Essaouira vibrated on June 28 and 29 to the rhythm of the new edition of the Human Rights Forum of the Festival Gnaouaand world music. Under the theme “Morocco, Spain, Portugal: a history with a future”, the event brought together international artists, musicians and academicians, illustrating the richness of cultural exchanges and the importance of cooperation between nations.
The new edition of the Human Rights Forum of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival of Essaouira was held brilliantly on June 28 and 29 under the theme “Morocco, Spain, Portugal: a history with a future”. This event marked the presence of several famous artists and musicians, but also international academicians.
In his speech to Maroc Diplomatique, Mr. Gonzo Fernàndez Parrilla, professor of Arabic, Islamic and Oriental Studies at the Autonomous University of Madrid, said: “This is my first time at the Gnaoua Festival, and it is a dream come true to be here. For me, the Gnaoua Festival symbolizes many things: the recovery of Morocco’s African heritage and its creation, as well as the attraction of other music from around the world, from America, Europe and of course Africa.”
Symbolically, it is a place of connections and meetings between musicians and people from all over the world. “My dream now would be for Spaniards to come here to learn this experience of friendliness and culture, because for me, culture is the real connection. We must work in this area for the future of relations between Spain and Morocco,” he says.
Mr. Gonzo Fernàndez Parrilla thus denounces “I am a little critical of football because it is a political initiative for Spain, Morocco and Portugal. But ultimately, football arouses very identity-related energies, but I think it’s a good collaboration. I’ve been to a lot of festivals and played a lot of festivals around the world, and this is one of the best I’ve ever been to. It’s not just because there is Nawa, fantastic music that combines the power of African rhythm, the sensitivity of Sufi philosophy and Arabic poetics. He concludes.
