An avalanche of percussion and wild rhythms will very soon descend on the city of Essaouira, announced Neila Tazi during a meeting held on Thursday in Casablanca, during which the main lines of the 16th edition of the highly anticipated Gnaoua and World Music Festival were presented.

"The Festival team has engaged in very difficult but bold and creative exercises," reassured the director and producer of the event regarding the programme for this edition, which will take place from June 20th to 23rd. Before adding with confidence: "The Gnaoua and World Music Festival continues to be a moment highly anticipated by thousands of music lovers and enthusiasts of this event, which is full of freshness and optimism."

Thus, for this 16th edition, the festival team has concocted a programme worthy of its international reputation.

For four days, the festival sites, including Place Moulay Hassan, the Méditel stage, Dar Souiri, and Bab El Marsa, will vibrate to the unprecedented rhythms and sounds of the maâlems and musicians who will compete in virtuosity and generosity. A meeting and exchange point, the fusions for which only the festival has the recipe will bring together Maâlem Saïd Kouyou, Annadi Al Bahri and Houwara, Maâlem Mahmoud Guinea and Omar Sosa, Maâlem Abdelkader Amlil and Rachid Zeroual. But also Maâlem Abdelkebir Merchane and Eska, as well as Maâlem Aziz Baqbou and Majda El Yahyaoui.

The festival offers, in addition to the intimate concerts scheduled at Dar Souiri, Borj Bab Marrakech, and the new Bab El Marsa stage, Moroccan artists of various musical styles will also entertain the public, such as Amayno, Madja El Yahyaoui, Haoussa, Issaoua of Fez, Mohamed Baaiya, Mazagan, and Oum.

Among the international artists, we mention in particular Richard Bona (Cameroon), Will Calhoun (USA), Omar Sosa (Cuba), Eska (Zimbabwe/UK), and Mokoomba (West Africa). As well as Nneka (Germany/Nigeria) and Youssou N'Dour (Senegal), who will have the pleasure of playing for the festival, not to mention the Emirati troupe Annadi Al Bahri announced for the opening of the festival.

Regarding the free nature of the shows, the organizers recalled that the festival was designed to be free. And that, thanks to the support of partners, particularly private ones who understood the interest of this event for the artists, the city, and Morocco, the shows will remain accessible to all. However, "we have introduced small spaces that are paid because there is also an audience willing to pay," explained N. Tazi.

But the Gnaoua Festival is not just entertainment. For the second consecutive year, the Gnaoua Festival Forum will welcome intellectuals, thinkers, academics, and associative actors to debate current themes. "Society in motion, youth of the world" is the theme of this meeting, organized in partnership with the National Human Rights Council (CNDH).

"The theme of youth seemed natural to us in a country like Morocco where 70% of the population is under 30. This shows the demographic importance of youth. A youth that has shown its aspirations for freedom, for democracy...", emphasized Driss El Yazami, President of the CNDH. The latter specified that young actors will come to share their experiences during this meeting. And that "this year the idea is to try to extend the forum with a publication."

To the question of whether the festival has made profits, Neila Tazi replied in these terms: "It is unthinkable that this festival could generate profits for the simple reason that we have difficulties in balancing our budget: we are in constant search of financial means," emphasizing that the festival's budget, which amounted to 600,000 DH at its beginnings, now oscillates around 12 million.

It should be noted that this edition will pay tribute to three great Gnaoua figures: Abderrahmane Paco, Regragui, and Maâlem Abdellah.