2012 EDITION

2012 EDITION

A preeminent must- see for both home and world musicians, Mawazine World Rhythms Festival is back with its 11th edition that promises to be so vivid and varied. From 18 to 26 May, 2012, Rabat will be on the thrill to receive a unique and rich cast that celebrates music and art from around the world.

7 stages will host the concerts, and Rabat City will once again revel in the street shows of brass bands, choreographers that rally the city streets as well as high quality workshops.

Morocco, therefore, becomes at the heart of world music and cultural dissemination. Paying tribute to artists, holding panel discussions and receiving world stars and future talents, Mawazine is once again on time to honor its mission: bringing together millions of avid festival-goers in pursuit of the dream, exploration and exchange.

TRIBUTES

This year, we’ve decided to pay special tribute to three figures of Moroccan music, namely, the 60’s rock landmark Abdelghafour Mohcine, known as Vigon, who introduced  us all to the genius of Stevie Wonder and Otis Redding. Tribute will equally go to the late Mohamed Rouicha, Moroccan music icon and prodigious ‘’Outar’’ player (Outar is a country lute typical of Berber music). His son Hamdallah, a promising talent himself, will do the job in a concert. Third recognition will be given to the Lemchaheb Band who has recently lost a dear founder, Mohamed Sousdi. Since early 70’s, this avant-guarde band has been blending Berber music with Western influences into memorable songs.

Panel Discussions

An encounter of exchange and debate, Mawazine will hold two panel discussions in the presence of key Moroccan and foreign professionals of culture.

A meeting will take place on Saturday, May 2012 about: ‘Music Industry in Morocco: Realities and Perspectives’’ to deal with the current situation of music in the country. Music professionals will get to evaluate the situation and suggest future solutions to a piracy- stricken and financially -resourceless business.

CONCERTS

Like in any other established world festival, global music superstars will lighten up Mawazine stages this year. Electro music, Reggae, Rock, Rai, or again R’n’B will set OLM Souissi stage ablaze and it will resonate with a different style every night. Legends such as Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz, Jimmy Cliff and Scorpions, Khaled Evanescence, Pitbull, LMFAO, and the grand Turkish Fire of Anatolia Show, DJ Abdel and Yolanda Be Cool will heat it up.

Also, Mohamed V Theatre will stage equally popular stars. Imany, Gloria Gaynor, Nigel Kennedy, Royal Symphony Orchestra, Amina, Ibrahim Maalouf to name a few.

Nahda Stage will be the meeting point for Middle Eastern music lovers. 13 icons of Lebanese and Egyptian music will sing peace and love. The list features Marouan Khouri, Yara and Fadel Shaker, Nancy Ajram, Abdellah Rouiched, Hamai, Hany Shaker, Assala, Angham, Melhem Zein and Wael Kfoury.

Nahda stage will also receive Moroccans Karima Skkali, Naima Samih, and Leila Ghofrane along with the Moroccan Orchestra for Arabic Music.

Chellah Stage will take you a little far East, Asia Minor or again to Persia. Afghanistan, Iran and Russia will make the cut through Ali Azam & Niyaz, Lole Montaya, Alexey Arkhipovsky and Kayhan Kalhor & Erdal Erzincan…

Bouregreg Stage honors African music and takes you deep into Sub-Saharan Africa to meet stars from Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Tobago, South Africa, Benin, and Cameroon: Manu Dibango, Magic System, Cheikh Lo, Calypso Rose, Angelique Kidjo, Ebo Taylor& Afrobeat Academy Origine, and Freshly Ground. With historical roots in Africa and a long history of music, Cuba will equally be represented through Juan de Marcos Afro Cuban All Stars.

The same goes for Moroccan music. Pop, Amazigh, Lyrical or Classic. One thing is sure: Mawazine will introduce you only the best. Nation-wide hit tunes and melodies will reign over Mawazine stages by Aziz Sahmaoui & University of Gnawa, Mokhtar Somba, Alwane, Jilghiwane, Five Stars, Fnair, Tiraline, Nasser Megri, Rachid Khalil amomg others.

For the public to discover the ‘’New Wave’ music, Mawazine World Rythms festival allows a good space on its agenda to Urban music performances such as Rwapa Crew, Babel, Mazagan to mention a few. The festival will pay tribute to three leading figures of Moroccan music, that is, Vigon, the late Mohamed Rouicha, and Mohamed Sousdi.

STREET SHOWS

Brass bands and troupes from Morocco, India, Romania, and France will tour the Rabat streets all day long to give the city new sound, scenery and surprise. The public will come across Moroccan 2K-Far, Casa Fiesta, and mainly Casa Acrobate, an acrobat group which recently got spotlight in Arabic MBC TV channel show

‘’Arab’s  Got Talent’’

Originally from Casablanca, Casa Fiesta is made of young drummers and capoeristas. They present a blend of rhythms and songs of Senegalese, Egyptian and Moroccan origins while playing capoeira, a funny acrobatic Afro- Brazilian martial art.  

The Fanfare Casbah will also join the fun. Festive and communicative, the Franco-Algerian band plays the classics of Pop music adding to it a little blend of Berber Chaoui and Kabyle beats. Featuring are well-known entertainers, skilled dancers and a repertoire of shows ranging from Oran to Eastern Algeria.

Familiar with European dance floors and descending from two Tzigane villages known for their confirmed musicians, Roman Mahala Rai Banda will set Rabat streets aflame. Created by Taraf De Haidouks entertainers along with a copper section they will present a blend of festive and military music. And because they party hard, their vibes are so contagious that the public won’t help getting the bug under the effect of a splendid blend of rock drums, Oriental effect and groovy moves.

Youguri! ( France) made of Yourgistan migrants almost with a Balkan feel. From their homeland, they carry their local singing style, a foreign language, with Slav, Brazilian and Arabic accents, and music full of expressive melodies of Klezmer tunes, African and Indian beats. Dancers on winged stilts and musicians in red or gold costumes, Yougyri! will rock the streets and whirl the place with joyful stunning dance tunes and colors.

Dife Kako ( France) consists of talented dancers and musicians originating from The Atilles Islands, Africa and Europe. With rhythms of the Balafon and other tuned percussion instruments, female dancers perform in fine lines between classical music and loose moves of Afro- Antillean dance tunes. Bodies soar in distance and get together in crossbred gestures to give the public an amazing carnival show.

MAWAZINE ORIGINAL SONG COMPOSITIONS

Mawazine is not only about the public meeting artists, but it also engineers authentic encounters between musicians themselves in collaborations that often results in wonderful joint projects.

This year, it is Morocco and Switzerland that make the headlines through the work of Swiss composer Forunat Frölich who mixes Western polyphonic music with modern Moroccan rhythms through a Swiss choir and a Moroccan one singing in unison songs of their respective countries.

Not belonging to any school or style, the work is an authentic way of exploring the affinities between Western and Arab cultures that probes a myriad of musical influences and traditions.

WORKSHOPS

Mawazine : Rhythms of the World orchestrates first-hand encounters between established artists and amateurs. As has always been, this is meant to allow beginners to know more about the stars’ career course and know- how.

Moroccan film-maker Sanaa Hamri- based in the US for about 10 years and a preeminent reference in music video, will ensure the first workshop for music future talents. She has an extended experience with music superstars namely Prince, Mariah Carey, Sting, Jay-Z and Christina Aguilera.

Also, RedOne will give his numerous fans a master class on musical production. The world illustrious music producer, who started Lady Gaga, collaborated with Usher and Jennifer Lopez among other celebrities, will give out insider tips on music production business.

A three-day workshop (20-22 May) on percussion will be monitored by Mokhtar Samba. The famed percussionist, collaborator of Salif Keita and Youssou N’Dour has in stock a breathtaking blend of Western harmonies, African rhythms, and Bedouin tunes.

Contemporary dance will be given a workshop of 3 master classes by Danish choreographer Nønne Mai Svalholm former head of  Denmark Royal Ballet School  inspired by the ‘ Make your move’ program  that aims to show the young  the art of dance.

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