Annual Quran Memorization Competition Celebrates African Talent
The city of Fes is buzzing with excitement as it hosts the finals of the seventh annual Quran memorization and recitation competition organized by the Mohammed VI Foundation for African Scholars. This prestigious event commenced on Friday, September 25, 2026, and has attracted a remarkable 114 participants, all of whom qualified through local eliminatory rounds held in 48 African countries.
The competition, which is being conducted remotely, will continue through Sunday, featuring contestants divided into three categories. The first category includes 26 participants who will demonstrate their complete memorization of the Quran with recitation following the Warsh narration of Nafi. The second category boasts 42 contestants who are also memorizing the entire Quran but will recite it using various other readings and narrations. Lastly, 46 contestants will compete in the Tajweed category, having memorized at least five sections of the Quran.
An esteemed panel of scholars and specialized readers from Morocco and several African nations will evaluate the participants directly from Fes, with a central technical team ensuring seamless connectivity through video conferencing. This setup allows contestants to participate from their home countries, showcasing their talents on a continental stage.
Previously, local eliminations took place from March 29 to April 26, 2026, with over 1,300 competitors participating, of which 114 advanced to the finals, including 16 young women. The foundation's aim with this competition is to encourage African youth to memorize, recite, and perfect the Quran, while simultaneously discovering and nurturing young readers and memorizers to highlight their potential across the African continent.
As reported by hespress.com.
