Ouarzazate Festival... an area of exceptional cultural and civilizational heritage
Participants in a symposium organized within the framework of the 12th session of the National Festival of Ahwach Arts, which concluded its activities today, Sunday, in the city of Ouarzazate, confirmed that Ahwach arts constitute an exceptional cultural and civilizational heritage that embodies the concept of the world and existence among the inhabitants of southeastern Morocco.
They highlighted that this artistic heritage, which combines dance and lyric poetry, is a tradition designed and practiced by women and men to convey their history and avoid oblivion.
In this context, the researcher in Moroccan heritage and popular culture, Mohamed Alilouche, said that “Ahwach represents a mode of expression and transmission of the experience of the individual and the tribe as a whole,” noting that this artistic tradition extending for many centuries enables us to restore the ancient times of the inhabitants of southeastern Morocco.
Mr. Alilouche stated that this art constitutes one of the prominent cultural traditions of the Amazigh communities in Morocco, pointing out that through this collective dance, which combines singing, poetry, body movement and rhythm, men and women restore their history in order to pass it on to their future generations.
For his part, researcher Ezzedine Testift, head of the collective fabric for development in Ouarzazate, pointed out that the art of Ahwach focuses in particular on the values that must be transmitted in order to preserve the Amazigh lifestyle.
After reviewing the transformations that this art has witnessed since the 1930s, the researcher noted that this heritage is also a means by which tourists can learn more about the experiences of these societies.
About forty Ahwach folklore groups, including more than 1,400 artists, participated in the 12th session of the National Festival of Ahwach Arts, which was organized over three days under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
The program of this artistic event included musical evenings, a special exhibition on traditional arts and crafts, thematic workshops on teaching Ahwash arts, and an intellectual symposium on Ahwash arts with the participation of a group of researchers and experts.
This festival was organized in partnership with the “Ouarzazate Events” Association, the Prefecture of the Ouarzazate Province, the Draa-Tafilalet Regional Council, the Ouarzazate Regional Council, the Draa-Tafilalet Regional Tourism Council, and the Ouarzazate Regional Tourism Council.
Source: websites