Mawazine 2018: 2.5 million spectators

Morocco Cultures Association announces its balance sheet

The 17th edition of the Mawazine-Rhythms of the World Festival, held from June 22 to 30, 2018, attracted 2, 5 million festival-goers during nine days of musical celebration, announced the Morocco Cultures Association, organizer of this event. "In addition to the millions of viewers who have celebrated this year music from around the world, through national and international television channels as well as through social networks. As such, Morocco Cultures wishes to express its deepest thanks to its audience, always more faithful, "said the association. Showcasing world music and the Moroccan scene, festival-goers have vibrated on many occasions with national fervor and a large number of tributes, rendered by the artists, in Morocco and its culture. "A record-breaking festival, with attendance growing year after year, Mawazine has once again confirmed its place as an international music event."

Free access to 90% of festival-goers

Embodying the values ​​of openness and tolerance, the event has positioned the cities of Rabat and Salé at the center of the world cultural calendar, offering an unmissable showcase for the region. She also offered free access to 90% of festival-goers. All music and all audiences were at the rendezvous. "Mawazine is today one of the few festivals in the world not to collect public money. Fully autonomous, its business model is based on revenues from ticket sales and sponsorship of private companies, eliminating any public support, "says the same source. And to add that "Mawazine also continued its support to the regional tourism economy, helping to boost the business sectors of the hotel industry, transportation or even catering." Indeed, to further strengthen the cultural dimension of the festival, sharing, accessibility, tolerance and openness, Facebook has partnered this year with Mawazine. "With the common goal of facilitating young people's access to entertainment and culture, Facebook and Mawazine have gathered people around moments of joy and communion, so that they can relay them live or through the many features. , with their communities on Facebook. "

Highlights of the 17th edition

This year, the Mawazine festival was marked by several highlights, including the exceptional concert of Bruno Mars on the stage OLM Souissi. This artist, according to the organizers, was able to gather all the generations. "Especially when he made reference to Morocco through one of his songs, a way of paying homage to our country." The most awarded Puerto Rican artist of his generation, Luis Fonsi, has, in turn, marked the spirits of the OLM Souissi and sang, in chorus with the public, his now legendary tube, Despacito, which exceeded 5 billion views on Youtube. The concerts of French Montana, Damso or Abel Tesfaye, aka The Weeknd, also marked this edition. At the Mohammed V National Theater, it is a true tribute to the Moroccan song that was made by Majida El Roumi. The Lebanese soprano notably sang the song "Ya Bent Bladi" of the singer Chaqqara before a delighted public. As for the performances of Douzi, Aminux, H-Kayne, Senhaji and many others, they have highlighted the great variety of Moroccan music and the immense talent of national artists. Stati and Najat Aâtabou who are among the undisputed masters of the Moroccan chaâbi, caused a sensation on the Salé stage.
Another intense moment of the last day, that of the concert of the Emirati Ahlam diva on the Nahda stage. "The singer is on stage Nahda accompanied by a hundred musicians! The key, an incredible scenic device for a grandiose and unprecedented performance. In Bouregreg, the rapper Rilès was illustrated by a colorful show and the announcement that he was giving the stamp of his performance to a Moroccan association. An impetus of generosity that has been widely applauded and reminiscent of what many artists have already done at Mawazine, like La Fouine in 2017, which had given back some of its cachet to the "Children's House Lalla Hasnaa" . Great moments are to be mentioned on the Bouregreg stage with huge artists from Africa, including Seun Kuti, Sidiki Diabaté, Ebo Taylor … who have conquered an excited African public. At Chellah, it is the beautiful voices of the world that have enchanted, thanks to the historical setting of this scene and the lyricism of their performance, a loyal audience of connoisseurs.