The 5th edition of the Tafingoult Festival, scheduled from 19 to 21 July in the eponymous commune (Taroudant province), will pay tribute to the memory of the late Aziz Chamekh, an undisputed icon of Amazigh song who passed away in April 2014 at the age of 63.

A statement from the organisers indicates that this edition, initiated by the rural commune of Tafingoult and the federation of development associations of the region under the theme "Art and culture at the service of social action", includes a series of cultural, artistic, and sporting activities dedicated to the promotion of the region by involving young people, women, and all residents in development efforts.

The programme for this edition includes two major artistic evenings which will be hosted by the Ahwach Ahmed Aboudrar troupe, the Izanzaren Chamekh group, the Oudaden group, the artist Kabira Tabâamrant, and comedians Mustapha Sghir and Said Arabi.

Also on the menu are a training session for development associations, a conference on "The art of troupes: the experience of the Izanzaren", and tributes to a number of actors who have marked the development of the region, noting that the opening of the festival will be marked by the presentation of trophies to the winning football teams and gifts to deserving students.

During its previous editions, the Tafingoult Festival paid tribute to a number of actors of Amazigh culture, including the historian and man of letters Ali Sidki Azaykou, Raiss Abdellah Bouzzit, the poet Mokhtar Outounakht, and the poet and Raïs Mohamed Bihazmay.

One of the founders of the legendary group "Izenzaren", the late Aziz Chamekh, was considered an icon of modern Amazigh song, having contributed for over half a century to the promotion of Amazigh music alongside a generation of pioneers, through the introduction of modern musical instruments.