The organisers were keen to give this ancestral cultural event an international dimension by involving other foreign countries from Europe and the Gulf.
The Provincial Association for Cultural Affairs of the city of El Jadida is organising, from May 29 to 31, the 3rd edition of the Falconry Festival (falcon hunting) under the theme "Ancestral traditions and universal heritage".
The organisers were keen to give this ancestral cultural event, initiated under the aegis of the Province of El Jadida in partnership with the Regional Directorate of Culture in Doukkala-Abda and the rural commune of Zaouiat Lakouassem, an international dimension by involving other foreign countries from Europe and the Gulf, notably Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qatar, alongside the Lakouassem falconers of Ouled Frej, renowned for their dedication to falconry.
In order to enrich this meeting of cultural and intangible heritage, the organising committee has established a rich and varied programme including, among others, conferences dealing with the theme of falconry, shows combining traditional music and the art of falcon hunting, and a falconry exhibition.
Also on the programme for this event are a competition for young visual artists around the falcon, a photography competition around the same theme, in addition to fantasia shows and musical evenings hosted by various folk troupes, as well as an exhibition of local products and tools for falcon hunting and fantasia.
This Festival aims to preserve the tradition of falcon hunting, classified as intangible cultural heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, and to rehabilitate all aspects related to this ancestral tradition, including folk festivities, finery, and the tools of this hunt.
This event will also focus on the horse and the Slougui hunting dog, which are part of the region's rich heritage.
Local and national folk troupes presented and hosted by the artist Nabi El Jai will take part in this Festival. These include the Lalla Manana troupe for research into female musical heritage and Hadra Soufi from Larache, the Tagada, Aita Haouzia, Abidate R'ma Siada, and Ouled Benagida troupes, the Ouled Frej popular arts troupe, and maestro Abd Daim.
It should be recalled that UNESCO had declared on November 16, 2010, falconry as "intangible cultural heritage of Humanity", following a multinational candidacy supported by eleven countries: Saudi Arabia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, France, Morocco, Mongolia, Qatar, and Syria.
The Kouassems tribe in the Doukkala region, particularly Douar Smaala in Had Ouled Frej and Ouled Amrane in Sidi Bennour, is known for its passion for falcon hunting and its ancestral know-how in the breeding and training of birds of prey for hunting, which their ancestor Ali Ben Abou Al kassem enjoyed.
