Fes Festival - Opens Tomorrow - Friday May 6th

The Fes Festival is gearing up for the opening on Friday, May 6th. Last minute technical, lighting and sound installations in each venue are going to plan and extra precautions being taken in case of the forecast rain

The latest weather update suggests that there will be possible thunder storms on Friday, with a 60% chance of intermittent rain showers in the evening, winds at 10 to 15 kilometres per hour from the WSW and a low of 12 degrees Celsius (54 Fahrenheit).  It is certainly going to be a night to dress against the cold.

The View From Fez Team 2016 - photo Rachida El Jokh

This year's Fes Festival Team for The View From Fez have arrived in Fez from the UK. Left to right in the photo; Lynn Sheppard (and baby Rayyan) Sandy McCutcheon, Faith Barker, Suzanna Clarke and Zaki and Hedd Thomas.

The View From Fez will cover all the major festival events with reviews and photographs each day of the festival.

Sheikha Mozah and husband Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa

LATEST NEWS: The opening night spectacular will, as usual be attended by Princes Lalla Salma, and according to sources in the festival, she will be accompanied by her friend Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned from Qatar.

The View From Fez will keep you up to date with Fes Festival events online, on Twitter and Facebook.

The View From Fez is a Fes Festival official Media Partner

SHARE THIS!

Fes Festival - Urgent Programme Change!

The recent programme change affecting the Oum Kelthoum Tribute - moving it to Sunday 15th and extending the festival by one day - has been reversed and the concert will now take place on the original date, May 13th

Oum Kelthoum - in! 

The original shifting to the Sunday date appeared to have been to make way for Emirati pop star Ahlam. Ahlam will now not appear at all. This is somewhat of a blow for the organisers. As one festival insider revealed, the Ahlam concert was one of the few that had sold a lot of tickets.

The cancellation of the Ahlam concert may, however, be a blessing in disguise as the pop singer has a reputation for a distinct lack of diplomacy. The 47 year-old recently enraged the people of Lebanon when she derided them on social media, labelling the Lebanese as "falafel-sellers" and "beggars", prompting a Twitter hashtag calling for her to be banned from entering the country. The week before, her reality TV show, The Queen, was axed by Dubai TV after the first of a planned 22 episodes went to air. Dubai TV said its action was in response to overwhelming numbers of viewer complaints.

Ahlam - out

Another programme change is at the free Boujloud concert on Sunday May 7. The original programme was listed as The Fes Regional Choir with Abdellah Yacoubi: Aissawa Chant. Abdellah Yacoubi has been replaced with the great Melhoun singer, Mohammed Soussi.

Mohammed Soussi

The View From Fez will keep you up to date with Fes Festival events online, on Twitter and Facebook.

The View From Fez is a Fes Festival official Media Partner

See our Fes Festival previews:
Opening Night Preview
Homage to India Preview
Divas of the World Preview
Nights in the Medina 1 Preview
Nights in the Medina 2 Preview
Nights in the Medina 3 Preview
Istanbul to Fez Preview
Tribute to Oum Keltoum Preview
Samira Saïd Preview
Forum Sessions Preview
Sufi Nights & Boujloud Concerts

SHARE THIS!

A Free Gnawa Music Concert in Fez

The ALC/ALIF Music Club Presents a pre-festival concert of Gnawa music

SHARE THIS!

The Igrar Festival 2016

The Igrar Festival will take place in Ouarzazate from May the 6th to the 8th

This Festival is organised by a group of young people who decided to contribute to the evolution of the region.  The festival is open to working with many local and national NGOs, all of whom have contributed their activities voluntarily.

The Igrar NGO for Development and Art, in partnership and coordination with various organisations, institutions and other NGOs, has organised the Festival IGRAR for Development and Art of Ouarzazate under the motto “All together for development”.

The previous two editions of the festival have left a positive impact in the region by its interest in development using art and has attracted a large number of visitors.

The IGRAR Festival celebrates and commemorates several personalities from various sectors in recognition of their contributions to the region and Morocco.  The three nights of the festival take place at the Kasbah of Taourirt.

The environment awareness activities associated with the festival start three months before the festival. The festival volunteers collect used plastic water bottles, distribute them to local school students to design art works, within the framework of the competition “Schools and Environment”

As in previous editions there will be a number of training workshops in the fields of photography, showmanship, traditional cuisine, music, pottery and reading.

During the festival a stage is always available for young talent from the region

There will be a "solidarity walk" around the main streets of the city highlighting environmental awareness. During the three days of the festival, visual artists will illustrate the "solidarity wall" that will be signed by people of all ages and the festival participants.

IGRAR Festival is unique, characterised by its diversity. Culture, art, development, history, heritage, solidarity, awareness, education, exchange, sharing, training, creativity, talent, taste, feeling, exhibition, workshops, parties, competitions, meetings and much more
.
SHARE THIS!

Fes Festival Fringe: Lalla Fes - A Story in Music

LALLA FES -  by Kay d'Astorg - A Story to Music, narrated by Patty Hannock, with oud music from Hamza El Fasiki

During just one hour, Patty Hannock, an Anglo-American actor based in Paris, will relate the life of “Lalla Fes” and her children from the 8th century until the present time.

Written by Kay d’Astorg - an English writer living in Paris and Fes - the text is accompanied by the talented oud player, Hamza El Fasiki.

As the story unfolds we discover the different dynasties who ruled the Kingdom of Morocco, from the 8th to the 21st century, and their political, social and spiritual impact on “Lalla Fes”.

A wonderful and magical introduction to the Medina, its history and its architecture.

ALIF RIAD - SATURDAY/SAMEDI  - 7 MAY AT 18 30

RIAD FES - WEDNEDAY/MERCREDI - 11 MAY AT 18 30

PALAIS FARAJ - SUNDAY/DIMANCHE  - 15 MAY AT 17 50

This event is free to the public and lasts for 50 minutes.

SHARE THIS!

Gunpowder Girls Photography Exhibition - ALIF in Fez

Gunpowder Girls - G w y n e t h   T a l l y 

Photography Exhibition

Opening: Friday, May 6, 6 PM at the ALIF Riad

Continues daily 4-6 PM through May 17

Click image to enlarge

SHARE THIS!

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

SHARE THIS!

Free Beach Cinema in Morocco

Free films on the beach for a week from July 26th to 30th on Sidi Abed's Harhoura beach

This event, in a natural amphitheatre on the beach at Sidi Abed, will be the first open-air giant screen cinema in Morocco.

This festival is organised by Abdelouahed Mjahed, the president of the Association Marocaine des Arts sans Frontières (AMAF).

Abdelouahed Mjahed says the choice of Harhoura is strategic: "This choice was on its proximity to the capital Rabat and Casablanca, as well as easy access from the highway."

The event, will offer a selection of feature films and short Moroccan films, selected by a committee of experienced film professionals.

In the feature film section, eight films will be shown:
– Atlantic de Jan-Willem van Ewijk
– Dallas de Ali El Mejboud
– L’écharpe rouge de Mohammed Lyounsi
– La Isla de Perejil de Ahmed Boulane
– Les larmes de Satan de Hicham El Jebbari
– La marche verte de Youssef Britel
– A Mile in My Shoes de Saïd Khallaf
– Des… Espoirs de Mohammed Ismaïl

The six short films are:
– Les poissons du désert de Alaa Eddine El Jem
– Frontières de Ali Esmili et Claire Cahen
– Bout à bout d’Asmae El Moudir
– L’esclave du mâle de Mohcine Nadifi
– L’appel de Trung de Hicham Regragui
– Mouchoirs blancs de Farid Regragui

During this event, a jury of film professionals will decide the best short and feature films in competition.

In addition to the  films, the public will be offered master classes of filmmaking and shooting with director Jillali Ferhati, and a writing workshop with Mohamed Arius.


SHARE THIS!

Fes Festival Weather Forecast

The Fes Festival of World Sacred Music begins on Friday May the 6th and if the weather forecasters are to be believed the first few days will be cool and wet

Fes Festival 2015 also saw some wet weather

In Fez until next Wednesday, daytime temperatures will range between 28 and 34 degrees Celsius and night lows of around 16 or 17 degrees are expected. That is forecast to change on Thursday when storms are predicted and the maximum temperature will struggle to reach 22 degrees.

The Festival opening night looks unpredictable, with storms threatening and a maximum of 23 degrees going down to 13 over night.

A typical storm front approaches the Medina in 2015

Rain is predicted for Saturday the 7th of May, with rain and a cool 20 degrees down to 12. Sunday is forecast to produce rain and a maximum of only 22 Celsius. Monday is no better - rain and a range between 22 and 12.

Thankfully, Tuesday should be sunny but a cool 21 degrees.

Forecast for the Fes Festival (Slide image across to view all)

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thur	Fri	Sat	Sun
				6 16 / 24 °C	7 14 / 20 °C	8 14 / 20 °C
9 12 / 18 °C	10 12 / 17 °C	11 13 / 21 °C	12 15 / 24 °C	13 14 / 24 °C	14 13 / 25 °C	15 13 / 28 °C

SHARE THIS!