The 8th Casablanca Amazigh Theatre Festival: A Cultural Extravaganza
The vibrant Casablanca-Settat region is set to come alive as it hosts the 8th edition of the Casablanca Amazigh Theatre Festival from September 30 to October 4, 2026, under the esteemed patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. This annual celebration is organized by the Tafoukt Space for Creation in collaboration with the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture (IRCAM) and the Regional Council of Casablanca-Settat. This year’s festival holds special significance as it marks the 25th anniversary of the landmark Royal Speech of Ajdir delivered in 2001, which initiated pivotal actions to elevate the Amazigh language and culture. This momentous occasion culminated in the formal recognition of Amazigh as an official language in Morocco in 2011, underscoring the importance of this festival as a platform for cultural expression and appreciation.
A Diverse Showcase of Talent and Heritage
The festival promises an exciting lineup featuring a rich tapestry of productions and participants hailing from Morocco and various other countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, and Tunisia. A key component of this year’s event is a collaborative Moroccan-Emirati program that will showcase an exhibition of publications from the Arab Theatre Authority alongside an academic symposium dedicated to documenting Moroccan theatrical heritage. Attendees can look forward to an Amazigh book exhibition highlighting IRCAM’s publications, a fine arts showcase, and heartfelt tributes to notable figures in the arts such as educator and playwright El Safi Moumen Ali, journalist Dr. Amina Ben Cheikh, and artist Haj Mohamed Bougassen (Smouken).
Moreover, the festival will feature a competition for the prestigious National Prize for Amazigh Culture in the theatre category, with four troupes competing with their 2025 productions: Amziane Theatre Troupe from Nador, Kunstamz Troupe from Tiznit, Khemis’Art Troupe from Khémisset, and Agadir Arts Workshop from Agadir. The program will be enriched with additional performances, academic discussions, book signings, and specialized workshops focusing on Tifinagh script, media documentation, the Amazigh theatrical lexicon, storytelling, and the dynamics of body physics in performance. This edition of the festival is dedicated to the memory of the late artist Abou Ali Abdelali, honoring his contributions to the Amazigh cultural landscape.
As reported by capitalethiopia.com.
