A Cultural Evening to Honor Moroccan Heritage
During a significant cultural and artistic event organized by the ‘Mounia’ Association of Marrakech, aimed at reviving and preserving Morocco's rich heritage, the talented artist Mohamed Bajdoub, accompanied by the ‘Mounia Marrakech Orchestra’, captivated the audience with an exquisite performance featuring a selection of Andalusian music and traditional Moroccan rhythms. The event not only highlighted the musical traditions of the region but also provided a platform for cultural education and awareness.
One of the most remarkable moments of the evening was the festive arrival of a procession dedicated to the distillation of orange blossom water, a symbolic scene that garnered admiration from a diverse audience. This evening aimed to celebrate an ancient tradition deeply rooted in Moroccan culture, while also raising awareness about the importance of preserving cultural heritage for future generations. The event took place in a unique architectural space, far removed from institutional settings, transforming the venue into a genuine space for cultural transmission and direct learning.
This initiative contributes not only to safeguarding this valuable heritage but also gives it a contemporary, human, and friendly dimension. Thanks to its traditional architecture, beautifully adorned gardens, fountains, and intricate zellij tiles, the venue provided an ideal atmosphere reminiscent of ancient homes where such practices were part of daily life. In his remarks, Jaafar El Knsoussi, the director of ‘Zahraia’ Marrakech, emphasized that the distillation of orange blossom water carries strong symbolic meanings for the residents of this ancient city, embodying values of heritage and solidarity deeply embedded in Moroccan culture, as reflected in this traditional ritual.
Preserving Tradition for Future Generations
Khaled Ait Brik, the artistic director of the cultural event, highlighted the efforts made by the ‘Mounia’ Association to preserve this intangible heritage and to transmit it to the younger generations, balancing the preservation of authenticity with openness to creativity. He stated, “Thanks to these initiatives, this tradition remains alive, not merely as a relic of the past but as a continuously evolving practice.” The evening also featured moments of recognition for notable figures in their respective fields, including architect Rashid Al-Huda and Idris El-Sawabni, a pioneer of the art of praise, acknowledging their contributions to the preservation and enhancement of national cultural heritage.
The 14th edition of ‘Zahraia Marrakech’, organized in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, the Marrakech municipal council, and the Marrakech-Safi regional council, offers a rich and mobile cultural program, including practical workshops on distillation rituals within educational institutions and symbolic locations around the city, such as Dar Sharifa, the city gardens, Jamaa el-Fna Square, and the Farid Belkahia Museum, as well as literary meetings and a conference on the implementation of the new law concerning heritage protection in Morocco, alongside artistic evenings.
It is noteworthy that ‘Zahraia Marrakech’ has been included since 2022 in the lists of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) as a cultural heritage of the Islamic world.
As reported by ar.le360.ma.
