9th Mawazine World Rhythms Festival, Morocco, May 21st-29th 2010

[Al-khiyal]

Mawazine Festival line-up includes Belkhayat, Sting

March 3, 2010 -- Morocco's 9th Mawazine World Rhythms Festival will feature an all-star programme of Arab and international performers, organisers announced Tuesday (March 2nd) in Rabat. From May 21st-29th, Arab and international stars will perform on eight stages in Rabat and Sale. Artists include Abdelhadi Belkhayat, Majda Roumi, Elissa, Myriam Fares, Ramy Ayach, Sting, Santana and Elton John. Mawazine 2010 will also offer chaabi, gnawa and Amazigh music and feature more Moroccan and Maghreb artists than ever before. The 2009 edition of the famous festival closed with tragedy, when eleven people were killed and another forty injured in a stampede during a concert by Abdelaziz Stati at Hay Ennahda stadium. In related news, national youth talent contest "Generation Mawazine" began this week, L'Observateur reported. A jury convoy will hold auditions in dozens of Moroccan cities to choose aspiring rap, pop and rock music stars. The winners will be decided in Rabat during the Mawazine festival.

[Al-khiyal]

Mawazine judges scour Morocco for musical talent

March 25, 2010 -- Judges for fifth Mawazine Generation talent contest are zeroing in on Morocco's up-and-coming musical talent in a first round of eliminations that began March 15th in Meknes. Musicians are in hot competition for the grand prize: a three-year recording deal, help producing an album and videos, national distribution and the possibility of performing at the 9th Mawazine World Rhythms Festival in May. Elimination rounds will also be held in Marrakech on March 27th, Agadir on April 3rd, Casablanca on April 10th and Rabat on April 17th. The competition, launched February 15th, has attracted musicians in all genres, including hip-hop, fusion, rap and electronic music. "It's always nice to discover new talent that gives us what's new in the world of music," said Karim Rafi, a judge and a musician. "The Mawazine Generation event is not only about talents, but also about creativity and innovation." Rafi praised the competition for promoting "creative energies and new music".

Judges expect to welcome four bands from each region to the final stage of the competition, from which two grand-prize winners will be chosen in Rabat in April. They are looking for quality, distinctiveness and uniqueness in performance and innovation in new musical acts. Hesham al-Qabaj, a judge and producer who also co-ordinates music fests, said he was astounded by the number of bands turning up to audition for the competition. "A huge number of young musical bands… attended the first auditions in Meknes," he said. Qabaj said bands had to strive to distinguish themselves from the other contenders. "Almost all bands are similar in their musical rhythms, and they focus on what is already present in the field," he said. "Young people should look for excellence and distinctiveness if they want to impress the jury. They have to present an extraordinary piece of work."

Ahmed Aydoun, the jury head and director of the National Conservatory of Music and Dance in Rabat, said the Mawazine Generation competition is a unique opportunity for Moroccan youth. "It's an event that gives young talents the chance to share their innovations with interested young people and musicians," he told journalists. "We also give them the opportunity to find their place in the artistic field." The event is also "a chance to get to know the different experiences of young people and share musical benefits", he added. The winners who take part in the 9th Mawazine World Rhythms Festival will share the spotlight with Arab and international stars including Abdelhadi Belkhayat, Majda Roumi, Elissa, Myriam Fares, Ramy Ayach, Sting, Santana and Elton John.

[Al-khiyal]

Rabat concert presents 'Generation Mawazine' winners

May 10, 2010 -- The 2010 "Generation Mawazine" music competition winners were announced on Sunday (May 10th) at a Rabat concert featuring Hoba Hoba Spirit, H-Kayne and other popular artists. The group Az Flow from Mohammedia won the rap/hip hop category, Afriqua United of Rabat won the fusion music competition and Casablanca-based Doposmiome took the electronic music prize. The three contest winners will receive 3-year management contracts, including recording deals, tours and training.

[Al-khiyal]

Elton John to perform at Mawazine festival despite protests

May 11, 2010 -- Morocco's Mawazine festival, to be held May 21st-29th in Rabat, features international talent including Elton John, Julio Iglesias, B.B. King and Carlos Santana. John's appearance was confirmed by AFP on Monday (May 10th) despite a call from the Islamist Justice and Development Party last Friday that he be banned from the event, because his appearance would pose "a risk of encouraging homosexuality in Morocco". Cancelling the concert on such grounds would "undermine the respect of privacy", and would "breach certain values that the international Mawazine festival is based on," Mawazine artistic director Aziz Daki told AFP. "We invite artists on the basis of the quality of their performance on stage and according to their artistic career."

[Al-khiyal]