In response to appeals from Moroccan internet users on social media platforms to cancel the performance because the rapper insulted Moroccan women, the Casablanca city council declared not organizing or providing a license to a hall to hold a concert by the French rapper “Booba”.
However, Booba had stated in a video that was widely shared on social media platforms that all tickets for the concert, which will take place on June 21, in the covered hall of the Mohammed V, had sold out. He was joined in the video by one of the concert organizers, who chose to maintain hosting the concert despite the backlash.
Many viewed the video as controversial because the rapper failed to retract his insults directed at Moroccan women, which were previously covered by both Moroccan and foreign media.
The vice president of the Casablanca city council and commissioner for culture and sports, Abdellatif Nassiri, insisted that the council was unrelated to the concert.
He claimed that the Casablanca council had nothing to do with the concert by Booba, both in terms of the organization since it was deemed “a private party” and in terms of licensing because the event’s planned location was not managed by the Casablanca council.
Among Booba’s songs that have triggered the public’s anger, are “Génération Assassin” and “E.L.E.P.H.A.N.T”, two songs in which the rapper belittles Moroccan women as his lyrics say, “I go to chicha only for beurettes” (a term commonly used in France despite his offensive nature, describes hot noth African girls), and “Little Moroccan fucks Berlusconi.”
Last month, Hespress AR was informed by an official source from the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication that the concert is not under the ministry’s supervision.
The source added that “Moroccan women are a red line, and our women and their dignity cannot be compromised;” the person went on to say that the Casablanca City Council, not the Ministry of Culture, is the one with the authority to issue or deny the license for holding the private concert.
Internet users continue to voice their rage on social media in the hopes of an intervention to stop the event from happening, despite creating a petition to cancel the event.
Concerning the same issue, Justice and Development party politician Naima El Fathaoui wrote to Mehdi Bensaid, minister of youth, culture, and communication.
The parliamentarian stated in a written question to Bensaid that the news of a concert for a well-known French rapper sparked intense debate on Moroccan social media.
She added that Booba offended Moroccan women and called them whores, which angered thousands of Moroccan women activists.
She noted that the aforementioned artist was known for stirring up controversy in many instances and that Instagram removed his account in 2022 as a result of a complaint of sexual harassment.
WE don’t want any if singers who insulte our women and offend our citizens. He has to leave our country immedialtly ***