The 10th edition of the “Visa For Music” festival kicked off on Wednesday at the Mohammed V national theater in Rabat, with a program of concerts and conferences to celebrate a decade of this unique cultural event that showcases African and global musical traditions.
The opening evening of this event, held under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, on the theme: “10 years of participation, that’s worth celebrating”, brings together music groups and artists from the African continent, the Middle East and the rest of the world.
The celebrations got off to a flying start with a colorful carnival parade through the streets of the capital, followed by a musical performance by American bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma, accompanied by young Moroccan musicians, who thrilled a sold-out audience at the Mohammed V National Theater in Rabat.
The evening was marked by tributes to a host of artists, including the Brazzaville group “Bantous de la Capitale”, considered to be the oldest musical group on the African continent.
Speaking on this occasion, Brahim El Mazned, founder of the “Visa for Music” festival, said that this year’s edition was exceptional in that it marked the tenth anniversary of the event, stressing that this winter festival is a professional meeting place for numerous cultural stakeholders, musicians and artists from several countries.
This year’s edition will bring together over 1,000 cultural players from more than 80 countries and a large number of international cultural institutions from Europe, Africa and Asia, he told the press.
For his part, American musician Jaamaladdeen Tacuma said he was delighted to visit Rabat and to have the opportunity to perform on the stage of the Mohammed V national theater with young Moroccan musicians, noting that he was still learning about Moroccan music after his first experience in the city of Essaouira three years ago.
The “Visa for Music” festival provides a platform for exchange and dialogue between artists and music industry professionals from production companies, artistic agents, arts managers, cultural institutions, media professionals and supervisors.
This year’s event, which runs until November 25, features 60 concerts, in addition to 15 meetings, conferences and workshops.
In a humanitarian gesture, the festival organizers have decided to donate all ticket sales from this year’s “Visa for Music” to the victims of the Al Haouz earthquake, which shook the Kingdom on September 8.
MAP: 23 November 2023
