By John Owoo
(In Rabat – Morocco)
The Moroccan capital Rabat, which is also known as the city of lights recently hosted diverse music groups, solo artists, promoters and festival directors from all continents during the 2019 edition of Visa for Music Festival.
Under the direction of Brahim El Mazned, concerts during the festival, which ended on Saturday November 23, encompassed venues such as King Mohammed V Theatre, Palais Tazi, Villa des Arts and Salle / Club Renaissance, which are all located in the centre of Rabat.
Year after year, the festival continues to spread its colourful wings, allowing its curators and experienced professionals to bring together an array of diverse talent while ensuring effective / fruitful networking and collaborations among all categories of participants.
“The sixth edition also featured conferences on various themes, panel discussions, presentations, speed meetings, round table deliberations, formal / informal training workshops, professional meetings and networking”, said director El Mazned.
“Aware of the wealth of this intangible capital, Morocco is resolutely committed to making arts and culture a lever of its development in accordance with the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI”, continued Mohcine Jazouli, Minister delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Resident Abroad.
Topics considered during the discussions and presentations, which were held at the Institut Français, Instituto Cervantes, Place de la Grande Poste and Palais Tazi include “Role of Universities and Educational Institutions in the Cultural Field”, “Copyright – A Right, Not a Due” and “Markets and Festivals”.
Others are “Culture at the Heart of Social Peace”, “Positions Held by Women in the Music Industry”, “Music as a Driving Force for Sustainable Development in Morocco” and “The Role of Young People in the Territorial Development Process”.
Dozens of concerts in various venues, which started on schedule, revealed the explosion of creative power as well as sharp and witty improvisations, collaborations and top-notch compositions that left audiences, which comprised people from all walks of life asking for more.
“The development of the music sector in Morocco and Africa requires as a priority, the strengthening of capacities of the cultural actors and support must be provided to the various components of this sector, whether they work at the level of creation, production or distribution”, added Younes Boumehdi, president of the HIBA Foundation in Morocco.
Pictures – Visa For Music
