Agadir: Timitar Festival’s 21st Edition, July 23‑25

Under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, this festival—now in its 21st edition under the theme “Berber Artists Welcome World Music”—builds bridges between heritage and today’s musical expressions, bringing together Berber voices with major figures of the Moroccan scene, Saharan sounds with African rhythms, and even icons of the Arab world, the organizers said in a press release.

The opening night will draw on the roots that have defined the Timitar festival’s identity for more than 20 years, uniting Berber traditions and Saharan sounds, Moroccan popular song and contemporary urban expressions, in a dialogue that exemplifies the festival’s spirit of transmission, sharing and creation of bridges between musical worlds, the same source adds. At Place Al Amal, the female Ahwach group Tiferkhin will kick off the celebration, followed by Lartiste & Benny Adam with their guests Sofia Marikh and Maestro, DJ Key and Najat Atabou, who will carry the audience into an evening where modernity and popular memory naturally converse. At the Théâtre de Verdure, Malouma and Fatima Tihihite will set Berber and Mauritanian heritages in dialogue in a meeting marked by authenticity and transmission. On Friday, Timitar will naturally broaden its horizon to the African continent, the communiqué states, adding that the festival, true to its DNA, will bring Moroccan and African scenes into conversation in a celebration of the diversity of musical expressions and the ties that unite the continent’s cultures.

Headlined by Larbi Imghrane, Zouhair Bahaoui, MR ID, Zina Daoudia and the Ahwach of Kelaat Megouna, Place Al Amal will pulse with the rhythm of a pluralistic Morocco—deeply rooted yet decidedly contemporary—while at the Théâtre de Verdure, Aïcha Koné, Makadem, the collective Africa United and Foulane Bouhssine will showcase a creative, open, and dynamic Africa, where traditions converse with today’s aesthetics. For its final meeting, Timitar will gather on Saturday artists whose universes fully embody the festival’s mission by fostering cultural dialogue without ever abandoning their roots. Between Gnawa traditions, Berber repertoires, collective creations and major Arab‑world voices, this closing evening will celebrate music as a universal language. The Ahwachs of the Grand South, Hamid El Kasri, DJ HBrown, Ragheb Alama and Oudaden will take turns on the Place Al Amal stage, while Fatema Tachtoukt, Abeer Nehme and Fatima Tabaamrant will offer the Théâtre de Verdure a meeting of poetry, heritage and emotion.

A closing in true Timitar fashion: generous, open, and deeply rooted in its identity. According to the release, the festival will once again occupy two of the city’s iconic venues—the open‑air popular stage of Place Al Amal and the intimate Théâtre de Verdure, a privileged setting for great voices and artistic encounters. Over three days, these two spaces will make Agadir’s heart beat and will provide festival‑goers with a musical experience accessible to all. Free and open to the public, the festival has become one of Morocco’s and Africa’s major cultural appointments. Beyond its artistic programme, it contributes to Agadir’s cultural, tourism and economic visibility, showcases Berber and Moroccan heritage and strengthens exchanges between Morocco, Africa and the rest of the world, the communiqué reads.

Powered by the commitment of its staff and volunteers, the festival would not be what it is without the constant and unwavering support of its institutional partners, notably the Agadir municipal council, the Souss‑Massa region, the Agadir prefecture, the Moroccan National Tourist Office, the Regional Tourism Council, the Agadir Hoteliers Association and the Agadir Transporters Association. Created in 2004, the Timitar – Signs & Cultures festival is today one of Africa’s leading music festivals. Held in Agadir, it rests on an emblematic tagline “Berber Artists Welcome World Music”. For more than two decades, Timitar has kept Agadir a city of encounters where culture serves as a powerful lever for openness and development.

Source: maroc