The British Embassy in Rabat officially announced the inaugural Marrakech International Storytelling Festival, scheduled from February 12 to 20.
Over 40 storytellers from five continents will participate in the multilingual event in the Moroccan Red City with a “week-long series of events that respect and build on a tradition of storytelling as old as the city itself,” the press release announces.
The multilingual event will include English, Darija, and Amazigh storytelling sessions.
The Storytellers Union for Cultural Innovation and the World Storytelling Cafe have partnered with the British Embassy and the Al Muniya Association to organize this event. Additionally, 24 local riads will be providing complimentary accommodation for international storytellers.
There will be storytelling sessions in all these “Maisons d’hôte,” or Bed & Breakfasts, as well as 9 festival venues. There are three workshops scheduled, including a session on women in storytelling.
Additionally, the event is unticketed and free of charge for all attendees in an effort to make the event as inclusive as possible. The festival’s artistic director John Row urges the public to attend, saying that “we would welcome everyone.”
A prominent storyteller from Marrakech, Haj Ahmed Ezzarghani, will be the guest of honor in this event.
“We believe storytelling has a powerful potential for connection, healing, and education.” according to the founder of the World Storytelling Cafe, Lucie Andersen-Wood, further stating that this event is “a tourist attraction as well as an ongoing resource for the local community.”
This festival “is a launch event for a new World Storytelling Cafe,” located in the Souk de Fassis, near the Ben Yussef Madrassa, the press release says. This follows a renowned online project which broadcasts over a thousand hours of storytelling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Simon Martin, British Ambassador to Morocco, shared his excitement about the event, and stated: “We are delighted to join this crossroads of cultures, hosting renowned storytellers and offering the opportunity to curious minds to travel through stories and explore different cultures.”
Marrakech is a city known for its traditional storytelling circles (Halqa), as well as for its prominent storytellers. The festival will take place at nine venues, including the Jemaa El Fnaa, the Henna Cafe, the University of Cadi Ayaad, and Dar Bellarj.
The festival’s highlight will be on Wednesday, February 18 with a procession from Dar Bellarj to Jemaa El Fnaa square.
As part of the evening’s storytelling, five storytelling circles will take place simultaneously, each under the guidance of the five surviving Marrakech master storytellers. The festival tellers as well as several distinguished guests will participate.
Jaafar Kansoussi, the President of the Al Muniya Association commented “Popular culture is transmitted mainly orally in the circles of the Halqa, this unique open-air pulpit”.
Participants can join the event virtually via Zoom sessions or attend in-person at the World Storytelling Cafe.
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