
The 21st Mawazine Festival-Rythmes du Monde continued to captivate audiences in Rabat with a celebration of Moroccan culture on Tuesday, June 23, at the Mohammed V National Theater. The evening featured performances by Sanae Marahati and Nouamane Lahlou. Sanae Marahati, from Sefrou, opened the evening with qasidas from Moroccan Malhoun. During a press conference before her concert, she emphasized the importance of preserving and transmitting this intangible cultural heritage, calling it a "national duty" for artists and producers. For her second appearance at Mawazine, she compared Malhoun to wearing a caftan, a treasure honored on special occasions. Marahati also announced her new project, "Arassi Toub," a contemporary adaptation of a two-and-a-half-century-old Malhoun qasida, designed to connect younger generations with this ancestral art. Nouamane Lahlou followed with a musical fresco in four acts, accompanied by over 70 artists, including musicians, singers, dancers, and folk troupes. His performance showcased various aspects of Moroccan cultural identity, beginning with "Bladi Ya Zine Al Bouldane" and moving into an "anthropology of cities." Accompanied by folk troupes in traditional costumes, he highlighted regions and cities like Chefchaouen, Zagora, Ouazzane, Tafilalet, Marrakech, and Fes, through music, dance, and popular heritage. The third part of his show paid tribute to Abdelwahab Doukkali with a medley. Lahlou also explored the golden age of Arab song, blending
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
Must ReadA recent Moroccan study published in Discover Public Health indicates that 27% of students surveyed at Abdelmalek Essa芒di University in T茅touan screened positive for suicidal risk within the 30 days prior to the survey. The study involved 1,191 students, with an average age of 21.69 years, facing academic pressures, future uncertainties, economic constraints, and personal difficulties. Of those identified with suicidal risk, 86.6% were categorized as low risk, 11.2% as moderate risk, and 2.2% as high risk. The seven students at high risk were referred for psychiatric follow-up. Key factors associated with increased risk included cannabis consumption, single relationship status, family psychiatric history, and exposure to physical and sexual violence. The study highlights concerns about the adequacy of current university health services in Morocco, noting that consolidated data on university health dates back to 2019. At that time, the system included 30 university medical centers and 27 infirmaries with 107 professionals for a student population exceeding one million. The Economic, Social and Environmental Council also pointed out that many university cities lack medical centers. While Youth Health Spaces offer psychosocial support, they cater to a broader age range and do not fully address the need for structured psychological support within universities. A joint action plan for university health exists between the Ministries of Health and Social Protection and Higher Educat

More than 400 Moroccan gold coins were discovered in a 17th-century shipwreck off Salcombe, Devon, England, in 1995. British researchers, including experts from the British Museum, Bournemouth University, and the South West Maritime Archaeology Group, identified the wreck in June 2026 as the Dom van Keulen, a Dutch merchant ship that departed Morocco for the Netherlands in autumn 1633. The vessel encountered severe weather, took on water, and sank near the English coast, though its crew survived. The ship's cargo included 150 bags of gum arabic, 64 bags of saltpeter, 320 goat hides, and 9,000 Barbary ducats, which were Moroccan gold coins. While much of the cargo was likely salvaged after the sinking, over 400 gold coins remained underwater for centuries until their discovery. This find highlights Morocco's significant role in 17th-century trade under the Saadian dynasty, connecting African gold routes with European powers like the Netherlands. Dutch merchants sought gold, hides, and other goods in Morocco, with some gold being melted down for international currency. The approximately 30-meter-long wreck lies at a depth of nearly 18 meters and also yielded jewelry, ceramic objects, shipboard utensils, anchors, cannons, and navigation instruments. The recovered coins and artifacts are now housed at the British Museum, providing material evidence of Morocco's historical trade links between Africa and Europe.
Must ReadA Moroccan study published in the scientific journal Discover Public Health indicates that 27% of surveyed students exhibit suicidal risk. The research involved 1,191 students from Abdelmalek Essa芒di University in T茅touan, encompassing six higher education institutions.