Emigrant Festival: When heritage, culture, and tourism meet in Ouled Youssef

Tbourida In a festive atmosphere marked by patriotism and pride in local heritage, the official kick-off of the Emigrant Festival was given on Thursday, 1 October 2026, in the commune of Ouled Youssef, Béni Mellal province. This cultural and heritage event aims to offer residents and visitors a space for meeting and conviviality, while celebrating local cultural heritage, traditional fantasia, and handicrafts. The inaugural ceremony began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by the national anthem, in a solemn sequence highlighting values of attachment to the homeland and national pride. The festival then took on its festive and heritage dimension with the launch of tbourida shows. In his opening address, the president of the Ouled Youssef commune welcomed participants and guests, expressing his pride in hosting this event. He stressed that the festival is an opportunity to create a space for relaxation for the population, but also a place for entertainment, meeting, and exchange. According to him, it also represents an opportunity to promote the commune, its assets and potential, and to strengthen its attractiveness to visitors. On this occasion, the commune president extended his thanks to the various partners who contributed to supporting this event, notably the Wali of the Béni Mellal-Khénifra region and Governor of the Béni Mellal province, the president of the Kasba Tadla commune, as well as Assurances Maghreb Arabe and the Ouled Youssef Riders Association for Development. The inaugural address also highlighted the role that such events can play in bringing the region closer to its environment, valuing its potential, and promoting its cultural heritage. They also offer residents and visitors the opportunity to enjoy a programme combining heritage, arts, shows, and economic activities. Following the speeches and protocol ceremonies, the festival space came alive with the launch of tbourida shows, in which several sorbas from different localities of the Béni Mellal province took part, as well as troupes from other provinces, notably Rabat. A show that allowed the public to reconnect with the world of traditional Moroccan fantasia and the historical and cultural symbols it conveys. Note that the opening ceremony took place under the supervision and organisation of the president of the Ouled Youssef commune, Mustapha Brim, in the presence of the president of the Semguet commune, as well as several civil and military figures and representatives of various sectors. A plural presence that testifies to the importance given to this event by the region and its population. Beyond its cultural and festive dimension, the organisation of the Emigrant Festival also constitutes a lever for tourism promotion and the enhancement of the potential of the Ouled Youssef commune. By attracting visitors from different localities, this event contributes to better publicising the natural, cultural, and heritage assets of the region and strengthening its attractiveness. It can also foster the emergence of new economic initiatives and encourage investment in sectors related to tourism, handicrafts, catering, and services, thus participating in the creation of activities and the dynamics of local development.