The eighth edition of the Casablanca Amazigh Theater Festival has officially opened, running until October 4 under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. Organized by the Tafoukt Space for Creativity in partnership with the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture (IRCAM) and the Casablanca-Settat Regional Council, the event spans various theaters across the region and features participation from both Moroccan and international troupes.
This year’s festival coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Royal Speech at Ajdir, a moment organizers view as a foundational milestone in the institutional promotion of the Amazigh language and culture.
Speaking to Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP), Festival Director Khalid Bouichou emphasized that this edition represents a significant turning point for the festival due to its diverse programming and its engagement with national and international theatrical experiences. Under the theme of “Loyalty and Recognition,” the festival is honoring figures who have pioneered Amazigh theater and culture, most notably playwright Safi Moumen Ali. Tributes are also being paid to the late artist Abu Ali Abdelali, journalist Amina Ben Cheikh, and Haj Mohamed Bouqassen (Smoken).
Bouichou added that the festival aims to establish Amazigh theater as a space for creativity, dialogue, and interaction between artists, researchers, and the public. This objective is pursued through theatrical performances, seminars, exhibitions, training workshops, and literary meetings.
Fouad Azroual, President of the Jury, stated that IRCAM’s commitment to Amazigh theater is not temporary but a strategic choice. He noted that theater holds a central position in preserving memory and enhancing Amazigh identity, language, and heritage. Azroual further explained that theater serves as a platform to highlight Amazigh aesthetics and themes, acting as an accessible communicative tool capable of building bridges for dialogue and entertainment.
According to Azroual, IRCAM has worked throughout its history to establish sustainable mechanisms for promoting Amazigh theater. This includes organizing intellectual seminars, providing scientific and financial support for association projects and theater troupes, and hosting training workshops across various theatrical disciplines.
During the ceremony, Safi Moumen Ali expressed his deep gratitude for the tribute, describing it as a moment of special significance that motivates him to continue his dedication to Amazigh theater and artistic creation.
The festival program includes the official competition for the National Prize for Amazigh Culture (theater category), organized by IRCAM. Four works produced in 2025 are competing: “Walo Di Rekhawi” by the Amziane Theater Troupe from Nador, “Afrak” by the Constams for Theater Research from Tiznit, “Aawad Noawad” by the Khamis’Art Troupe from Khemisset, and “Ighoud” by the Agadir Arts Workshop.
In addition to the competition, the schedule features performances by troupes from Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, and Tunisia. The festival is also expanding its scope into publishing and training, hosting an exhibition of IRCAM publications and a dedicated space for playwrights featuring releases from the Arab Theater Institute.
Book signing sessions have been organized for “Amazigh Theater in Morocco: From Genesis to Expansion” by researcher Dr. Omar Idthnine and “Tifsa n Ait Saden” by Dr. Ali Masoubri. On the training front, the edition offers workshops on Tifinagh writing, media documentation of theater through imagery, Amazigh theatrical terminology, and narrative storytelling in theater.
Younger audiences have also been prioritized, with four performances scheduled at the Hassan II Youth Complex for residents of the Abdel-Salam Bennani Child Protection Center, alongside morning theatrical shows for children and adolescents during the weekend.
