The kick-off of the 11th edition of the Timitar Signs and Culture Festival was given on Wednesday evening in Agadir, featuring a rich palette of shows, sounds, and rhythms that are, as usual, an invitation to share a rich and intense four-day musical journey bringing together Amazigh artists and artists from around the world. Placed under the High Patronage of H.M. King Mohammed VI, this artistic event (June 18-21) started at Place Al Amal with Ahwach Aït Baâmrane, before passing the baton to the Amazigh artist Ali Faiq, who draws inspiration from the music of the Rways, then to the Orchestre National de Barbès (France), Rayss Outaleb Lamzoudi, and VJ Addictive TV (United Kingdom). At the Théâtre de Verdure, music lovers were treated to afro-beat with Sia Tolno from Guinea-Conakry, performances by the American singer residing in Morocco Jennifer Grout and the Moroccan singer residing in the United States Nidal Ibourk with the Rachid Zeroual Ensemble, as well as the languorous melodies of Lahoucine Aït Baâmrane. A significant turnout marked the first evening of this 11th edition of Timitar, enhanced by the presence of, among others, the Ministers of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries Aziz Akhannouch, Tourism Lahcen Haddad, and Youth and Sports Mohamed Ouzzine, the Wali of the Souss-Massa-Drâa region and Governor of the Agadir Ida Outanane prefecture Mohamed El Yazid Zellou, the President of the Regional Council Brahim Hafidi, and other personalities. Ranked this year by the prestigious British magazine "Songlines" among the 25 best international festivals in the world, Timitar continues its 11th edition on the same path of excellence, faithful to its spirit and its theme "Amazigh artists welcome world music". Dedicated to the memory of the late Aziz Chamekh, an emblematic figure of Amazigh song in general and Tazenzarte in particular, who passed away last April at the age of 63, this edition includes in its off-program a retrospective of the life and work of the deceased, traced by researchers, poets, writers, and artists who accompanied his journey. The organizers are also counting on the production of the album "Anaruz" (Hope), the publication of a coffee-table book titled "Abdelaziz Chamekh: History of an icon of Amazigh music", and a concert on June 21 at the Théâtre de Verdure in tribute to the deceased with the Chamekh group and other artists. In the "Timit-Urban Arts" category, an artistic residency and Break-dance and Hip-Hop competitions are also planned, with a final show on June 21 at the Théâtre de Verdure.