Rabat, June 24th 2018: For his first concert in Morocco, Jamiroquai promised us to lots of emotions. Promise kept! The British singer delivered a spectacular and energetic show on the OLM Souissi stage. For over an hour and a half, the man with 35 million albums sold, has interpreted his greatest hits, such as When You Gonna Learn?, Space Cowboy and Cosmic Girl, imposing his funk, groove, pop and electro sonorities in front of an audience that was conquered in advance!

Previously, the Nahda stage welcomed Melhem Zein, nicknamed “Al Rayes”, and considered one of the most appreciated Lebanese voices of “tarab”. The artist has presented with immense talent a variety of songs inspired by folklore, with a pop and funk remix of the great popular songs of the Middle East. Following him, the Syrian Rouwaida Attieh, who became famous for winning second place in Super Star, captivated the audience with her powerful voice and perfect lute control.

At the Mohammed V National Theater, the public had a special rendezvous on this third evening with a unique group of its kind: Babylon, from Algeria and formed in 2012 and led by the singer and author Amine Mohamed Djemal. Symbols of the renewal of Algerian music, the songs of Babylon were inspired by the Algerian regional styles, mixing Andalusian, Arabic, Mediterranean, Oriental and African influences … for the greater happiness of the festival-goers!

Another venue, another style: it is cha-cha music that was present on the stage of the Bouregreg, where Las Maravillas of Mali, a Malian group of exception, unleashed the public with its rumba swaying inspired by the music of Blacks from Cuba. A Pan-African anthem for an orchestra that has marvelously mixed Cuban rhythms with the traditions of the continent …

At the same time, the big names of Moroccan music shone on the Salé stage. The legendary band Nass El Ghiwane, no longer needed to be introduced, played their greatest hits in chorus by an exceptional crowd. Born in Casablanca, Hassan Boussou has subsequently beautifully interpreted the “gnawa” tradition, in the tradition of his father, the late Maâlem Hmida Boussou, while Tarek Farih, a young artist from Imzouren and one of the winners of Studio 2M, proved that he was one of the artists to follow in Morocco!

Bringing together the most distant cultures, Mawazine also allowed the public to discover Italy on the mythical Chellah stage. Accompanied by a duo of musicians, the great Patrizia Laquidara reviewed, with happiness, traditional jazz and contemporary music!

Beyond the different venues of the festival, Mawazine has also made the locals dream … The main arteries of Rabat have lived through the different shows of Moroccan troops, including Groupe Soleil, composed of acrobats and stilt-walkers trained at the Shems’y National Circus School, as well as Timing Boys, bringing together a dozen percussionists on frantic rhythms of samba, hip hop, salsa, house and chaâbi!