Rabat’s International Storytelling Festival Breathes Live into Morocco’s Oral Tradition

Rabat – Morocco’s intangible heritage took center stage at the International Storytelling Festival in Rabat on Tuesday, with storytellers gathering at the prestigious event to celebrate the country’s long-winded oral tradition.

For its 21st edition, organizers chose Chellah as their venue given the archaeological site’s significant historical value. 

 

Slated between July 1 and July 8, the festival promises to captivate audiences with its theme “Places, Memory of a Nation,” celebrating the rich mosaic of Morocco’s cultural heritage through the art of storytelling.

 

In an interview with Morocco World News (MWN), Nada Sahifa, a member of the event’s organizing team, shared her insights regarding the festival’s ambitious scope and its goal of uniting cultures. “We are thrilled to introduce this event, which promises to present narratives from around the world,” Sahifa stated.

 

“We’ve curated an amazing array of performances and workshops throughout the week,” Sahifa added.

 

A ceremony celebrating diversity 

 

The opening ceremony, held at Chellah yesterday at 8 p.m., featured speeches from high-ranking officials from Morocco, and Spain. 

 

The ceremony kicked off with the national anthems of both Morocco and Spain, which were this year’s guests of honor.

 

The event drew a diverse audience, adorned in traditional garments that reflected the cultural richness of their respective countries. Among the notable attire was the Moroccan caftan, prominently worn by participants and attendees alike.

Festival guests and participants.

 

Reflecting its international dimension, the festival welcomed a diverse array of foreign storytellers from countries including Palestine, Egypt, the UK, Germany, Congo, Mauritania, Nigeria, Argentina, Spain, Saudi Arabia, and numerous others.

 

Kathy Carver, a Moroccan-American storyteller from Dallas, Texas, has participated in the festival for six years in a row, often accompanied by her daughter. 

 

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Carver told MWN that, for her, the festival represents more than just a gathering – it is a journey of cultural enrichment that can be made without leaving one’s place. “Here, we encounter people from diverse countries and traditions, sharing philosophies of life through the power of storytelling.” 

 

She told MWN that she sees herself as a conduit for cultural exchange, teaching the younger generation in America about the rich Moroccan heritage, even from afar. “The Moroccan diaspora serves as a vital bridge between cultures,” she notes.

 

“We are the bridge,” she declares proudly.

 

Read Also:  US News: Morocco Ranked Second in Africa for Its Rich Heritage

 

While delivering a speech at the event, Samira Malizi, representing Morocco’s Culture Ministry, highlighted the festival’s role in fostering national and international human connections and celebrating the close connection between Morocco’s tangible and intangible heritage.

Samira Malizi.

 

Meanwhile, Ignacio Garrido, who represented the Spanish ambassador, expressed his gratitude that the festival serves as a platform to showcase the crucial role that stories have in preserving cultural heritage and fostering global connections.

 

He stressed the significance of oral traditions, recalling a time when people learned and transmitted stories only by word of mouth across the Mediterranean. 

Ignacio Garrido.

 

He quoted an excerpt from Portuguese author Jose Saramago’s Nobel prize speech, which focused on oral storytelling, emphasizing the practice’s enduring role in shaping collective memory and cultural identity.

 

For her part,  Najima Thay Thay Rhozali, President of the International Academy for Intangible Cultural Heritage explained that plays a pivotal role in shaping identities and connecting people across diverse cultures, religions, and languages. 

 

Reflecting on the significance of places as tangible repositories of history, culture, and identity, she pointed out their role in preserving collective memory and resisting the passage of time. 

 

Thay Thay also lauded the festival for its contribution to sustainable development, promoting Morocco’s handicrafts and tourism while reviving cultural memory and fostering understanding among nations.

Najima Thay Thay Rhozali.

 

She recalled the shared responsibility to safeguard oral heritage, passing it on to future generations. The president equally mentioned that through weaving narratives that bridge the past with the present, we can “collectively create a brighter future.”

 

The event featured an awards ceremony dedicated to acknowledging the contribution of distinguished Moroccan storytellers Khadija Lmsiyeh, Aya Bouayouch, and Mohammed Bouchaar. 

 

Fatima Akherfi was awarded the title of “Best Grandmother Storyteller,” celebrating her longstanding dedication to preserving traditional narratives.

 

Moroccan storytellers from renowned orator sites were also present at the event, hailing from Jamaa Lafna in Marrakech, Bab Sidi Abdelouahab in Oujda, Bab Lhdim in Meknes, as well as Hoceima, Tiznit, Taroudant, Smara, and Laayoune among other places.

 

Since signing UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, in 2006. Morocco has made significant strides in preserving its national heritage. As of 2023, registered 14 elements on this list including the Cherry Festival in Sefrou, and the Gnawa music genre.