the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music had pulled off a coup and attracted lead vocalist and lyricist of Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant, to headline the festival. Then came the bad news that he had dropped out. In his place the Festival announced the signing of elderly bluesman Buddy Guy, an interesting choice, but hardly in the same league as Plant

Now it transpires that Robert Plant will perform in Morocco - just not at the Fes Festival.

Sorry Fez - I'm going to Rabat

Morocco World News reveals that Plant was poached from the Fes Festival by the Rabat Mawazine Festival, Rhythms of the World. L’Association Maroc Cultures announced this week that the godfather of British rock Robert will perform on Thursday, June 5th at 8:45 pm at l’OLM Souissi, in Rabat. It seems that the Fes Festival with its smaller budget could not match the Mawazine offer.

Robert Plant, who has been named “Greatest Metal Vocalist of All Time” by heavy metal magazine Hit Parader, has fans worldwide and will provide his Moroccan fans with unforgettable moments sat his first performance in Morocco.

Robert Plant has written many famous hits, such as “Stairway to Heaven” and the psychedelic song “Kashmir”.

Plant remains a great rock and roll singer, who influenced singers such as Freddie Mercury, Axle Rose and Chris Cornell, according to Rolling Stone.

In 2008, Rolling Stone named him the fifth greatest rock singer of all time. In another poll in 2011, Rolling Stone readers ranked Robert Plant the best lead singer of all time.

In 2008, Plant was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.


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The Jacksons at Mawazine Festival

The Jacksons, the best-selling family group of all time, will perform on May 28, 2013 on the stage of the OLM Souissi in Rabat as part of the 12th edition of the Mawazine Festival

Back then - the group in 1975

Their iconic soul style music is adored by millions of fans worldwide, the Jacksons, formerly known as "The Jackson Five" have forever changed the landscape of popular music. Since the 1970s and the success of Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, Tito and their brother Michael Jackson, the group has been a phenomenon.

Their unique blend of soul, pop and funk, has generated a long list of hits and a fortune for the family. ​​The Jackson Five are one of the most beloved of all time, the festival organisers said.

And now - older and richer

The Jackson Five was one of the last Tamla Motown label stars and between 1969 and 1975 the five Jackson brothers beat all sales records. With four singles ranked No. 1 on the charts - a record in the history of music - ABC, I Found That Girl, I Want You Back and I'll Be There enabled the group to gain international fame and create an entire generation of fans.

On a tour that began in 2012, the group will perform in Morocco for the first time in its history. On this occasion, he will perform their greatest hits, the songs that made ​​the group the biggest sellers in the history of music.


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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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British star Jessie J to Perform at Morocco's Mawazine Festival

British star Jessie J will be holding her first concert in Morocco next May as she takes part of Rabat’s annual world Mawazine music festival.

The Maroc Cultures Association, the festival organisers, promised that Jessie’s concert in Morocco will be an exceptional one.

The singer, who is also a coach on BBC1's The Voice, is among the best voices in the international art scene, and has sold millions of albums worldwide.

The festival, which will take place between May- June, is considered a key date for Moroccan and international music, second only to the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music.

In addition to concerts, the festival organizes contests, conferences and art exhibitions.

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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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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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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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Quincy Jones - for peace and for the children

Good news from the Mawazine Festival in Rabat. Quincy Jones, creator of the hit song, We Are The World, has partnered with UAE-based social entrepreneur Badr Jafar to jointly produce an Arabic single to raise money for arts and culture scholarships and projects for children in the Middle East and North Africa

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Bokra, an Arabic version of Jones' famous song Tomorrow (A Better You, A Better Me), is being recorded at the 10th edition of the Mawazine Festival, Rhythms of the World, currently being held in Rabat. It will have some of the biggest names in Arabic music, including Majida El Roumi (Lebanon), Kathem Al Saher (Iraq), Mayada El Hannaoui (Syria), Hussain Al Jassmi (UAE), Saber El Rebai (Tunisia), Amr Diab (Egypt), Asma Lmnawar (Morocco), singing.

Global Gumbo Group, which was established earlier this year, will record the new Arabic version of Jones’ famous anthem of peace, hope and unity. It was twenty six years ago that the iconic recording ‘We Are The World’, also produced by Jones, generated tens of millions of dollars to help ease suffering in Africa. A contemporary version of the song was also released last year to aid the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

"Tomorrow-Bokra" executive producers Quincy Jones
 (left), along  with co-producer RedOne and executive producer Badr Jafa

"I have long been a vocal proponent of music and the arts being a great asset in building bridges between people and cultures, and from my many experiences starting in 1953 touring the Middle East and North Africa with Lionel Hampton, I have witnessed that ability firsthand. I believe... people want to live in a world of peace and prosperity and it is my hope that this song will serve as a clarion call for the people of the Middle East and North Africa who share that desire for peace, hope, unity and a better tomorrow to come together to achieve that dream," said Quincy Jones.

Kayne West - takes the money but leaves no love in Morocco

Kayne West may have been a drawcard for the Mawazine Festival in Rabat, but his attitude towards the Festival's message of peace and tolerance, tarnished his previous star quality.

As the HipHop website http://www.allhiphop.com reported, West, who is no stranger to shocking moments, performed “Jesus Walks” in front of a Muslim crowd of 50,000. While the song’s message quieted the crowd somewhat and there was a language barrier, they still recited the lyrics to his more popular hits from the last seven years, like “All of The Lights” and “Gold Digger.”

Besides on-stage chat, West did not speak to the press, much to the disappointment of the international and Moroccan journalists that assembled to interview and get footage of his performance. It was this lack of press interviews to help promote the festival’s theme of peace, hope, and tolerance that tainted his stay in Morocco. Also locals were disturbed by the amount he was paid. West received a reported $1M for his nearly two-hour performance. One festival organizer 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.”

His assistants somehow also failed to get the message and only said “Kanye doesn’t do press or photos. Sorry, he just doesn’t.” It's a shame.

However, rusted-on fans described West's two hour gig as "awesome".

On the other hand, Yusef Islam (see our story here)  and other performers made a point of stressing the festival's message, with Julian Marley speaking on the job of being a global peace ambassador in the footsteps of his father.

The festival will officially close on May 29 with a special tribute concert featuring Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie, Shakira, Earth Wind & Fire, and others in remembrance of the 17 victims who died in the recent bombing in Marrakesh.

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.