Morocco marks 44 years of UNESCO heritage with sacred music celebration

Musical journey highlights Moroccan Andalusian tradition at World Sacred Music Festival’s 28th edition

FEZ, Morocco (MNTV) – The city of Fez marked the 44th anniversary of its inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage site with a deeply spiritual and culturally rich performance during the 28th Fez Festival of World Sacred Music.

Held at the historic Bab El Makina, the event brought together 44 Moroccan Andalusian musicians and 44 Sufi vocalists, known as Moussamiines, under the artistic direction of maestro Mohammed Briouel and Sheikh Ali Rebbahi. 

The ensemble performed selections from the 11 “Noubas” of Al Ala—a centuries-old Andalusian musical tradition—with additional compositions rooted in the spiritual practices of Moroccan zaouias.

The performance was enhanced by 20 Foukaras, who added rhythm and depth to the Sufi ritual of Hadra. 

The repertoire featured verses from iconic Sufi poets including Omar Ibn al-Farid, Abu al-Hassan al-Shushtari, and Mohammed al-Harrak, underscoring the festival’s emphasis on spiritual reflection through music.

Organizers highlighted the concert not merely as a musical showcase but as a tribute to Fez’s enduring cultural and religious legacy. Known as a cradle of Islamic scholarship and Sufi mysticism, Fez has long served as a cultural bridge between civilizations.

The evening reaffirmed the city’s role as a guardian of Morocco’s intangible heritage, with the Al Ala tradition representing a confluence of Arab, Amazigh, and Andalusian influences. 

The city’s UNESCO designation, first awarded in 1981, continues to inspire efforts to safeguard these living traditions for future generations.

As the Fez Festival of World Sacred Music continues, it draws diverse audiences into a shared space of reverence and cultural exchange—further establishing Fez as a beacon of dialogue between faiths and peoples through music.