From November 18 to 21, Rabat, the capital city of Morocco, will host the 13th edition of Visa For Music, a significant event dedicated to the vibrant musical landscapes of Africa and the Middle East. This year’s festival will showcase over thirty artistic projects selected from approximately 900 applications submitted by talents from more than 90 countries. The program promises to be a rich tapestry of contemporary sounds and reimagined traditions, reflecting the diverse musical heritage and creative expressions that these regions have to offer. As both a festival and a professional marketplace, Visa For Music aims to foster connections between artists and key players in the music industry while providing new avenues for artistic dissemination.
During this four-day event, Rabat will resonate with the rhythms of music from Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. The festival, characterized by its commitment to musical diversity and professional exchange, has carved a niche over the years by introducing the public to new artistic expressions and contributing to the structuring of a music industry that seeks to expand its audience beyond borders. The heightened interest in this year's event is evident in the impressive number of submissions received, with over 900 projects vying for a spot in the official lineup.
Following a rigorous selection process, more than thirty artistic proposals have been chosen to feature in the official program. This selection not only illustrates the breadth of musical scenes represented but also underscores the festival's desire to bridge distant universes and influences. From electronic music to reinterpreted traditional sounds, jazz to urban music, and instrumental creations, Visa For Music aims to create pathways between genres. The festival embraces a multifaceted aesthetic, allowing for artistic endeavors that reinvent musical legacies through contemporary forms.
A Diverse Program Highlighting Moroccan Talent
The Moroccan music scene will take center stage in this edition, featuring artists and groups such as Gnawatronic, led by Omary and Hind Ennaira, Jbiina, Onzy Jazzbar, R2D, Soufiane AZ, and Yvzid. The program will also include several collaborations that bring together Moroccan artists and musicians based abroad, such as Adam El Mouna & Faylasuf (Morocco, France, Canada), Kiw & Mourad Belouadi (Morocco, Canada), Meryem Aboulouafa (Morocco, France), Mycose of You (Morocco, France), Rita Kamale (Morocco, United Kingdom), and Sara Moullablad (Morocco, Egypt). This representation reflects the diverse journeys and influences that shape Moroccan musical creation, balancing local roots, sound experiments, and international collaborations.
Moreover, the African continent will be notably represented, featuring talents like DJ Emos Djekomon and Opa from Benin, Kiko from Togo, Malakey from Mali, Mariaa Siga and Oumy from Senegal, Mura from Kenya, Oluwadamvic from Nigeria, Radjha Ally from Mozambique, and Yugen Blakrok from South Africa. The program will also welcome Psychedelic Winds from Tunisia and Taroug, a project that unites Tunisia and Germany. Other international artists enhancing this musical mosaic include Bruna Alimonda from Brazil, Chlöe’s Clue and L’Aranna from Spain, Delehei from China, Erol Josué from Haiti, and Enzo Avitabile & i Bottari from Italy. The inclusion of groups like Kazdoura, Moonshine, Olivia Khoury, Siân Pottok, and Marthe x Pilani Bubu further illustrates the festival's commitment to highlighting projects enriched by cultural exchanges and collaborations across multiple countries.
More Than Just a Festival: A Professional Marketplace
While concerts and performances are the most visible aspects of the event, Visa For Music also stands out for its professional dimension. Each year, the festival brings together programmers, producers, tour managers, festival directors, and representatives of the music industry from various countries. For artists, these meetings provide a chance to present their work to potential partners who can help open new doors for them. For industry professionals, they offer an opportunity to discover new talents, identify future collaborators, and explore partnerships in production, programming, and distribution. This aspect is particularly crucial for the music from Africa and the Middle East, where creative richness often does not translate into equal access to international networks. By connecting artists and decision-makers, Visa For Music aims to help bridge this gap and promote the circulation of their works.
The event also emphasizes the development of South-South and North-South collaborations, aiming to increase exchanges between stakeholders from the different regions represented, while also creating conditions for sustainable partnerships that extend beyond the four-day festival.
The hosting of this thirteenth edition reaffirms Rabat's position on the international cultural calendar. For the capital, Visa For Music represents both an artistic meeting point and an economic hub focused on the creative industries. The event caters to various audiences: it invites music lovers to discover artists and sounds from diverse backgrounds, provides professionals with a networking framework, and offers creators the opportunity to confront their approaches with fresh perspectives while broadening their networks. This interplay between creation and economy serves as the guiding thread of the festival.
As reported by leseco.ma.
