The Provincial Association for Cultural Affairs of El Jadida is organising, until 30 March, a collective women's visual art exhibition, launched on the sidelines of the events organised on the occasion of the celebration of International Women's Day.

At the initiative of the Provincial Association for Cultural Affairs of El Jadida, the space of the Mohammed Saïd Afifi Theatre in El Jadida hosted, last Tuesday, an extraordinary women's event. The opening of the event saw a collective women's visual art exhibition, organised from 8 to 30 March, at the Abdelkebir Khatibi gallery, with the participation of painters Fatima Baligh, Fatima Minani, Fatima Ezzahra Ziriab, Fouzia El Moufaddel, Laïla Wahid, Mouna Elouraoui, Nada Iraqui and Nadia Rhessal. The women of El Jadida and the Doukkala were also at the rendezvous for various activities in honour of the ladies, during this day, on Mohammed V Square, all of whose spaces were greatly and superbly "invaded" by the female gender. Indeed, during the festivities organised on the occasion of the

International Women's Day, the organisers distributed flowers and gifts in the streets of the city, in addition to various services offered, notably beauty treatments, henna tattooing, as well as a coaching session on managing the major areas of life. Driss Lemrabet, a very active member of the Provincial Association for Cultural Affairs of El Jadida, highlighted the importance of this event which particularly aims at the enhancement of Moroccan female skills in several fields. "This event aims first and foremost to celebrate the Moroccan woman in many sectors of life," he said. And to add: "We wanted to honour the success, courage, achievement and creativity of Jdidi and Doukkali women from various backgrounds. They remain for us a source of inspiration, an example of success and determination. Thank you to every Moroccan woman for writing the glorious pages of our dear country every day, which wins thanks to its women".

In the hall of the Mohammed Saïd Afifi Theatre in El Jadida, the atmosphere was rather relaxed. Smiles on lips, hugs, elegance and simplicity were on the agenda. All these ladies visibly felt at home here. The tone was set in this convivial atmosphere of exchanges and reunions to debate together subjects concerning women with a capital "W": their role in the governance of the country, but also their struggles, their rights, their duty to participate in the political, economic and social changes of their hometown, their region and their country. A vibrant tribute was paid to eight women of Jdidi or Doukkali origin, operating in various fields. These are the Doctor of Letters Tibyaoui Badia, the journalist and TV presenter Nihad Benaguida, the singer Sanae Marahati, the artist-painter Malika Soudaïgui, the poet Fatima Belaâroubi, the state engineer Bouchra Amer, the rally champion Hind Abatourab, as well as the politician and former minister Nouzha Skalli. Similarly, a posthumous tribute was paid to an exceptional woman, who marked the inhabitants of El Jadida, formerly called Mazagan, in this first part of the 20th century. This is Eugénie Delanoë, the first female doctor practising modern medicine in Morocco, and who had settled in El Jadida from 1913. The evening was also marked by the screening of the film "Chaïbia" which tells the story of the Doukkali artist-painter Chaïbia Talal. During this unforgettable day, the Governor of the El Jadida province, Mouâad El Jamaï, delivered a message of hope and mobilisation to women. A message in which he affirmed that women are at the centre of all development in our country.