CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH MOROCCAN PROVIDERS

Mawazine is a leading economic player that contributes significantly to the activity of Moroccan businesses. Since its creation, the festival has developed a sector of professions linked to the activity of the festivals by privileging a close collaboration with local providers and by hiring experienced people in their field.

The list of concerned professions is important: managers, engineers, sound and light technicians, technicians in charge of setting up scenic installations, technical directors, communication officers, administrators, security agents, cooks, printers, etc.

Today, Mawazine works with over 125 partner businesses, negotiating three-year contracts with key service providers. As a result, local companies have been able to equip themselves and train their teams to meet the needs of the biggest international productions.

AN IMPORTANT PLAYER IN TOURISM

Mawazine’s impact is not limited to the entertainment industry. Shops, artisans, transport, catering, hotels, etc. In total, 3,000 direct and indirect jobs benefit from the festival. Each year, Mawazine generates 22% growth in tourist turnover in Rabat.

THREE BENEFICIARY SECTORS

Three sectors benefit from the Mawazine effect via a significant growth in their revenues. Retail trade, restaurants and the transportation sector see their sales increase by an average of 30% during the festival. For these local shops, the festival is an important source of activity.

THE HOTEL INDUSTRY AT MAXIMUM CAPACITY

During the festival, hotels experience an average growth of their revenues by over 22%. The occupancy rate of hotels breaks down as follows:

• 100% for 4/5 stars.
• 63% for other hotels.

That is two to four times more than in normal seasons.

IMPACT ON THE IMAGE OF MOROCCO

“Attracting international stars”

Shakira, Quincy Jones, Maroon 5, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, French Montana, Wiz Khalifa, Martin Garrix, Bruno Mars, etc. The list of celebrities who participated in Mawazine is impressive! The presence of a diverse list of renowned artists is proof of the attractiveness of the Festival abroad, which impacts greatly the image of Morocco.

Moreover, the presence of such headliners makes it possible to attract the interest of the international press, which is supported by the actions of the artists themselves who carry out communication campaigns enhancing the image of the event and of the host country.

By publicizing their participation in Mawazine, the big names in music are regularly evoking Morocco on their social networks, their web sites and fan pages. By positioning themselves as real ambassadors, these artists offer an invaluable relay to spread the image of the Kingdom abroad.

« Promoting Moroccan artists »

Making Morocco shine is also highlighting Moroccan artists. Mawazine is an important platform for hundreds of artists who have little opportunity to express their talent and make themselves known thanks to such a prestigious festival. With more than half of its programming dedicated to Moroccan singers and musicians, Mawazine is the only festival in the country to give such a wide platform to the best representatives of Moroccan music: stars such as RedOne, Latifa Raefat and Nass El Ghiwane, but also new talents that are part of this Moroccan scene such as: Zouheir Bahaoui, Aminux, Cravata and Muslim.

“Creations that bring together Moroccan artists and world stars”

Many international artists have participated in recent years in iconic creations. In 2009, the Italian Ennio Morricone performed with a Moroccan choir; In 2011, the undisputed electric guitar master Carlos Santana invited on the OLM stage his counterpart Gnawi Mâalem Bakbou. The same year, on the occasion of Mawazine’s 10th anniversary, the American Quincy Jones co-directed the Arabic re-release of his hit “Tomorow” with the Moroccan producer RedOne, a song dedicated to childhood, hope and peace. Bringing together Arabic and American artists, this creation was conceived in the same spirit as the remarkable song “We are the world”. The proceeds of this action were entirely donated to Moroccan and Arab child protection associations. Not to forget mentioning all the collaborations between the Royal Symphony Orchestra and iconic artists such as Roger Hodgson, Sting, Nigel Kennedy, George Benson, Kadim Al Sahir, etc. Other creations have emerged on the historic site of Chellah such as:

• « Le chant des fleuves » i 2n014,
• « A Song in Every Port» in 2015,
• « Mystical Chants of the World» in 2016,
• « D’île en île » in 2017
• « From tar, sitar to guitar » en 2018.

« Diffusion of the kingdom’s values »

Mawazine also aims to bring the Moroccan cultural model abroad, while spreading the values of the Kingdom: tolerance, openness, sharing, exchange and diversity. This is why the Festival has always offered a program that apprehends all the cultures of the world.

INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

Eighteen years after its creation in 2001, Mawazine – Rhythms of the World, has acquired a status in its own right: that of a Moroccan festival whose attendance and audience compete with the greatest world cultural events. As proof, more than 600 national journalists, 160 international and nearly 220 media outlets, including 31 televisions, receive accreditations for each year.

This success, unique for an African event, Mawazine – Rhythms of the World owes it to its eclectic programming and very high quality, which allows audiences to discover on stage international stars as well as figures of Moroccan, Arabic and African music.

With more than 1,300 artists and approximately 120 shows spread over 6 venues, the Festival welcomes renowned artists such as: Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys, Elton John, Justin Timberlake, Luis Fonsi, Rihanna, Lenny Kravitz, Scorpions, Sting , Stevie Wonder, Shakira, Whitney Houston, Avicii, Charles Aznavour, Deep Purple or Enrique Iglesias, but also Kadim Al Sahir, Khaled, Nancy Ajram, Warda Al Jazayria, Aamr Diab, Majida El Roumi, Souad Massi, Tamer Hosny, Sherine , Cheb Mami and Najwa Karam.

This international dimension is coupled with a critical and public recognition, which makes Mawazine – Rhythms of the World a very popular festival for music lovers and amateurs of all generations. Particular attention is paid to the diversity of artists and genres, programming mixing celebrities and artists. Each year, the audience of Mawazine – Rhythms of the World has the opportunity to discover great performers of traditional music, such as Selamnesh & Badume’s Azmari Band, The Shanbehzadeh Ensemble, Ali Azam & Niyaz, Sepideh Raissadat, Sabry Mosbah, Lole Montoya, Alexey Arkhipovskiy, Kayhan Kalhor and Erdal Erzincan, Goran Bregovic, Taraf de Haidouks and Patrizia Laquidara.

Proud of its African identity, the Festival represent well the sounds of its continent. From Cameroon to South Africa, through the Caribbean, where African influence is very present, the Festival receives at the same time great legends such as Manu Dibango, Jimmy Cliff, Cesaria Evora, Hugh Masekela , but also confirmed singers like Angelique Kidjo, Sheikh Lo, Mory Kanté, Salif Keita, Sidiki Diabate, Youssou N’dour and more recently groups such as Freshly Ground and Magic System.

With so many talents gathered in one place, the Mawazine Festival Rhythms of the World is just like the host country, a meeting point for exceptional encounters. Indeed, many blends were createdsuch as the duet between the Moroccan lutenist Saâd Chraïbi and the American jazzman Al Di Meola, as well as Don Big and Omar Sosa, Lui Fang and Driss El Maaloumi, Fortunat Frölich and the Moroccan Choir, or the singer Sting with the Royal Symphony Orchestra. This fusion of genres and personalities is reflected in a program that also honors the great names of jazz, mixed music par excellence, including George Benson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Harry Connick Jr and more recently Ibrahim Maalouf.

Finally, more than any other festival in Morocco, Mawazine – Rythms of the World allows Moroccan music to benefit from a unique international visibility, highlighting the best talents of the Kingdom: Nass El Ghiwane , Abdelouahab Doukkali, Jil Jilala, Zouheir Bahaoui, Youssef Guelzim, Masta Flow, Muslim, Ribab Fusion, Cravata or Tiiw Tiiw.