
Morocco has initiated the construction of the "International Cinematic Production City of Ouarzazate," a project valued at 240 million dirhams. The launch ceremony was led by Mohamed Mehdi Bensaïd, the Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication. This initiative aims to enhance Ouarzazate's appeal as the "Hollywood of Africa" and solidify Morocco's standing as a regional and international hub for audiovisual production. The Minister highlighted that the project is the culmination of years of planning to complete Ouarzazate's cinematic ecosystem, particularly by establishing a post-production center, which has been a missing link in the industry's value chain. This new infrastructure will enable international productions to complete all operations on-site, extending their stay and generating economic benefits for local hospitality, catering, transport, and service sectors. The national film sector has seen significant growth, with foreign investments reaching nearly 1.24 billion dirhams in 2024, underscoring Morocco's increasing attractiveness to major international studios. The integrated city will feature eight complementary hubs, including state-of-the-art filming studios, a post-production center with digital labs and editing suites, broadcasting and training facilities, and a three-to-five-star hotel complex for production teams. Film producer Khadija Alami noted that the project addresses long-standing constraints, such as studio capacity, and will boost Morocco's comp
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Morocco was the guest of honor at the first International Poultry Show in Cotonou, Benin, with a high-level delegation led by Ahmed El Bouari, Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests. He attended the official inauguration alongside his Beninese counterpart, Adin Yeton Bloukounon Goubalan, and Morocco's Ambassador to Benin, Rachid Rguibi. The event, themed "Poultry farming in the face of countries' food sovereignty," gathered African poultry sector stakeholders to address modernization, competitiveness, and resilience in food systems, aiming to foster investment and expertise exchange. Morocco's selection as guest of honor highlights its poultry industry's performance and commitment to South-South cooperation. A delegation from the Moroccan Interprofessional Federation of the Poultry Sector FISA, comprising around 30 professionals, participated to share Moroccan expertise. Cooperation between Rabat and Cotonou in poultry has grown significantly since a 2017 partnership agreement between FISA and Benin's Poultry Interprofession IAB. This collaboration has led to 18 training sessions benefiting 439 Beninese professionals, covering the entire value chain from chick production to poultry meat processing, biosecurity, animal health, and feed. On the sidelines of the show, El Bouari and his Beninese counterpart held a bilateral meeting to discuss strengthening agricultural cooperation, focusing on irrigation, sustainable water resource m

The 27th edition of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival in Essaouira featured a tribute evening for Maâlem Mustapha Baqbou on Friday, June 26, nearly a year after his passing. The Moulay Hassan stage hosted the event, celebrating the guembri master who had attended every festival since its inception. The tribute included a film about his career, testimonials from his family and disciples, and a concert led by his son, Hamza Baqbou. The audience remained engaged until the final notes of the performance.

The 2026 Mawazine festival concluded a record-breaking edition, showcasing a diverse artistic lineup that included international headliners, Arab music icons, major African artists, and numerous Moroccan performers. The festival attracted an intergenerational audience from across Morocco and abroad. This year marked the expansion of performance venues, with the Royal Theater of Rabat and the Prince Moulay Abdellah Grand Stadium hosting concerts for the first time. The Grand Stadium featured performances by Douzi, Cheb Khaled, Morad, and ElGrande Toto on June 26 and 27. The Royal Theater hosted American jazz icon Dee Dee Bridgewater. The Mohammed V National Theater presented Moroccan, Arab, and international repertoires, featuring Mayada El Hennawy and Dionne Warwick. The Salé stage highlighted Moroccan musical heritage, showcasing established artists and new talents across various genres, including popular, contemporary, and Amazigh music. Nearly half of the programming was dedicated to Moroccan artists. The Bouregreg stage offered a panorama of African music, while Nahda hosted prominent Arab singers like Hassan Chakkouch, Saad El Soghayar, and Tamer Hosny. Intimate concerts celebrating global musical traditions were held at Chellah, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The OLM Souissi stage remained a key venue for urban and contemporary music, hosting international stars. This 21st edition marks a new phase for Mawazine, diversifying its stages, enhancing international appeal, an