Reggada, raï, hip hop, musique gnaoua, chaâbi, hassani songs among others : The diversity of Moroccan music on the stage of Salé for the 16th edition of the Mawazine

Rabat, Sunday, March 19th, 2017: With more than half of its programming devoted to singers and musicians of the Kingdom, Mawazine confirms once again its commitment to the promotion of Moroccan music.

Taking place on Salé stage, the festival will present, as usual, more than 40 national artists, representing diverse repertoires, to offer the public the many facets of Moroccan music.

On Friday, May 12th, Salé stage will showcase popular Moroccan sounds in the person of Mustapha Regragui’s Orchestra. Born in Casablanca, Mustapha Regragui is a pianist, violinist and professor of music and musical composition at the Conservatoire of the Royal Guard. He also teaches at the National Conservatory of Music and Dance in Rabat. His orchestra will accompany several great names of Moroccan music, in Morocco and abroad.

To represent music from the Rif region of northern Morocco, Rabah Mariwri will perform in Salé on Saturday, May 13th.  More of a traditional “varieté-style” singer and reggada, Rabah drew attention to his style in 1996 on the national television in the show Studio El Fan. Since then, he has recorded eight albums and has performed in prestigious events in Morocco and Europe. Rabah revisits the reggada with different Moroccan sounds. The titles El-Tanoura, or Rachida, have greatly contributed to popularize his melodious music.

On Sunday, May 14th, it will be the raï music turn to enchant the public in Salé in the person of Cheba Maria, one of the female figures of Rai music. Originally from Casablanca and settled in Toulouse, Cheba Maria quickly drew attention to her. She has released many successful titles and collaborated with several raï artists. Her duet with Cheb Rachid “Enta ould bladi” has sold several thousand copies in different countries. In 2003, Cheba Maria participated in the album Rain’b Fever in duet with Mohamed Lamine and Rohff, the opus sold more than 250.000 copies and received from its first disc gold record from Sony Music.

On Monday May 15th, Salé stage will host the true young prodigy of gnaoua music: Mehdi Nassouli. Highly gifted, he is considered to be the successor of the Gnaouie tradition in Morocco. Mehdi proudly bears his Amazigh, Gnaoui, Arab and African roots. Born in Taroudant, he went through the school of the “Deqqa”, a folk art from Taroudant, and then learned from the greatest gnaoua Maâlems. His project A Tribute to Taroudant is performed both in Morocco and abroad. The artist travels the continents collaborating with big names such as Justin Adams, Nneka, Andy Emler, Sami Waro or Alpha Blondy. In 2016, Mehdi Nassouli signed the album Taziri, featuring with the famous Titi Robin.

On Tuesday, May 16th, Hamid Serghini, a Chaâbi music star will perform before the Slaoui public. Originally from Kalâat Sraghna, Hamid Serghini has collected the most famous pieces of the châabi and revisited them in his own way. By singing in Amazigh and in Darija, he is today a great figure must in the new chaâbi style.

On Wednesday May 17th, Salé stage audience will be treated to a Hassani evening with Batoul El Merouani. This native of Laayoune has revolutionized Hassani music giving it a new impetus by making it known in all regions of the Kingdom. Batoul has modernized an old repertoire without denaturing it, which has earned him recognition from major important Moroccan artistic events.

The same evening, Cherkani Orchestra will perform led by the outstanding violinist, Ahmed Cherkani. Singing teacher, tenor, arranger and composer, Ahmed Cherkani has a long artistic training, enriched by various collaborations with great Moroccan singers. His quality of researcher allows him to master different Moroccan musical styles. In 2015, Cherkani composed an album of instrumental music for a genuine invitation to travel.

On Thursday May 18th Rap music, in the person of Masta Flow, will be the guest of honor on the Sale Stage. A rapper from Casablanca with a formidable style. He first discovered theater and music in his neighborhood. Attracted by Hip hop, he formed his first band and won the best hip hop band prize at the Young Musicians’ Springboard (2002). A year later, Casa Crew sees the light, a band with which he will write his success Men zanqa l zanqa (2004). After years of concerts and 2 albums on the counter, Masta Flow performs solo. He later made numerous featurings and released several successful titles.