The Arab Song Festival began on Thursday evening at the Mohammedia Municipal Theatre with a singing competition between Moroccan and Arab artists on the programme, as well as musical evenings until its closing this Saturday the 31st.

The curtain-raiser was marked by popular dance performances given by the Bennane company. Founded in 1990 by the choreographer Abdellah Bennane, this troupe has about twenty dancers trained at the Moulay Rachid cultural complex in Casablanca.

The troupe draws inspiration from the national folkloric heritage to create its choreographies, as suggested by some of its dances which refer to the region of inspiration, namely "Farhatou Ouarzazate", "Nabarat mina Acharek Al Maghrebi" or even this popular choreography entitled "L'hdia". Choreographic compositions interpreted to music by composers Abderrahim Mountassir and Jilali Belmehdi.

After this rhythmic and catchy performance, it was time for the Arab song competition, which pitted 11 candidates representing, besides Morocco, Tunisia, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt.

The songs admitted to the competition were selected according to well-defined criteria: duration (no more than 6 minutes) and novelty, which assumes it has not been broadcast before in the form of a clip or performed during another Festival. The jury tasked with deciding between the candidates is composed of artists Ali Abassi (Palestine), Mohamed Diaâ (Egypt), Rami Zitouni (Syria), Ayman Tissir (Jordan), and Azeddine Mountassir (Morocco). For this edition, the organisers deemed it appropriate to expand the jury with two other members, one representing the public and the other the media.

In addition to the artistic programme, the Festival was also to be marked by a tribute to the talent and career of the Algerian singer Fola and the Egyptian and Moroccan artists Iman Al Bahr Darwich and Younès Megri. The organisers also intended, current events obliging, to pay tribute to the rising star Dounia Batma, who distinguished herself admirably during the "Arab Idol" singing competition.

Organised by the Free Union of Moroccan Musicians in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and the urban commune of Mohammedia, this Festival was hosted by Moroccan and Arab artists among whom we notably cite Fola (Algeria), Badr Rami (Syria), Houssine Al Assiri (Bahrain), Waâd Al Bahri (Lebanon), Mohamed Al Balouchi (Kuwait), Loubna Selama (Palestine), and Mounira Hamdy (Tunisia), as well as the Moroccan Fatima Zahra Laâroussi.

This 14th edition is dedicated to the artist Mohamed Mzegueldi, one of the pioneers of modern Moroccan song who began his artistic career in the 40s within the Artistic Radiance Orchestra directed by Mohamed Fouiteh. Among his unforgettable songs are "Khamsa ou Khmiss", "Laâroussa Marhouna", "M'Bark ou Maasoud", "Ana Mhtar", "Zahrate Bladi" or even "Alach Katouk wa Al Warda". This Festival, usually organised in Casablanca, is being held for the 4th time in Mohammedia.