It's 45 minutes until the gates open at the Jazzablanca Festival and founder Moulay Alami is feeling the heat — in more ways than one.
Since its launch in 2006, the annual event in Casablanca has evolved into an occasion with a perennial, almost cult-like following. In 2022, it finds itself as the poster child for the city's reopening after most Covid-19 safety restrictions in Morocco were lifted.
On Friday afternoon, Alami paces around the festival’s new site, the sprawling Anfa Park near the coast, as he conducts final checks on the security gates, sponsorship booths and the various “villages", where an estimated 17,000 people will watch performances, relax and eat from the international food stands over the next three days.
“We have done this so many times, but this year feels important,” he tells The National. “The fact we are able to stand here and open the gates is, in its own way, a miracle.”
Alami reveals the festival only received government authorisation to run in late April.
Hoping the gradual decrease in Covid-19 infection rates would result in the lifting of restrictions, Alami and his team had been plotting the return of the festival since the start of the year.
However, with the green light arriving just weeks before the proposed date, the remaining period was spent in a frenzied dash to secure the artist line-up and sponsors.
“The support we received from everyone was overwhelming,” he says.
“There was definitely this sense and that we need to work together and get back to normal because for the last two years the events sector in Casablanca, and really most of Morocco, has been non-existent.
“So everyone wanted to help because we are the first major festival to come back to the city.”
That good will was also extended from the artists.
Jazzablanca has secured an impressive and eclectic line-up for revellers with US blues singer Ben Harper, Lebanese-French trumpeter and composer Ibrahim Maalouf and Ethiopian jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke the major headliners.
"It did feel like everything was going our way because many of the artists were understanding," he says.
"They of course knew the reputation we have built over the years and many were happy to return to Casablanca.
They know the crowds here are beautiful and supportive.”
A musical reunion
In addition to international acts on stage, Jazzablanca also serves as a rallying point for the city’s musicians, many of whom suffered great financial difficulties due to the shuttering of venues since the onset of the pandemic.
"To suddenly stop doing what you only know and love for two years is extremely hard and you can’t just bounce back,” says singer-songwriter Jihane Bougrine.
“I have been fortunate in that I was using the time away to record new songs and release music videos, but others have left music all together to find other jobs to support them.”
Osman Messawi was contemplating a similar move.
Born and raised in Casablanca, the pianist was considering retiring from life as a working musician, to become an antiques collector.
“You can find many things in the markets across Morocco, such as historic bank notes and books, which you can sell on to collectors or museums,” he says.
“Now music venues are back; I am a little nervous about stepping back into it fully.
“One thing I learned from this big mess is that I will always have a plan B, or a second source of income. I think many musicians learned that from this experience.”
Appreciating what we have
Jazzablanca’s return also functions as a psychological boost for the city’s residents.
Bougrine says the cultural chill caused by the pandemic affected the character of the city.
"Casablanca is a place rich in history and culture with many local and international festivals about many kinds of arts," she says.
“The people and city really feed off that energy and that's what gives Casablanca its vibe.
“Perhaps, we all needed the reminder these things are built on the back of artists and festival organisers.
“Now that we can enjoy these things again, I hope we don't take it for granted and show greater support.”
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A Cat, A Man, and Two Women
Junichiro Tamizaki
Translated by Paul McCarthy
Daunt Books
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Sunday:
GP3 race: 12:10pm
Formula 2 race: 1:35pm
Formula 1 race: 5:10pm
Performance: Guns N' Roses
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
Federer's 11 Wimbledon finals
2003 Beat Mark Philippoussis
2004 Beat Andy Roddick
2005 Beat Andy Roddick
2006 Beat Rafael Nadal
2007 Beat Rafael Nadal
2008 Lost to Rafael Nadal
2009 Beat Andy Roddick
2012 Beat Andy Murray
2014 Lost to Novak Djokovic
2015 Lost to Novak Djokovic
2017 Beat Marin Cilic
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Duterte Harry: Fire and Fury in the Philippines
Jonathan Miller, Scribe Publications
UAE SQUAD
UAE team
1. Chris Jones-Griffiths 2. Gio Fourie 3. Craig Nutt 4. Daniel Perry 5. Isaac Porter 6. Matt Mills 7. Hamish Anderson 8. Jaen Botes 9. Barry Dwyer 10. Luke Stevenson (captain) 11. Sean Carey 12. Andrew Powell 13. Saki Naisau 14. Thinus Steyn 15. Matt Richards
Replacements
16. Lukas Waddington 17. Murray Reason 18. Ahmed Moosa 19. Stephen Ferguson 20. Sean Stevens 21. Ed Armitage 22. Kini Natuna 23. Majid Al Balooshi
The five stages of early child’s play
From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:
1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.
2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.
3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.
4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.
5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.
