Casablanca: a (half) bike tour to discover the murals in the capital of street art in Africa

The Alouane Bladi association, with its president Thamud Mellouk, imagined this Sunday, June 30, a beautiful and relaxing artistic journey, which crosses, on the occasion of this 75th Street art bike tour, some of the most picturesque neighborhoods of Casablanca. But first, at the start, the participants were introduced to graffiti during an educational presentation of this art, which is increasingly popular among young Moroccan urban artists, arousing their curiosity even before the first pedal stroke. So much the better!

The planned journey covers 17 kilometers, offering cyclists not only a morning workout, but also an enriching dive into the history of the city’s murals, which participants sometimes come across on a daily basis on their way. Each work thus becomes the starting point for a cultural exploration, revealing the stories and emotions hidden behind the walls of the metropolis, making participants forget the effort made.

«We noticed during heritage days that passers-by often wondered about the stories engraved on the walls. This is what inspired this event, worthy of the capital of street art in Africa” explains Thamud Mellouk, emphasizing the importance of the connection between urban art and the local community.

The event also aims to “promote soft mobility in a city as vibrant as Casablanca», as underlines Lise Marie Lhommedet, culture manager at the French Institute. Despite the challenges posed by the megalopolis, this initiative proves that sustainable mobility can find its place at the heart of modern urban planning.

Lise Marie could not have said anything better when talking about the challenges in Casablanca. While the group moved forward happily, exchanging impressions and comments on the frescoes encountered, the artistic adventure was briefly interrupted by an unforeseen event. Rain you think? Rather a thief, taking advantage of the excitement of the group, and who had tried his luck, making off with the guide’s cell phone.

Unfortunately for him, and fortunately for our cyclists, he didn’t have time to go further than the end of his nose, that the police intervened very quickly, recovering the phone in question thanks to its location and finding in his possession a collection of three other phones! This mishap, far from tarnishing the event, added an anecdote to tell.

Read also: Video. Street art: here is the story of the largest mural in Casablanca

Of course, the tour which was supposed to last 3 and a half hours, passing through Palmiers, Biranzaran, Roudani, El Hank up to the skatepark of the corniche, was shortened but this incident did not change anything in the enthusiasm of the participants who are ready to come back for the next tour which will soon be rescheduled according to the organizers.

Note that the prices are 80 dirhams for adults and 60 for children, and that all profits go to the association to continue to create beautiful frescoes and make the white city a colorful city.