Fes Festival of World Sacred Music
Gospel choirs, Ravi Shankar, flamenco guitars and mbalax in Morocco
Listen to gigs and concerts by artists from across the planet in Bab Makina, Musée Batha, Bab Boujloud and the Dar Tazi Gardens in June.
Fans of world music should head to Fes in Morocco in June – the Festival of World Sacred Music is one of the best celebrations of sound from across the world on the planet.
While many world music festivals tend to concentrate largely on one genre - such as gamelan in Bali, mbalax in the Senegal or salsa in Cuba – the Festival of World Sacred Music in Fes deliberately tries to bring in styles from across the globe.
This is done (commendably) irrespective of race, religion and politics, so the sitar of Ravi Shankar or Spanish flamenco guitars can easily sit alongside vocal performances from across the African continent.
Fes likes to bill itself as Morocco’s cultural capital, and it’s hard to argue during this week-long musical extravaganza.
Many of the events require tickets – which are often snapped up by locals looking for an excuse to dress up and be seen in the right place – but they’re relatively easy to get hold of. Venues for the more high profile gigs and concerts include the palace courtyard of the Bab Makina or the gardens of the Musée Batha.
For the cheapskates, however, there are also plenty of free events, and these are arguably more atmospheric than the ticketed gigs. Try heading to one of the biggest squares in the city, the Bab Boujloud to catch some of the lower profile acts playing at dusk. Alternatively, the Dar Tazi Gardens are home to some excellent performances, whether they’re from gospel choirs or people simply chanting.
