Festival of sacred music in Fes
The intellectual capital of Morocco, Fes, is home to the festival of the world’s sacred music. The first edition took place in 1994, sponsored by his majesty the king of Morocco. The festival’s objective is to use music as a mean of unification and tolerance between people of different religions and races. It is believed that through music, you speak to the heart without discrimination nor prejudice. Fes is the best place to host such a festival, having been home for over 250 thousand Jews in the past, who lived in the old Jewish neighborhood alongside Muslims and the Christian minority. Not only that, but Fes was a leading city in science and art in the medieval era, being home to the first library and degree-granting university in the world, the Qarawiyin University where scholars from all over the world came to study literature and science.
The festival brings together artist from many countries representing their religions and their civilizations through their divine music. It also attracts many visitors from all over the world who come to watch the shows and enjoy the different rhythms of joy and peace shared by the musicians and audiences alike.
Fes hosts the festival every year in May or June and it takes place in many different venues in and around the old Medina that vibrates to Brazilian Flamingo, Omani Sufi, Moroccan Atlas music, Irish songs and many other musical sounds.
Bab Al Makina, the enormous parade ground in front of the royal palace of Fez is the main venue and hosts the major-draw evening concerts where the main stars perform through-out the week of the Festival. Bab Al Makina is the perfect place to host the evening concerts as the light show on the crenelated walls delights the eyes while the music revives the soul.
Jnan Sbil Garden, with its various beautiful plants, its little bridges, small lake and waterwheels makes for an ideal stage for the Balmy afternoon concerts that bring many artists and attendees together to enjoy a bit of the fresh air of the garden and appreciate the beauty, unity and tolerance that both nature and music represent as the trees and flowers seem to dance to the different rhythms whether its Iranian folklore, Fez Orchestra or Armenian music.
The night concerts take place in other venues as well, like the old Ibn Danan Synagogue, the Glaoui palace and the traditional riads of the Medina. These venues provide a relatively smaller place for spectators but a more intimate and cozy atmosphere as the beautifully decorated riads contain gorgeous and spacious courtyards, an open ceiling and stunning tilework and mosaic of Arab-Andalusian architecture.
The 25th edition of the Festival of sacred music in Fes in 2019 will witness the presence of many well-known music legends such as the British-Iranian singer-songwriter Sami Yusuf, the renowned Flamenco stars Tomatito and José Mercé, the Lebanese giant Marcel Khalife, Fez Orchestra, Syrian orchestra, Irish choir Anúna and many other musicians.
The festival of sacred music is a peak season in Fes while the whole Medina is honored by the musical guests and the artists that visit its beautiful traditional riads, historical monuments and enjoy its medieval atmosphere. All visitors are recommended to book early at a traditional riad in the western part of the Medina as it is closest to the venues where the festival takes place and which you’ll have to walk to. It is also recommended to buy the tickets to the shows as early as possible since for most of the time all the concerts are fully booked during the festival’s week.