Essaouira promises originality and authenticity once again

"In 1998, the Gnaoua World Music Festival began modestly with the watchwords 'freedom', 'conviviality', 'universality', and 'fraternity'," recalled Neila Tazi, director of the Festival.The 18th edition of the Gnaoua World Music Festival, organised under the High Patronage of H.M. King Mohammed VI, will take place from 14 to 17 May in Essaouira, the organisers announced on Thursday in Casablanca.This edition is intended to be a platform for dialogue and rapprochement for all artists coming from the four corners of the world, stressed the Festival director, Neila Tazi, during a press conference for the presentation of the artistic programme of this Festival.She added that this edition marks the beginning of a new era of emancipation and public-private partnership for a project that, until now, had never benefited from funding from the city of Essaouira.The city of Essaouira, she said, is…