Fez, a week-long world spiritual capital

   The weeklong musical event that kicks off on May 29, will make of this imperial city the world's spiritual capital, and a spiritual and cultural melting pot for musicians and artists, but also for music addicts.

   This year's edition, the fifteenth, will raise the banner of "L'Arbre de la Vie". The Tree of Life, draws its inspiration from the tree as the centre the world, the provider of immortality and an infinite source of life. It is the link between sky and the earth. 

   The festival gains in maturity and fame as years go by, seeks innovation in each edition, but keeps faithful to its initial message: bringing peoples and religions closer through the spirituality in which all borders and diversions fade away.

   "This message concerns everyone because the sacred music and the thinking its spurs don't pertain to such or such era or religion, and addresses everybody without exception," Fatima Sadiqi of the organising Esprit de Fes foundation says.

   Fifteen years of pure spiritual delight and delectation that have made of Fez a must-see spot of excitement and compassion, especially that the number of artists and audience taking part in the festival keeps growing, she says. 

   The opening concert of this year’s edition will pay tribute to Lebanese renowned singer and brilliant composer, Marcel Khalifa, and legendary Palestinian poet who passed away recently, Mahmoud Darwish.

   The event, which goes through June 6, features jazz violinist, Didier Lockwood, and Iranian percussionist, Keyvan Chemirani, who mixes his rhythms with those of Morocco, Greece and Spain.

   Sami Yusuf, a young singer strongly influenced by faith, and Marwa Wright, queen of gospel and soul of New Orleans, will also make some of the festival’s great moments and indulge music-lovers with their beautiful voices and sweet chants.

   Soufi singers will also be strongly present in the seven-day event through the Chants Soufis des Femmes de Mayotte, and for the first time in Africa, the great Loreena McKennitt, who will perform the closing concert with her Celtic legend-inspired songs.

   Besides songs, the festival’s programme also features the “Meetings of Fez” as a space for exchange and reflection through conferences, in addition to several arts exhibits, and the 8th edition of the “Festival in the City”, which offers the public a fine and diversified artistic mixture.

MAP