Zamane Festival to be held December 1-3 in Morocco’s M'hamid El Ghizlane

RABAT – The Joudour Sahara association will organize the second edition of the Zamane Festival in Morocco’s southern region of M'hamid El Ghizlane from December 1 to 3, 2023.

This edition, titled “Tbal and Guedra”, will highlight the drums as an essential means of communication and preservation of oral traditions as part of the rich intangible Saharan cultural heritage.

This heritage is one of the most popular art forms in North and West Africa because of its concentration in the northern part of the Sahara, particularly the surroundings of M'hamid El Ghizlane until Tata and the borders of the geographical area of Tan Tan and Guelmim, as well as the southern provinces of Morocco and up to the Sahel countries.

This choice is also explained by the important role played on a daily basis by these two instruments in the lives of the populations of these regions and in the cultural exchanges between all the communities of these Sahel-Saharan territories.

This year’s edition will aim to promote dialogue and cultural exchanges between East and West Africa as well as South and North Africa by inviting traditional groups and cultural actors from Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, Ghana, Mali and Mauritania with the aim of promoting social cohesion and the dedication of the principles of tolerance, solidarity and openness.

It is a celebration of the cultural diversity, cultural and environmental heritage of the southern Draa Valley, southeastern Morocco and will feature more than 100 musicians and dancers from the region, as well as international musicians from Rwanda and Mali, Italy and the United States.

The Zamane Festival will also host the first annual meeting of “playing for change Africa” with the presence of the African music programs: Joudour Sahara music program from Morocco, the Kirina music school (Mali), and the Ubuntu Music Program (Rwanda).

The Festival will be held in partnership with Playing for change foundation, Visa For music and the support of the Moroccan National Tourist Office, the Zagora Provincial Council of the Draa Tafilalet Regional Council of Sahara Roots Foundation of Holland, Aziza Chaouni Projects and the Canadian initiative fund premises of the Canadian Embassy in Morocco.