The Festival of Authentic Musical Heritage Arts of Fez approaches its first edition, which will be kicked off on 15 August.

The spiritual capital of the Kingdom will host, from 15 to 17 August, the first edition of the Festival of Authentic Musical Heritage Arts organised on the theme "Delight and Utility". Initiated by the Sidi Thami El Mdaghri Association, this Festival, which will be held at the "Al Hourria" municipal cultural complex, is intended to be an opportunity to valorise, safeguard, and perpetuate an ancestral cultural and artistic heritage.

This event, which benefits from the support of the Ministry of Culture, will be marked by the organisation of traditional and spiritual music concerts, with the participation of the Sidi Thami El Mdaghri orchestra under the presidency of the malhoun artist Mohammed Soussi and the Hmadcha, Ahl Tourat, Dakka Chaabia, Jilala, Gnawa troupes, an ensemble of the "Griha" art, and other genres of popular heritage song that reflects the facets of Moroccan identity and cultural and artistic diversity. On the programme for this Festival, the first of its kind in Fez, are also scientific and intellectual conferences covering various genres of musical heritage, as well as the organisation of a competition for memorising and interpreting Qassida of the malhoun art for the benefit of young people, with the awarding of encouragement prizes to the most deserving. "Sufi approaches in popular song: the case of malhoun art" will be the main theme of the debates planned by the organisers with the participation of researchers Noureddine Benchamas, Rachid Bennani, Mohammed Benali, Mohammed Soussi, and Abdeljalil Kharchafi (moderator). In addition to the concerts, conferences, and the competition for young chanters, the Festival will pay tribute to the artist Abderrahim El Amrani, mokaddem of the Hamdouchia tariqa.