Four days rich in artistic, cultural, and sporting activities that invested the city of Merzouga and its magnificent dunes. Exhibitions, pétanque and football tournaments, then a marathon that brought together young and old. Not to mention the thematic conferences and the numerous concerts drawing diverse styles of music coming from France, Spain, Ireland, Scotland, England, Jamaica... and, of course, from the Moroccan repertoire.
No one will be able to forget the moments lived with Mouloud El Meskaoui and his rhythms that carried away the large public of Merzouga. His production never goes unnoticed and leaves behind beautiful memories. This musician, singer, and composer interprets wonderfully the songs of the Beldi, notably those of the late Baoût who remains an emblematic figure of the Tafilalet region. But with time, his repertoire has expanded and currently includes jazz, blues, and African music. We cannot, either, pass over in silence the group of Mâalem Zaïd and the Pigeons of the Sand originating from the Ksar of Khamlia. This group of Gnawa musicians was founded with the aim of preserving and safeguarding the Gnawa heritage, carrier of African customs and traditions. The Hobi group, which enchanted the audience, represents the symbol of the Moroccan nomadic Arab tribes. This group sees itself as the guardian of a beautiful heritage that unfortunately remains unknown to many people. In Merzouga, this treasure was discovered and appreciated by the finest music lovers.
Another group that amazed with its beautiful performance on the Merzouga stage is that of Génération Taragalt. This formation, founded the same year as the festival that bears its name, is made up of musicians originating from M’hamid El Ghizlane striving to take up a repertoire of the most original in Hassani language and in Tamasheq. "We are looking for all the traditional songs of the Sahara, like those of the women who accompany themselves with percussion (Guedra). We are working on the influences that have marked the evolution of Saharan music which we call desert blues. Our fusion in M’Hamid with the Malian group Tinariwen encouraged us to make this style shine and promote it wherever we perform", stresses the group's singer. The latter presented, in the company of his colleagues, a beautiful repertoire that denotes the richness of the Sahrawi heritage singing of peace and tolerance. Several other formations marked with their passage this fourth edition which made the happiness of the population of this Sahrawi region.
