Mawazine: the Moroccan festival that makes you vibrate to the rhythms of the world

Rabat will host, from 21 to 29 June 2024, the 19th edition of the Mawazine Rhythms of the World Festival with a programme that mixes tradition and modernity in order to preserve the cultural heritage 
El cantante colombiano Juan Luis Londono Arias alias Maluma actúa durante el Festival de Músicas del Mundo Mawazine en el recinto OLM Suissi en la capital marroquí Rabat el 29 de junio de 2019 – PHOTO/AFP
Colombian singer Juan Luis Londono Arias alias Maluma performs during the Mawazine World Music Festival at the OLM Suissi venue in the Moroccan capital Rabat on June 29, 2019 – PHOTO/AFP
  1. These are the musical genres and artists of Mawazine 2024
  2. Where are the Mawazine concerts held?
  3. Mawazine the world showcase of the Moroccan music scene
  4. Missions and values of Maroc

The Mawazine Rhythms of the World Festival will start its first concerts on the 21st of June and will continue with renowned artists until the 29th of the same month, giving the public the opportunity to enjoy both Moroccan and international music in the open air. 

It is a socio-cultural event, organised by the Maroc-Cultures Association and financed by private sector actors. Thus, 32% of its budget comes from private sponsors and 68% from miscellaneous income (tickets, cards, etc.). 

Mawazine is considered the largest festival in the world, after Donauinselfest in Vienna, with an attendance of up to 2.5 million people; through 90 events divided into seven stages.  

In parallel, it represents one of several events that are intended to promote the image of Morocco as a tolerant nation and Rabat as a city open to the world. It is also a major boost to the capital's tourism sector with a 100% occupancy rate in hotels and restaurants.  

Miembros del público reaccionan mientras ven al grupo nigeriano P Square actuar durante la 14ª edición del festival de música Mawazine en Rabat el 31 de mayo de 2015 – PHOTO/AFP PHOTO/FADEL SENNA
Members of the public react as they watch Nigerian group P Square perform during the 14th edition of the Mawazine music festival in Rabat on May 31, 2015 – PHOTO/AFP PHOTO/FADEL SENNA

These are the musical genres and artists of Mawazine 2024

The programme of the 19th edition of the Mawazine Festival this year includes a varied range of musical tastes and renowned national and international artists such as: 

  • Oriental music with Carole Samaha, Angham, Ahmed Saad, Balguess, Haifa Wehbe, Abeer Nehme, Jannat, Marwane Khoury, Najwa Karam, Samira Said, Rami Ayach, Adam and Mohamed Ramadan. 
  • International music with Kylie Minogue, La Fève, Metro Boomin, Luidji, Yame, Ateez, Alawn, Omah Lay, Sch, Gazo and Tiakola, Camila Cabello, Nicki Nicole, Fatoumata Diawara, Burna Boy, Central Cee, Iamddb, James BKS, Nana Benz Du Togo, Nicki Minaj, Calvin Harris and MK. 
  • Tarab with Badr Rami and Oum Kalthoum. 
  • Moroccan music with Zina Daoudia, Muslim, Ihsan Regragui, Said Mosker, Hamid Kassri, Ikram El Abdia, Abdou El Ouazzani, Ibtisam Tiskat, Douzi, Mouss Maher, Stati Abdelaziz, Kader Japonais and Saida Charaf. 
  • World music with Yuri Buenaventura. 

Where are the Mawazine concerts held?

There are four large open-air venues, open, free and accessible to all, where the Mawazine concerts are held. They are designed to accommodate a very large audience (from 15,000 to 200,000 people):  

  • The Olm Souissi Stage: considered the fiefdom of international music where the most famous and highly anticipated artists often perform in front of hundreds of thousands of festival-goers. It is located in an exceptional site near one of the most beautiful districts of Rabat. 
  •  The Nahda stage: entirely dedicated to oriental music for an audience of tens of thousands of people. It is a magical and welcoming setting where you can discover the best of the region's modern and classical repertoire. 
  •  The Salé scene: a meeting place for all lovers of Moroccan music (gnaoua, chaabi and amazigh, rock, rap and reggada) on the banks of the Bouregreg, in an exceptional setting with a magnificent view over the river and the city of Rabat.  
  •  The Bouregreg Scene: the Rhythms of the World Scene built with a breathtaking view of the Kasbah of Udaya, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a citadel where African music lovers meet every year. 

Mawazine the world showcase of the Moroccan music scene 

Since its creation in 2001, the Festival has renewed its commitment to making culture accessible to all and its contribution to the development of a national entertainment industry. 

Every year, more than 2.5 million people take part in the festival, 90% of whom enjoy nine days of free high-level artistic programming, broadcast around the world and followed by tens of millions of spectators.  

The internationalisation of the festival is an achievement that it has consolidated throughout its 18 years of existence, inviting the best artists from all continents to each edition. With nearly 600 national and international journalists present, each edition is a window on the vitality and creativity of the Moroccan scene.  

According to Abdeslem Ahizoune, president of the Mawazine Rhythms of the World Festival and president of the Morocco Cultures Association, "the authors of these successes are everyone: the organisers, festival-goers, authorities, administrations, services, partners, sponsors, companies, volunteers...".  

Ahizoune insists that "thanks to their support and their loyalty, they have all contributed to making the Mawazine Festival what it is today and what it will continue to be tomorrow: a truly popular and demanding event, with a high quality programme and the excellent reception conditions offered to the public and the artists". 

Miembros del público reaccionan mientras sostienen pancartas mientras ven al grupo nigeriano P Square actuar durante la 14ª edición del festival de música Mawazine en Rabat el 31 de mayo de 2015 -PHOTO/AFP PHOTO/FADEL SENNA
Members of the public react while holding banners as they watch Nigerian group P Square perform during the 14th edition of the Mawazine music festival in Rabat on May 31, 2015 - PHOTO/AFP PHOTO/FADEL SENNA

Missions and values of Maroc Cultures

Created in 2001, Maroc Cultures is a non-profit association working for the development and democratisation of culture. Recognised as a public utility, its main mission is to create a cultural and artistic offer for the public in the Rabat-Salé-Kenitra region.  

The association has a team made up of some twenty personalities and professionals from different fields. This plurality of expertise, combined with the collaboration of local companies, enables Maroc Cultures to propose events of international scope that position Morocco as a benchmark in the performing arts industry.  

Through its activities, Maroc Cultures seeks to reinforce the universal values of tolerance, coexistence and openness, as well as to encourage exchanges between artists and audiences and between artists through a broad representation of different cultures. 

Supporting diversity and combining traditional arts with more modern expressions, preserving cultural heritage are also some of the most important goals of the Mawazine Festival.