Posts Tagged ‘Faouzi Skali’

Fes Festival of Sufi Culture and Music April 2015

Saturday, February 21st, 2015
Fes Sufi Festival of Culture and Music

Fes Sufi Festival of Culture and Music

Morocco’s ancient city of Fes (Fez) was Morocco’s first imperial capital. Fes was established and developed by Idris I – founder of the Kingdom of Morocco and credited with the Islamization of the country – and his son, Idris II. More than a millennium later, it remains Morocco’s spiritual heart. In some parts of the ancient medina, little has changed since mediaeval times. As such, the ancient palaces, Koranic schools and gardens make magical settings for two key festivals in the Fassi year: the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music (22-30 May 2015) and the Fes Festival of Sufi Culture (18-25 April 2015).

Sufism is typically defined as the mystical dimension of Islam and is such is often opposed by the followers of more conservative or literal Islamic philosophy. Many Sufis, however, maintain that the spiritual essence of Sufism transcends and pre-dates religions.

Sufis typically live and worship in orders or brotherhoods gathered around a Master, such as the famous Gnaoua of Morocco, or the Mevlevi Order of Turkey known for their whirling dervishes. Unlike mainstream Muslims, who believe that their communion is directly with Allah (God) through prayer with the purpose of bringing themselves closer to God in Paradise, Sufis believe that spiritual practice (such as charitable acts and self-discipline) can bring them closer to Allah in this life and that they can communicate with Him via certain practices in addition to prayer (eg song, dance, trance, whirling or others).

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This practice of meditating on God through a focus, for example on repetitive beats or dancing is known as samaa. This is said to bring forth a person’s love of God and purify the soul. The aim is to reach a trance-like state of ecstasy which is hoped to lead to deeper spiritual knowledge.

The 2015 Fes Festival of Sufi Culture is the 9th edition. Under the banner “The Religion of Love”, the festival will celebrate the life and work of renowned Sufi scholar, Rumi. Jalaladdin Muhammad Rumi was a 13th century Persian poet, jurist, Islamic scholar, theologian, and Sufi mystic. He was the inspiration for the creation of the Mevlevi Order, which practices samaa through music set to Rumi’s poems and whirling. At this year’s Fes Festival, here are several round table events and performances dedicated to discussion of Rumi’s work and the Mevlevi. The Festival will also make tribute to Rabiaa al Adawiya (Rabiaa el Basri), who was an 8th century female Muslim saint and Sufi mystic from Basra, Iraq.

The Sufi Culture Festival also draws on indigenous Moroccan cultural and spiritual traditions, featuring Sufi Amazigh culture and poetry and the musical traditions of al Andalous, the Moorish Empire of the Middle Ages.

Sufism is an open, welcoming aspect of modern Islam and is more accessible in Morocco to non-Muslim audiences through Festivals, spiritual practices and the zawiyas (homes of the brotherhoods) than mainstream Islam whose mosques and cemeteries are typically closed to visitors. Whether your interest is in music, poetry, dance, religion or spiritual aspects of Sufism, the emphasis of the Sufis and of the 2015 Fes Festival of Sufi Culture on love is powerful and appealing. This year’s Fes Festival of Sufi Culture is promises to be a stimulating and inspirational event!

PROGRAM OF FESTIVAL OF SUFI CULTURE & MUSIC APRIL 2015

Saturday 18  April 16.00

Opening ceremony General introduction by Faouzi Skali followed by a musical and artistic moment. 

20.30 Concert : Mystic recital dedicated to Rabiaa al Adawiya 

Sunday 19 April10.00 Round Table and poetic readings. « Tribute to Abdelwahhab Meddeb: Sufi moments ».

16.00 Round Tables: “Is there a revival of Sufism in the Muslim world?”

20.30 Samaa of the Tariqa Boutchichiyya  Qadiriyya ( Morocco).

Monday 20 April 10.00 Round Table: ‘Persian Mystical Poetry and the Message of Love’

Hossein Gomshei Discussion led by Faouzi Skali with Hossein Gomshei, Leonard Lewisohn, and Alan Williams

16.00 Round Table: ‘Rumi and the Mevlevi: Poetry of Ecstasy and Love in Persian and Turkish’ Leonard Lewisohn, Alan Williams, and Roderick Grierson Discussion led by Faouzi Skali with Leonard Lewisohn, Alan Williams, and Roderick Grierson

20.30 Concert:  ‘Aşkın Sesi: The Voice of Love’  :  Mevlevi music for the ney:  Kudsi Erguner.

Tuesday 21 April

10.00 Round Table: ‘Rumi and the Legacy of Persian Music’ Jane Lewisohn (with recordings)

Discussion led by Faouzi Skali with Jane Lewisohn, Leonard Lewisohn, and Hossein Gomshei

16.00 Round Table: ‘“Listen to This Ney”: Music of the Mevlevi Kudsi Erguner

(with recordings and live performance) ‘Visions of the Mevlevi: Eastern and Western Depictions of Semazens’

Roderick Grierson (with illustrations) Discussion led by Roderick Grieson with Kudsi Erguner and Faouzi Skali

20.30  Samaa of the Tariqa Khalwatiyya :  Chaykh Nur Allah Fath ( Turkey).

Wednesday 22 April

10.00 Round Table: « The scriptural foundations of the Religion of the Love ».

16.00 Round Table: « Presence of  Rabiaa » .

20.30 First part : Samaa of the Tariqa Rifaiyya ( Turkey) Second part: Samaa of the  Tariqa Naqchbandiyya (Bosnia). 

Thursday 23 April 10.00 Round Table: « Sufi Amazigh culture and poetry »

16.00 Round Table: « Bards of the spiritual Love of East and West ».

20.30 Samaa of the Tariqa Charqawiyya and of the Tariqa Wazzaniyya.

Friday 24 April 10.00 Round Table: « Writings and poems about spiritual love in Morocco and Andalousia  » .

16.00 Round Table: « Culture and expressions of spiritual love in Sub-Saharan Africa  » .

20.30 First part: Samaa  of the Tariqa Siqilliyya Second part: Sufi singings of Alep: Homage to Jalaleddine Weiss

Saturday 25 April 10.00 Round Table: « Love and Futuwwa,  the path of the Spiritual Chivalry » .

20.30 Sufi Samaa and  Andalusian Music. Conferenciers Lecturers ( alphabétique order ) :

Abdelillah Arafa, Abdou Hafidi, Abdellah Ouazzani, Abdussamad Romero,

Alan Williams Bariza Khiari, Eric Geoffroy, Hossein Gomshei, Ines Safi, Jaafar Kansoussi, Jane Lewisohn, Katia et Gabrielle Legeret,  Kudsi Erguner, Lila Anvar, Leonard Lewisohn,  Michael Barry, Michel Boivin, Mounir El Kadiri, Roderick Grierson, Saad El Khiari, Saïda Bennani, Salamatou Sow, Souada Maoulainine, Suad El Hakim, Touria et Layla Iqbal, Xavier Guerrand-Hermès.

Written by Lynn Sheppard 

Lynn Sheppard has lived in Essaouira, on Morocco’s Atlantic Coast for more than 2 years, supporting local non-profits, writing and becoming an expert on all things Swiri (ie. Essaouiran). She blogs at Maroc-phile.com and for other travel industry clients.

For more information about the Fes Sufi Festival or a Fes Tour 

Morocco’s Imperial CitiesSeaside Resorts,Sahara Desert,Berber villagesA Taste of MoroccoMagical Kasbahs, Ruins & WaterfallsAbsolute Morocco, The Best of MarrakechFes, and Ouarzazate

Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration
Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel.  We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration at 1 (800) 787-8806 or + 1 (212) 618882681 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

 

Fes Festival of Sacred World Music 2014, Your Morocco Tour Guide

Monday, June 9th, 2014

20th Annual Fes Festival of Sacred Music

The Fes Festival of World Sacred Music, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year with the theme Conference of the Birds: Journey of Cultures. It has been twenty years of a musical, spiritual and artistic journey exploring the cultures and traditions of the world, revealed in ever greater depth through concerts, exhibitions, film screenings and debates. It takes place in Fes, Morocco from June 13th – 21st, 2014.

PRESS RELEASE – FES FESTIVAL OF SACRED WORLD MUSIC

The seven continents are represented by superb artists, grand masters renowned for their art: from Europe, one of the greatest tenors of our time, Roberto Alagna, presents a show created specially for the Festival; in addition to Tomatito, who works with Paco de Lucia at the top of his field of flamenco guitar. Representing Africa is an encounter between Youssou N’dour and Johnny Clegg in a tribute to Nelson Mandela; along with Rokia Traoré. From Asia is the prestigious Arab singer Kadem Saher and Zakir Hussain, the most celebrated Indian tabla musician.

Morocco is represented by a number of artists during the opening concert and also in an Arab-Jewish-Andalusian evening showcasing the greatest Moroccan artists both Muslim and Jewish, presenting their magnificently rich cultural heritage. Luzmilla Carpio from Bolivia represents South America, and Buddy Guy from North America, the great legend of Chicago blues who will be visiting Morocco for the first time with his ensemble, presenting the mythical music of this Afro-American culture.

The Fes Festival of World Sacred Music and the Fes Forum, founded in1994 and 2001, are dedicated to the traditions of knowledge, art and spirituality of the city. The Fes Festival was designated in 2001 by the United Nations as one of the major events contributing in remarkable fashion to the dialogue between civilizations.

Faouzi Skali

Forum Director and Founder, Faouzi Skali introduces the Festival and Travel Exploraiton Morocco is proud to present the 2014 program here.

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The opening concert of the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music features the premiere of a work specially commissioned for the Festival. It is a feast of stagecraft and the visual arts that encompasses music, dance, song, video and poetry.

The opening concert at 21h00 on 13 June at Bab al Makina entitled Manteq at-Tayr in Arabic, Conference of the Birds : Journey of Cultures. This work encompasses the journey of different world cultures in their quest for direction and of their transformation as they encounter various exchanges. Performance inspired by The Conference of the Birds by Farid Ud-Din Attar, translated by Leili Anvar and published by Diane de Selliers.

They take place throughout the Fes Festival as a fitting finish to the day’s events in a warm atmosphere full of spirituality and conviviality.

It’s a perfect moment to be shared by all, in the gardens of Dar Tazi in the heart of the Fes medina.

Medina Nights Performers from June 16th – 18th:

Breezes of the Atlas & Jews Harp from China, The Choir of Saint Ephraim, Majils Triom Atlan Ensemble, Leili Anvar, Marifat, Khalil Abu Nicola, Tomatito Sextet, Nouhalia El Khalai, Mor Karbasi, Zakir Hussain

Festival in the City Concert Program:

The Festival in the City brings together all the great traditions of sacred music, spiritual music, and world music. As part of the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music, it offers free daily concerts in popular city squares for the people of Fes, Morocco and from abroad.
These large public concerts are free and take place at Boujloud Square at 18h30 (except saturday June 14th at 22h30 – 10:30pm) and at the Jnan Sbil garden at 16h.

Saturday 14 June
Jnan Sbil garden 16h : Ensemble Takht al Arabi, Aziz Liwae

From Bab Boujloud 18h : 2nd RACE TO THE RHYTHM OF WORLD SACRED MUSIC with traditional folkloric groups from all over Morocco will perform along the route.
Bab Boujloud 22h30 Chant d’Ahidous de l’Atlas / Badr Rami (Syrie)

Sunday 15 june
Jnan Sbil Garden  16h : Songs of the group Aisawa, Said Berrada
Bab Boujloud 18h30 : Musa Dieng Kala (Sénégal) / Jil Jilala

Monday 16 june
Jnan Sbil Garden 16h : Feminin orchestra of Fès
Bab Boujloud 18h30 : Luzmila Carpio (Bolivia) / Ouled Al Bouazzaoui (Songs of  theAïeta )

Tuesday 17 june
Jnan Sbil Garden 16h : Nasr Migri
Bab Boujloud 18h30 : Ribab Fusion (Amazigh’s songs from Souss)/Sefrawa Fusion (winner of the Tremplin Fé Riad 2014)

Wednesday 18 june
Jnan Sbil Garden 16h : Roudaniyat, women from Mèknes
Bab Boujloud 18h30 : Laabi Orchestra

Thursday 19 June
Jnan Sbil Garden 16h : Amina Ben Souda
Bab Boujloud 18h30 : Raza Khan (India) /Abidat Rma

Friday 20 june
Jnan Sbil Garden 16h : Songs of Melhoûn, Mohammed El Hadri/ Amazigh poetry reading: Omar Taous
Bab Boujloud 18h30 : Hot 8 Brass Band (USA)/ Saïda Charaf

Sunday 21 june
Jnan Sbil Garden 16h : Ihsan Rmiki
Bab Boujloud 18h30 : Kadim Al Sahira

Free entry Dar Tazi: Sufi Nights from 23h00

These outdoor samaâ concerts are open to all, and give a glimpse into Islamic culture through the richness and creativity of its artistic and spiritual dimensions.

Saturday 14 June : National Tijani group of Rabat directed by Mohcine Nawrach, with sama’a and madih

Sunday 15 June : Group from the Darkaouia Zaouia, Essaouira

Monday 16 June : Group from the Sakalia Zaouia in Fes, directed by Haj Mohamed Bennis

Tuesday 17 June : Group from the Naqchabandia Zaouia directed by Noureddine Tahiri

Wednesday 18 June : Group Rouh of Meknes directed by Yassine Habibi, with Sufi sama’a

Thursday 19 June : Group from the Harrakia Zaouia, Rabat

Friday 20 June : Group from the Ouazzania Zaouia of Ouazzane directed by Fouad Ouazzani

Saturday 21 June : Group from the Hamdouchia Zaouia of Fez directed by Abderrahim Amrani

For more information about the Fes Festival of Sacred World Music or Fes Tours  

Morocco’s Imperial CitiesSeaside Resorts,Sahara Desert,Berber villagesA Taste of MoroccoMagical Kasbahs, Ruins & WaterfallsAbsolute Morocco, The Best of MarrakechFes, and Ouarzazate

Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration
Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel.  We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration at 1 (800) 787-8806 or + 1 (212) 618882681 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

Fes Festival World Sacred Music 17th Edition June 2011 Program, Your Morocco Travel Guide

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

Fes Festival 2011

Travel Exploration is proud to present the final music and conference schedule for the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music. The Fes Festival Of World Sacred Music’s 17th Edition will take place from June 3rd – 12th, 2011. The Fes Music Festival can be attended by taking a 13 Day/ 12 Night Morocco Tour with Music Host, Joel Davis which includes discovers of Morocco’s Imperial Cities, the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music and the Sahara region. Discovering Fes and the Fes Festival can also be done on a private journey to Fes. This immense undertaking of a Fes Festival Program in the city of Fes, Morocco is once again spearheaded by Mr. Faouzi Skali. Mr. Faouzi Skali has a Doctor in anthropology, ethnology and religion sciences. Faouzi Skali was born in Fes Morocco in 1953.  Mr. Skali founded the international symposium A soul for the globalization – since 2001 – in parallel of the Festival of World Sacred Music in Fes. Those of us who know Mr. Faouzi Skali’s word and his commitment to peace and a greater Fes are pleased to have him back at the helm. The 17th Edition of the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music is going to be like none other. At a time when the Muslim world is looking for reform towards democracy and peace, Morocco once again leads with a commitment to these efforts linked to culture, arts and community. The mix of musicians from around the world at the 17th annual Fes Festival within the modernized, peaceful and progressive country of Morocco is surely to be at the threshold of the world’s eyes and an opportunity for world and spiritual music to once again bridge the gaps that exist among us.

Faouzi Skali, Director of Fes Festival of World Sacred Music

Fes Festival of World Sacred Music – 17th Edition 2011 (June 3rd – 12th, 2011)

Friday, June 3rd

Bab Al Makina – 8.30 pm Creation

Opera ‘Majnun and Leila’ Armand Amar, art direction ‐ Leili Anvar, booklet (lyrics/script) With  the  Shanghai  Percussion  –  Japanese  Drums  –  Sarah  Nemtanu,  violin  soloist  with  the  London Symphony Orchestra ‐ Gregory Korneliu, cello ‐ Ibrahim Maalouf, trumpet ‐ Levon Minassian,  duduk  ‐  Seye  Mohamed,  ney  ‐  Zaim  Abdou,  oud  ‐  Guo  Gan,  erhu  ‐  Mara Dubrescu,  piano  ‐  Mathias  Duplessy,  guitar  ‐  Salah  Aguili,  Iranian  singing  ‐  Sandrine  Piau and Adele Carlier, classical singing – Epi, Mongolian throat singing ‐ Asif Ali Khan, qawwali singing  Armand Amar, a cinematic composer – from the prestigious “Amen” by Costa‐Gavras to the recent “Home” (a cult‐oriented ecological movie by Yann Arthus‐Bertrand) ‐ offers a musical and poetic journey of the great Eastern traditions, from Persia to the Arab world. The  universal  story  of  Majnun  and  Leila,  a  legend  carried  over  time  through  stories, novels,  poems,  films  and  songs  in  Arabic,  Kurdish,  Pashto,  Hindi,  Urdu  or  Bengali,celebrates absolute love and represents the idea of a true mystical quest.

Saturday June 4th

Batha Museum – 4.00 pm

Elena Ledda and his quartet with polyphonic choir Su Cuncordu ‘E Su Rosario de Santu Lussurgiu ‐ Sardinia, Italy Cantendi A Deus. Surrounded  by  the  beautiful  voices  of  Sardinia,  Elena  Ledda  renews  the  sacred  songs  ofan  island  whose  pastoral  society  has  preserved  its  rich  oral  heritage,  a  heritage  that exudes the wild beauty of the ancient mountains and Mediterranean.

Bab Al Makina – 8.30 pm

Maria Bethânia ‐ Brazil Romances and spiritual songs / Canticos, preces e suplicas. A native of Bahia, Maria Bethânia was the spokesperson of a youth movement involved in post‐dictatorship and feminism. Today, the adored grande dame of popular song – known as  Abelha‐rainha  (“Queen  Bee”)  –  plays  a  repertoire  of  homage  and  praise  to  the  Virginary, full of a sensual fervor related to Brazil’s multiculturalism.

Nawah Fes Festival 2011 Performers

Sunday June 5th

Batha Museum – 4.00 pm

Nawah ‐ Morocco and Palestine Traditional Sephardic Jewish and Palestinian songs   Françoise Atlan, voice Moneim Adwan, voice and oud  Bijan Cheminani, zarb and daf . At  the  junction  of  the  three  monotheistic  traditions  of  medieval  Spain  and  a  musical tradition  evoking  exile,  lost  homelands  and  purified  love,  Françoise  Atlan  and  Moneim Adwan form a meeting between the musical history of the Maghreb and the Middle East.

Bab Al Makina ‐ 8.30 pm

Julia Boutros – Lebanon

The consciousness of a great voice. Following the path of the illustrious Feirouz to whom she is often compared, Julia Boutros  continues  with  intelligence  a  career  leading  her  to  be  respected  by  the  entire  Arab  world. Simple  in  her  interpretation,  serene  in  her  appearance,  Julia  Boutros  has  all  the attractions of a diva aware of the political realities surrounding her.

Monday June 6th

Batha Museum – 4.00 pm

The ‘Kinor David’ choir under the direction of Michael Abittan ‐ Casablanca, Morocco. The art of matrouz. This  year,  in  the  spirit  of  the  spiritual  dialogue  that  characterizes  this  festival,  the  Jewish  Arabic tradition – dear to the musical heritage of Morocco – evokes the land of Andalusia,  a  crucible  of  Muslim,  Hebrew  and  Christian  cultures,  where  Jewish  and  Arab  poetry  are  embroidered and entwined.

Night in the Medina I

Dar Mokri –  8 and 10 pm Jesús Corbacho – Andalusia‐ Spain Saetas, songs of praise

Dar Tazi – 8.30 pm Salah Aghili ‐ Iran The poetic art of Djalâl ad‐Dîn Rûmî. The  Persian  music  and  poetry  of  Djalâl  ad‐Dîn  Rûmî  opens  the  doors  of  perception,  lifting  our  imagination  into  the  heart  of  ancient  warriors  and  epic  songs,  before  descending  into  deep nostalgia and mystic sadness.

Batha Museum – 9.00 pm

Prem Sanyas, “The Light of Asia” ‐ North India A masterpiece of silent film directed by Franz Osten (1925) and set to music on stage by the ‘Divana Ensemble’ ‐ manghaniyars and langas musicians from Rajasthan.  Prem  Sanyas  evokes  the  early  years  of  Buddha,  also  known  as  Siddhartha  Gautama,  the long‐awaited son of King Suddhodana. After growing up in a closed and protected world  the  young  man  escapes  the  palace  and  discovers  another  aspect  of  human  existence: poverty,  disease  and  death.  The  film,  shot  in  Jaipur,  is  an  opportunity  to  discover  the  sumptuous lives and traditions of the rajahs of the time.

Dar Adiyel ‐ 9 and 10.30 pm

Alèmu Aga ‐ Ethiopia

Sacred song and lyre bèguèna Since the time of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon (1000 BC), there were 3000 years of independence experienced by the Kingdom of Axum, before it became Abyssinia and Ethiopia. These countries then converted to Christianity in the 4th century at the same  time as the Roman Empire. The  crystalline  notes  of  the  lyre  and  singing  recitals  of  Alemu  Aga  take  us  back  to  the  chants  of  King  David.  At  once  meditative  and  therapeutic,  these  songs  are  ancient  and deeply peaceful.

Dar Tazi – 11.00 pm Sheikh Taha ‐ Upper Egypt The Inshad sufiya of Luxor The  Munshiddin  of  Upper  Egypt  are  known  for  their  poetic  verve  and  stage  presence.  Very  popular,  they  are  accompanied  by  the  Takht  Ensemble  who  play  melodic  ancient tunes  inspired  by  old  songs  such  as  Oum  Kalthoum.  Their  Sufi  singing  ‐  inshad  Sufiya  ‐  is  bright and accessible to all.

Gundecha Brothers Fes Festival 2011 Performers

Tuesday June 7th
Batha Museum – 4.00 pm

Gundecha Brothers ‐ North India

The sacred art of dhrupad. Dhrupad singing is the oldest classical music tradition alive in the Indian subcontinent. It is  rooted  in  the  recitation  of  the  Vedic  hymns.  Originally  sung  in  the  temples,  the  vocal  technique recreates the exaltation of the loving soul.

Dar Tazi – 11.00 pm Sheikh Taha – Upper Egypt Sufi Inshad of Luxor Night in the Medina II

Dar Mokri – 8.00 pm Mohamed Amin El Akrami and his orchestra ‐ Morocco Andalusian tradition of Tetouan. Mohamed  Amine  Akrami  carries  with  him  the  musical  heritage  of  Andalusian  Tetouan,  a  small town in the Rif Mountains often called “the Andalusian patio of Morocco”. The tune  contains  both  sophisticated  and  bitter  aspects  and  the  music  al‐âla  of  Tetouan  is  beautifully  enhanced  by  the  Mohamed  Amine  Akrami  Ensemble.  Mohamed  Amine Akrami  perfected  his  art  with  religious  songs  from  madih  to  samâ,  studying  under  great masters such as Mohamed Larbi Temsamani and Abdessadak Chekara.

Batha Museum – 8.00 pm Ensemble Barroco Asuncion Paraguay ‐ Latin America Alexander Chauffaud, musical direction

Jessica Bogado and Laura Delogu, sopranos. Samples of Peruvian Codes from the Andean area in the 18th century Halfway between the European Baroque universe and traditional music, the viewpoints of two civilizations meet in sacred music. These works, born of the “meeting of two worlds”,  make  Latin  America  the  chosen  land  of  a  musical  art  that  has  developed  in  staggering proportions  since  the  late  16th  and  17th  centuries.  The  young  musicians  from  Paraguay  ‘Barroco’  tell  the  story  of  this  journey  by  blending  indigenous  and  European  instruments, from the harpsichord to the Paraguayan harp.

Homayoun Sakhi Fes Festival 2011 Performers

Batha Museum – 10.00 pm Homayoun Sakhi – Afganistan Art of Rubâb

Afghanistan, formerly at the crossroads of the Persian, Indian and Asian civilizations, remains a country of proud mountain warriors, who are today faced with the game of international powers. Homayoun Sakhi, a musical revelation in recent years, has devoted his existence to rubâb,  an Afghan lute, which sounds volatile and cutting.

Dar Mokri – 10.30 pm Nahal Tajddod and Jean‐Claude Carrière

“The Conference of the Birds” by Farid Eddin Attar Jean‐Claude Carrière and Nahal Tajaddod revive the Sufi tale of Farid Eddin Attar during areading punctuated by music. All  the  birds,  known  and  unknown,  met  one  day  and  discovered  that  they  lacked  a  king.  They  decided  to  go  in  search  of  the  bird‐king  Simorg,  a  symbol  of  Truth  in  the  Persiamystical  tradition.  This  famous  story  of  initiation,  interspersed  with  stories  and  anecdotes,  remains  forever  a  jewel  of  Muslim  spirituality.  The  great  Rumi,  Persian  mystic  and poet, said of its author, Attar (c. 1140 ‐ c. 1230): “He was the soul of Sufism, I am only following his trail.”

Dar Adiyel – 9.30 pm Ensemble Wajd – Morocco and Syria. Songs with existential and spiritual dimension, between tradition and modernity Naziha Meftah, songs  Ghaïs Jasser, composition and piano  Khaled Roumo, poetry

Dar Tazi –  11.00 pm Divana ‐ Rajasthan, North India Sufi songs of the Thar Deser A  raw  voice  capable  of  shaping  a  myriad  of  songs,  in  perfect  harmony  with  the  amanchiya  and  sarangui  fiddles,  is  the  image  of  these  nomadic  societies  that  cultivate  ahigh poetic refinement. In the poetic paradise that is the ancient land of Rajas (Rajasthan,meaning  ‘Land  of  Princes’  in  Sanskrit),  the  poet’s  voice  rises,  sinuous  and  warm,  and  illuminates our soul like “the expanse of stars in the night”.

Abd Al Malik Fes Festival 2011 Performer

Wednesday June 8th Batha Museum – 4.00 pm

Urban Phileas – Reunion Island, France Reunion  Island  is  a  microcosm  of  intersecting  African,  Asian,  Indian,  Arab  and  Europeanpopulations,  a  symbol  of  multiculturalism  where  all  faiths  and  communities  live  together.The  spirit  of  this  special  island  is  expressed  through  maloya,  between  Dravidian  India,Malagasy  possession  rituals  (servis  kabaré)  and  the  legacies  of  African  slavery.  UrbanPhileas,  belonging  to  the  family  Lele,  practices  this  ritual,  which  has  been  passed  downthrough generations of ancestors.

Bab Al Makina – 8.30 pm Abd Al Malik ‐ France Rapper,  slammer  and  composer,  Abd  Al  Malik  is  the  media  figure  of  a  new  culture  that has  built  itself  out  of  the  search  for  another  life,  another  language,  while  managing  the  ups and downs of existence in an urban jungle. Abd Al Malik is inspired by, amongst other ideas,  the  Sufi  philosophy  of  spiritual  and  intellectual  resources  and  the  great  texts  of Western thought.

Thursday June 9th Batha Museum – 4.00 pm

Ensemble baroque “Il Concerto di Arianna” – Italy Musical performance of Alessandro Stradella, Alessandro Scarlatti and Antonio Vivaldi The  illustrious  Roman  Ducci  Foundation,  which  works  for  peace  and  dialogue  between  cultures,  offers  a  repertoire  focused  on  sacred  music  under  the  direction  of  the  great conductor Marcello Panni.

Bab Al Makina – 8.30 pm Youssou N’Dour and the Super Star of Dakar ‐ Senegal Tribute to Sheikh Sidi Ahmed al‐Tijani Youssou N’dour, a true icon of West African music, has not forgotten his spiritual roots. In front  of  the  symbolic  door  of  Fez  he  will  pay  tribute  to  the  great  master  of  the Brotherhood  Tijaniyya,  founded  around  1780  by  Ahmad  al‐Tijani.  Ahmad  al‐Tijani’s mausoleum  ‐  a  place  of  pilgrimage  for  the  worldwide  Tijani  brotherhood  ‐  is  in  Blida,  in the heart of Fez Medina.

Doudou Ndiaye Rose Fes Festival 2011 Performer

Friday June 10th Batha Museum – 4.00 pm

Creation Doudou Ndiaye Rose and his sabar drum ensemble With the choir of St Joseph Medina led by Ambouras ‐ Senegal The  sabar  drums  of  Doudou  Ndiaye  Rose  and  his  sons,  give  a  new  dimension  to  this polyrhythmic percussion and chorus, which is animated by the spiritual conviction to own the  soul  of  Africa.  This  also  occurs  when  Muslim  and  Christian  traditions  are  absorbed  by the traditional culture of the Fefer community.

Bab Al Makina – 8.30 pm Farid Ayyaz & Party and the great voices of moroccan samâ, accompanied by the Arab‐ Andalusian Orchestra of Fez, led by Mohammed Briouel ‐ Pakistan and Morocco The expression qaûl in Sufi speech, becomes qawwalî in Indo‐Pakistani music and meets the Arab‐Andalusian al‐âla tradition from Fes and the vocal art of samâ. In  a  common  spirit  of  poetic  recitation,  with  the  same  rhythmic  frenzy  and  equal  wealth of  ornamentation,  the  powerful  vocals  of  qawwalî  by  Farid  Ayyaz  intersect  with  those  of samâ and their voices fill the sky with chanting.

Saturday June 11th Batha Museum – 4.00 pm

Syubbanul Akhyar Esemble ‐ Java, Indonesia Songs and music Hajir Marawi of Cirebon The first centuries of Islamization in Southeast Asia coincided with the heyday of medieval Sufism and developed around the 12th and 13th centuries, during which time the Sufi brotherhood tarîqat emerged. In Indonesia, Yemeni Arab traders from the Hadramout Valley were among the first to transmit a true and popular Sufism. The  musical  style  hajir  marawis,  legacy  of  the  Yemeni  Sufi  culture,  refers  to  a  set  of  hajir percussion  drums  (double  membrane)  and  marawis  (small  tambourines)  to  which  are added the oud, lute and Yemeni gambus.

Bab Al Makina – 8.30 pm Kazem El Saher and Asma Lmnawar, with the artistic collaboration of Aziz Lachhab ‐ Iraq and Morocco Kazem  El  Saher,  a  prestigious  and  big‐hearted  Arabic  singer,  will  be  in  Fez  alongside  the singer  Asma  Lmnawar  from  Casablanca,  with  whom  he  recently  collaborated  to  create  a masterpiece.  This  largely  spiritual  concert  is  being  shown  for  the  first  time  in  a  repertoire especially created for, and dedicated to, Fez.

Sunday June 12th Bab Al Makina – 8.30 pm

Ben Harper ‐ USA Ben Harper expresses the roots of an America that, through its nomadic troubadours and minstrels, has brought the essence of spirituality from memories of a lost Arica, through the struggles of slavery and the hopes of the early settlers.

FES FORUM: “Giving a Soul to Globalization” 4th‐ 8th June 2011

Batha Museum – 9 am to 12 noon 2011  Forum  Theme: Dialogue  about  wisdom:  inspired  by  Farid  al‐Din  Attar’s  The

Conference of the Birds – “The  problems  we  face  cannot  be  solved  with  the  same  level  of  thinking  we  used  when we created them.” Albert Einstein Since  the  fall  of  the  Berlin  Wall,  surely  we  agree  that  the  world’s  fate  no  longer  depends on  a  balance  of  power  that  sees  mounting  tensions  between  a  western  culture dominated  by  reason,  creativity,  and  technology  and  other  cultures  driven  by  new, irrational, and dogmatic ideologies that draw solely on identity or religious affiliation? Not  to  deny  these  tensions,  we  must  understand  that  what  is  happening  is  far  more complex and deeply rooted. Whether  our  resources  draw  on  ancient  or  new  philosophies,  from  the  North  or  South, East  or  West  is  not  what  matters.  What  is  essential  is  that,  by  virtue  of  their  encounter, they  can  nourish  our  relationship  with  the  world.  The  impact  of  this  encounter  makes possible the emergence not simply of a plethora of ideas ‐ regardless of cultural relativis  but  a  genuinely  unknown  relationship  among  cultures;  a  genuine  diversity  tha challenges  and  enriches  thought,  concepts  of  society,  and  our  ideas  of  who  we  are  and can be. Thus the Persian mystic poet of the 13th century, Attar, in his The Conference of the Birds, recounted  how  the  birds,  through  an  intensive  dialogue,  were  able  to  discover  the  true significance of their existence and of their common destiny.

Faouzi Skali – The  Fes  Forum,  whose  overarching  theme  is  “Giving  A  Soul  To  Globalization”  will  address  topics  ranging  from  “Islam  and  the  West”  :  towards  a  new  civilization,”  “New horizons for the Maghreb», «What future lies ahead for the Middle East?, “The roots of the financial crisis”, “Contemporary  dilemmas”, and more…Leading figures who will attend include:  Rajmohan  Gandhi,  Katherine  Marshall,  Salamatou  Sow,  Edgar  Morin,  Majid  Rahnema,  Wim Wenders, Leila Shahid,  André Azoulay, Karen Amstrong, Bariza Khiari, Jacques Attali, Siddhartha,  Yann  Arthus‐Bertrand,  Michel  Thao  Chan,  Michael  Barry,  Leili  Anvar,  Katia  Légeret, Mohamed Valsan, Assia Alaoui Bensalah, Marie Miran‐Guyon, Mohamed Ghalmi,  Kamal  Oudghiri,  Xavier‐Simon  Guerrand‐Hermes,  Xavier  de Catheu,  Patrick  Busquet, Henri  Joyeux,  Patrick  Viveret,  Jean‐Claude  Carrière,  Amal  Arfaoui,  Saad  Khiari,  Nahal  Tajddod,  Abd  Al  Malik,  ,  Setsuko  Klossowska  de  Rola,  Adel  Rifaat,    Bahgat  Elnadi,  Joseph  Mail,  Zeyba Rahman, Gunnar Stalsett and more.

Festival in the City – Everyday- Place Boujloud at 6.30 pm – Dar Tazi at 11.00 pm

For more information about Travel and Tours to Morocco plus highlights on Moroccan culture visit Morocco’s Imperial CitiesSeaside Resorts,Sahara DesertBerber villagesA Taste of MoroccoMagical Kasbahs, Ruins & WaterfallsAbsolute Morocco, The Best of MarrakechFes, and Ouarzazate

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