It is 8 p.m., Al Amal Square is starting to see its first visitors arrive. Everyone is waiting for the arrival of two artists who are visiting Morocco for the first time. Nolwen Leroy, winner of the French Star Academy, and Kenny Rogers, a monument of country music, were eagerly awaited by thousands of local spectators and as many people who made the trip to Agadir. Nolwen has come a long way since her first steps as the winner of the Star Academy in 2002. A little over ten years later, she became the ambassador of Breton music and does not hesitate to push her dialect on all the stages she performs on and through her latest album "Ô filles de l'eau" with strongly marine and Celtic sounds. In Agadir, the Breton singer finds herself in her element. Her music celebrates the sea and does not take long to leave aside the language of Molière to embrace her local origins. Her lyrics and rhythms recall the sounds of the Souss and the public does not hesitate to let her know through ovations and shouts of joy. From 10 p.m., it was Kenny Rogers' turn to take the stage. The old crooner was the second artist scheduled for the evening and incidentally to make his baptism of fire on the Moroccan stage. At 75 years old, the Texan bridge of country music was making one of his last appearances on stage outside the United States. "I had made the decision not to perform outside the country anymore, because I don't handle being away from my children well, two twins who are barely 9 years old... But upon receiving my first invitation to Morocco, I couldn't say no," the artist declared, shortly before his show. With 50 years of career and 65 albums sold to 190 million copies, Kenny did not seem to have lost any of his form. For more than 80 minutes, he drew from his repertoire successes such as "Every Time Two Fools Collide", "Anyone Who Isn't Me Tonight", and "What Are We Doin' in Love". He then let himself be surprised by letting the public take the lead by interpreting with a thousand voices the chorus of his inimitable "Gambler". The artist did not expect it, assuring us a few hours before the show: "I am always worried when I am in front of a non-English speaking public. I am used to playing with my public, to conversing with them, to seeking to breathe more life into my show. It's difficult to do when you are in front of a foreign public or one that doesn't speak English".

To finish in style, the first evening of Timitar wanted to recall its strong Amazigh content by turning the spotlights towards the diva of the Souss, Raissa Tabaamrant. The star, who is celebrating her 30-year career this year, did not need to make too much effort to warm up her public in Agadir. Fatima Tabaamrant, as a great claimant of Amazigh identity, had already created the event last year at Parliament. The RNI parliamentarian had asked an oral question in Amazigh at the House of Representatives. On stage, it is with as much fervour that she defended Amazigh culture, but in song this time, a field in which she excels and which should be the main vector of her cultural and identity cause.