The Taragalte Festival, which will be held from November 1 to 3, 2024 in M’Hamid El Ghizlane, in the province of Zagora, returns this year with an edition under the theme “Africa in the spotlight – World melodies under the stars of the Moroccan Sahara. This emblematic cultural event, organized by the Taragalte Association for Culture and Sustainable Development, is a unique platform for celebrating African cultural wealth through music, art and intercultural exchanges.
Since its creation, the Taragalte Festival has been designed as a bridge between cultures, with particular attention paid to South-South cooperation. This positioning reaffirms the vision of the festival as a key player in promoting relations between sub-Saharan Africa and Morocco, by promoting intercultural dialogue through varied artistic expressions.
This year’s program highlights crucial themes for the African continent and the world, such as culture and diversity, climate resilience, as well as the development of creative industries in Africa. These themes, addressed during round tables and workshops, aim to promote an exchange of ideas around the challenges facing the continent, while highlighting the contribution of the arts to social cohesion and sustainable development.
The heart of the festival lies in its eclectic and transcontinental musical programming. Festival-goers will have the opportunity to live a unique musical experience, under the desert stars, with renowned artists. Among the headliners, Moroccan singer Oum, patron of the festival, will perform alongside groups like Lemchaheb, Tartit, Mamy Kanoute and Samba Touré. This musical diversity reflects both the Saharan heritage and the richness of West African sounds, offering a true celebration of the melodies of the world.
The festival is not limited to music, it also offers an exceptional artistic performance with French artist Marina Sosnina, who will create live sand drawings, to the accompaniment of the melodies of The Little Prince. This type of performance, both visual and audio, reinforces the immersive and creative dimension of the festival.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Taragalte Festival is its commitment to local artists. Groups such as Génération Taragalte, Tarwa N’Tiniri, and Drâa Tribes will have the opportunity to present their music to the public. The festival thus creates a platform for young emerging talents, offering them the opportunity to perform alongside international artists. This space of expression is a real springboard for these artists who contribute to the preservation and promotion of local culture.
The Taragalte Festival is not only an artistic event, it is also a space for reflection and awareness. In a context marked by major environmental challenges, the festival addresses issues such as climate resilience and the preservation of biodiversity. Environmental workshops will be offered to educate festival-goers, particularly oasis children, on sustainable practices and natural resource management. These initiatives are part of an approach to raising awareness of sustainability, in line with the vision of sustainable development carried by the festival.
The Taragalte Festival is also part of the Cultural Caravan for Peace, a project that unites several festivals in Africa. This event promotes peace and tolerance through music and the arts, while paying homage to ancient Saharan and sub-Saharan trade routes. The 12th stage of this caravan will take place during the festival, highlighting the importance of intercultural dialogue and South-South cooperation for maintaining peace.
This initiative is supported by many influential figures from the artistic, academic and institutional world, including Mr. Manny Ansar, director of the Festival au Désert de Timbuktu, and Ms. Ahlam Schroeder, founder of Revhealing. The presence of such figures underlines the international scope of the event and its contribution to major debates on peace and development in Africa.
The Taragalte Festival is deeply rooted in its territory, and this edition will pay tribute to the populations of the provinces of Zagora and Tata, recently affected by floods. Through solidarity and awareness-raising actions, the festival will emphasize resilience and solidarity with these communities, thus illustrating the social commitment that is at the heart of this event.
