In its fifth session, “World Folklore Days” supports those affected by the Moroccan earthquake art

Under the slogan “Unity in Diversity,” the activities of the fifth session of the International Folklore Days Festival were held in Marrakesh, organized by the Heritage Association. And folklore – during the period from 25 to 29 October this year – with the participation of 756 artists and 32 folklore groups from 23 countries around the world.

A humanitarian and solidarity programme

Youssef Hosni, head of the Heritage and Folklore Association organizing the festival, said, “This year’s program is humanitarian and solidarity due to the Al Haouz earthquake that struck Morocco last September.”

Hosni added – in an interview with Al Jazeera Net – that this solidarity was achieved through scientific and cultural seminars concerned with the Atlantic geographical heritage, and through the visits of foreign guests to the affected areas, in addition to collecting donations and providing aid to cultural and heritage associations in the Atlas.

This came within the framework of dedicating the session this year to be an expression of solidarity with those affected by the earthquake, through a schedule of a number of artistic performances by foreign bands, which were held at the Al Haouz Youth Shelter Center in Marrakesh, with the aim of making them happy and enabling them to learn about various cultures through the festival.

Unity in diversity

Hosni explained that the participation of 23 countries from around the world constitutes a living artistic painting of cultural and heritage diversity, as each group highlights the traditions and heritage of its country through artistic performances with dance rhythms.

Bands from Morocco, Spain, France, Armenia, Poland, Germany, Austria, Portugal, Mexico, Ghana, Andorra, Mali, Togo, Bulgaria, the United Kingdom, Italy, Ireland, Indonesia, Hungary, Switzerland, Colombia and India are participating in the festival.

The President of the Heritage and Folklore Society considered that this diversity, with the participation of several teams from Africa, Europe and Asia, “is the most prominent security and stability that the Kingdom of Morocco enjoys,” noting that the slogan of this session reflects the diversity and multiplicity of cultures and tributaries that the Kingdom abounds with.

Under the slogan “The Atlas Mountains, the cradle of Amazigh cultural heritage,” the fifth session of the festival celebrated the Amazigh cultural heritage of the Atlas Mountains, the region that was exposed to the earthquake, by holding a day celebrating the rich Moroccan heritage.

The festival also attracted more than a thousand foreign tourists, including artists, their companions, and representatives of diplomatic missions of participating countries, in addition to Moroccan tourists and the public following the event, all of which is evidence of a strong economic and tourism indicator.

Hosni concluded his speech by saying that the association has begun preparing for a major event for next year, to choose Marrakesh as the capital of Islamic culture for the year 2024. Numerous seminars, conferences and events will be prepared, and coordination will be made with many Arab countries to participate.