Message from the President
Placed under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Mawazine Festival Rhythms of the World is preparing to live its eighteenth edition. What a long way since its creation in 2001! The Festival’s commitment to making culture accessible to all and its contribution to the development of a national entertainment industry are undoubtedly its most iconic successes. Each year, more than 2.5 million festival-goers, 90% of whom benefit from a free nine-day high-level artistic program, are broadcasted worldwide and watched by tens of millions of viewers. This not only allows the Moroccan scene to find a global showcase, but also reflects the richness of the world cultures. Transmitting the values of diversity, sharing and tolerance is therefore a major achievement of the Mawazine Festival-Rhythms of the World.
The internationalization of the festival is another emblematic achievement. Eighteen years after its creation, the Mawazine Festival-Rhythms of the World has invited the greatest artists from all continents. To name a few, Bruno Mars, Hardwell, The Weeknd, Enrique Iglesias, French Montana, Charles Aznavour, Mariah Carey, Quincy Jones, Jamiroquai, Lionel Richie, Nancy Ajram, Sting, Wael Jassar, Majida El Roumi, Alicia Keys, Martin Solveig, Kadem Al Saher, Stevie Wonder, and Whitney Houston, among others. Their memorable performances were the source of great moments of emotion. Because of the richness of their repertoires, their origins and their heritage, all were in their own way, ambassadors of this event. They have helped increase its visibility well beyond our borders and make Mawazine a known and recognized event.
The Mawazine Festival Rhythms of the World has managed to embody all the cultural and artistic energy that animates the kingdom. With nearly six hundred national and international journalists present, each edition is a window that testifies to the extraordinary vitality and creativity of the Moroccan scene for which the Mawazine Festival -Rhythms of the World is an essential platform. The media popularity is also accompanied by a presence increasingly noticed on social networks, a sign that the festival brings together youth around an ideal that is common to us: growing together and overcoming differences.
We are all authors of these successes. Organizers, festival-goers, local authorities and administrations, services, partners, sponsors, companies, volunteers … May they be thanked for their efforts. Through their support and loyalty, everyone helped make the Mawazine Festival Rhythms of the World what it is today and what it will continue to be tomorrow: a high-level, yet popular musical event, thanks to the quality of its lineup, but also to the excellent conditions offered to the public and artists.
It is therefore with great pride that I invite you from the 21st to the 29th of June, 2019 to live an eighteenth edition under the sign of diversity and celebration. Let the music play!
