
Marrakech is preparing to host the 55th National Popular Arts Festival from July 2 to 6, 2026. This edition, themed "Popular Arts, Treasures of Yesterday and Today," will celebrate the rich living traditions of Morocco. The festival aims to highlight the ability of traditional artistic expressions to transcend generations while reinventing themselves. Invited troupes from across Morocco, from the North to the Sahara, will present a panorama of the Kingdom's intangible heritage through dances, songs, and costumes. Examples include the Ahidous of the Atlas, Gnaoua rituals, and Taskiwin performances from Souss. The festival emphasizes a philosophy of living heritage, where each generation actively participates in its transmission. The El Badi Palace, a 16th-century monument, will host major performances, transforming into an open-air theater where heritage and contemporary creation interact. Jemaâ El-Fna square, a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage site, will continue to feature storytellers, musicians, and acrobats. This 55th edition will also pay tribute to singer Zina Daoudia during the "Night of Stars." Organizers view the festival as an act of remembrance and recognition for the guardians of intangible heritage. Mohamed Knidiri, president of the Festival, states that "popular arts are not a frozen heritage, but a promise kept to each generation." The festival reaffirms Marrakech's central role in preserving and celebrating Moroccan intangible heritage.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.

Maroc Telecom is showcasing innovative digital solutions for the agricultural sector at SIAM 2026 in Meknes. The company aims to support farmers in addressing climate-related challenges, managing resources, and improving overall performance within the industry.

Morocco has officially launched its national Supply Chain Finance SCF strategy to address the critical working capital financing needs of its very small, small, and medium-sized enterprises TPME. These businesses represent 99.5% of companies and over 70% of formal employment but contribute only 36.3% to GDP and 20.1% to exports, largely due to extended payment terms, fragile cash flow, and limited access to financing. SCF aims to facilitate funding at various stages of the economic cycle by leveraging commercial relationships between principals, suppliers, and financial institutions. This includes tools like factoring, reverse factoring, and financing for purchase orders, inventory, or distributors. Abderrahim Bouazza, Director General of Bank Al-Maghrib, emphasized that SCF builds trust, improves risk assessment, and optimizes corporate cash management. The potential SCF market in Morocco is estimated at over 80 billion dirhams, yet current outstanding amounts are only around 6 billion, less than 10% of this potential. This contrasts with international dynamics where factoring can represent up to 11% of GDP in some European countries, compared to 2-3% in Morocco. The International Finance Corporation IFC, a technical partner, sees this as a strategic opportunity to provide SMEs with faster, cheaper, and more suitable financing while securing supply chains for large companies. The strategy is particularly relevant given current global instability, including geopolitical tensi

The Mohammed VI Football Academy officially launched its 8th International U19 Tournament on Wednesday in Salé, attended by prominent figures in Moroccan football, including former national team coach Walid Regragui, who was honored for his career. Yassir Zabiri, an academy product, was also celebrated. The tournament, running from April 22 to 26, features 16 teams from four continents, including the Mohammed VI Academy, FUS Rabat, RS Berkane, Stade Rennais, AS Monaco, Villarreal, and Palmeiras. The competition includes a two-day group stage, followed by quarter-finals and classification matches on Friday, semi-finals on Saturday, and the final and closing ceremony on Sunday.

Achraf Hakimi, a player for Paris Saint-Germain and the Moroccan national team, was seen in a Parisian restaurant signing a PSG jersey for Rihanna. The jersey was emblazoned with Rihanna's name, and Hakimi inscribed it with "For Rihanna, with love." Rihanna, a global star, was pictured smiling and holding the jersey. The moment was shared by Hakimi on his social media story, leading to widespread online comments, shares, and speculation. Rihanna is known for her interest in football, particularly Paris Saint-Germain, which she has followed for several years. Hakimi's high-profile career continues to grow, establishing him as a respected figure in global football.