Rabat, April 16th 2018: Organized from June 22nd to the 30th, 2018, under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Mawazine is preparing to celebrate its seventeenth anniversary … in the most beautiful way! True to the formula of its success, the festival offers this year an extremely richer program and a mix of international and national stars. In total, six venues in Rabat and Salé will be carry out for nine days, a message of tolerance and sharing to an even more heterogeneous public and whose number continues to grow for every edition.

The place to be for world music and most popular gatherings, the OLM-Souissi stage will assemble the most popular celebrities of the moment. The selection of artists for this seventeenth edition is worthy of the greatest events with the key to a phenomenal density of styles that will please all. Performers will include Bruno Mars (USA), the all-time record-breaking artist who will be performing in Africa for the first time, as well as the number one DJ Martin Garrix (Netherlands), the amazing duo The Chainsmokers (USA), the charismatic Jamiroquai (Great Britain), the rock group Texas (Great Britain), the legend Luis Fonsi (Puerto Rico) as well as the rappers Niska (France) and Damso (Democratic Republic of Congo).

In a more intimate setting, the program at the Mohammed V National Theater also promises to be exceptional. Witnessing the highlights of Mawazine’s history, the discovery stage will feature an impressive list of artists merging genres, including the brilliant violinist Ara Malikian (Armenia), the singer Hiba Tawaji (Lebanon) but also the London Community Gospel Choir (Great Britain), the iconic Souad Massi (Algeria), the soprano Majida El Roumi (Lebanon), the Tango Group Fernando Egozcue Ensamble (Argentina), the muse of flamenco Maria Toledo (Spain) and the opera singer Marwa Naji (Egypt).

Illustrating Mawazine’s passion for Arabic music, the Nahda stage will host once again this year the region’s greatest voices for a unique display of the richness of the oriental musical heritage. Festivalgoers will have the opportunity to share unique moments with Kayser Kadim Al Sahir (Iraq), the voice of Tarab Melhem Zein (Lebanon), the talented Rouwaida Attieh (Syria), the singer Bosy (Egypt), the great Mohamed Hamaki (Egypt), the young Ameer Dandan (Palestine), the amazing Wael Jassar (Lebanon), the singer Ahmed Chiba (Egypt), the master Saber Rebaï (Tunisia), the divas Nancy Ajram (Lebanon) and Ahlam (United Arab Emirates).

With more than half of its programming reserved for Moroccan artists, Mawazine will once again be showcasing the kingdom’s singers and musicians. Every evening at the Salé stage, fans will have the opportunity to be part of a series of festive concerts. Between gnaoua, châabi, rock, reggae, fusion, amazigh, rap and hip hop, the audience will applaud the performances of Cravata, Aminux, Ihab Amir, Nadia Laaroussi, Badr Soultan, Ibtissam Tiskat, Tarik Farih, Maâlem Hassan Boussou, Nass El Ghiwane, Lahoucine Aït Baamrane, Aziz Al Maghribi, Zakaria Ghafouli, Khadija Atlas, Mehdi Weld Hajib, Hajib, Abdelali SAhraoui, Abidat Rma, Najat Aâtabou, DJ Hamida, H-Kayne, Muslim, Tiw Tiw, Imad Benomar, Nouamane Belaiachi, Statia, Said Senhaji and Stati.

Second largest festival of the planet and first of the continent, Mawazine has always celebrated Africa and its music. On the Bouregreg stage, this new edition will highlight some of the greatest performers whose cultures and sounds are so varied: the guitarist and arranger Ebo Taylor (Ghana), the beautiful Oumou Sangaré (Mali), the wonderful Las Maravillas Del Mali (Mali), the Afro-punk sensation Tshegue (France), the rapper Rilès (France), the kora player Sidiki Diabaté (Mali), the Orchestra Poly-Rhythmo de Cotonou (Benin), the emblems of Afrobeat Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 featuring Yasiin Bey (Nigeria / United States) as well as the rebel Tiken Jah Fakoly (Ivory Coast).

And that’s not all! Pushing its taste for experimentation and the most creative compositions, Mawazine will draw from the great traditional repertoires of the five continents to offer a new musical creation on the magnificent Chellah historical site. Around the theme “From tar, sitar to guitar”, the program will bring together performers from around the world, inspired by the strings: whether they come from the Iranian tar, the setar of Central Asia, the Indian sitar or from the Greek, Italian and Spanish guitar. Music lovers will discover the enchanting sounds of Alireza Ghorbani (Iran), Patrizia Laquidara (Italy), El Amir (Germany / Spain), Trio Andaaz (India), Maria Berasarte (Spain), Sepideh Raissadat (Iran), Katerina Fotinaki and Eva Atmatzidou (Greece) as well as Sabry Mosbah (Tunisia).

Nine days of festivities and gatherings, several hundred artists and concerts, street performances that will animate each day the main arteries of Rabat … This 17th edition of Mawazine promises to celebrate the arrival of summer as it should be: being open to all Moroccans, with colors, surprises and magical moments!