Popular arts festival kicks off at Marrakech’s Royal Theatre

MARRAKECH - The 52th edition of National Popular Arts Festival kicked off Saturday night in the ochre city of Marrakech with a flurry of brief performances by dozens of traditional Moroccan troupes from across all the regions of the North African kingdom.

The festival, which is organised by the Grand Atlas association in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication June 22-26, is a dazzling journey into the heart of Morocco’s cultural wonders of Morocco.

Spectators braved the heat to attend the spectacular opening night at the Royal Theatre to discover rhythms of folklore that constitute a priceless and heritage and a cultural mosaic of the harmonious North African kingdom.

Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid said that his ministry will always support the festival because it is an important part of Morocco’s deep-rooted intangible cultural heritage.

“Our ministry’s goal is to support families and artists who live from this priceless heritage in a bid to guarantee its sustainability in the future,” said Bensaid at the opening ceremony.

Mohammed Knidiri, the festival director and President of the Grand Atlas association, said that “we are delighted to welcome the spectators and present you the 52nd edition of the festival which will be rich and entertaining thanks to the participation of a multitude of troupes from across the whole country.”

Ahidous of Tighssaline opened the show with beautiful Amazigh chants and beats and was among some 35 troupes that performed in the open air theatre.

The Dakka Marrakchiya brought the night to an end with a spectacular performance that kept the audience on their feet.

Declared by UNESCO a masterpiece of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity, the festival is privileged by its openness to all intercultural approaches.

The five-day festival will embark spectators on a journey of colours, rhythms, beats and chants in the restless Marrakech.