23rd Morocco International Storytelling Festival Celebrates Oral Tradition and the Idea of Homeland
From November 5 to November 12 2024, the historic city of Rabat hosted the 23rd edition of Morocco’s International Storytelling Festival. Organized by the Ministry of Culture in partnership with the Rabat Cultural Foundation, the event drew more than 400 storytellers, musicians, and scholars from 40 countries, according to the festival’s official press release (Festival Contre Maroc, 2024). Over eight evenings, venues such as the Théâtre National Mohammed V, the Andalusian Gardens, and several community centers became stages for oral narratives that explored memory, identity, and the concept of homeland.
Storytelling as a Tool for Social Reflection
The festival’s programming emphasized how oral traditions can address contemporary challenges. Abdellah Mohammed Bilal, a Mauritanian griot, presented a series of tales that highlighted the sacrifices needed to build “a safe country with security, stability and decent living conditions.” His performance, noted by attendees for its rhythmic cadence and moral clarity, illustrated how traditional narratives can be reframed to speak to modern nation‑building efforts.
Fatima Bassour, a Casablanca‑based storyteller with over 15 years of experience in educational workshops, explained her approach to this year’s theme:
“In its original form and in the popular tradition, storytelling relies on imagination. I used my imagination to tell the story behind this year’s festival theme, Aicha Kandicha. She was not a ghost, but a free Moroccan who defended her homeland both openly and secretly.”
Her reinterpretation of the folkloric figure Aicha Kandicha—often depicted as a supernatural temptress—offered a counter‑narrative that portrayed her as a patriot and protector, aligning with the festival’s broader focus on homeland.
Aicha Kandicha: Reclaiming a Folklore Icon
This year’s dedicated sessions on Aicha Kandicha attracted scholars from the Institute of African Studies at Mohammed V University and practitioners from the Moroccan Folklore Society. Panel discussions examined the evolution of the legend from pre‑colonial oral sources to its contemporary representations in literature and media. Participants agreed that re‑imagining such figures can strengthen cultural resilience and provide role models for younger generations.
Global Participation and Educational Impact
Artists from Tunisia, Senegal, India, Brazil, and Japan shared stages, demonstrating the universality of storytelling motifs. Hayat Abdelkhaleq, a Tunisian teacher‑storyteller, described how she integrates narrative into classroom instruction:
“I use storytelling in education because I’m a teacher. A story can change people’s lives, emotions and behavior. We tell a story and people take it as a lesson. They think about the message, think about how they can change, and we can see that change in their eyes as they start to think about themselves.”
Mountassir Lamiri, another Tunisian participant, emphasized the connective power of tales:
“Stories are similar and often overlap. There is a cultural bridge that connects civilizations and countries. As a new generation of young storytellers, we are committed to preserving this bridge and evolving storytelling to reach the entire world.”
These testimonies underscore the festival’s role not only as a cultural showcase but also as a platform for exchanging pedagogical strategies that leverage narrative for social change.
Workshops on Preservation and Documentation
Beyond performances, the festival offered practical workshops aimed at safeguarding intangible heritage. Sessions led by UNESCO‑accredited facilitators covered:
- Digital audio recording techniques for fieldwork
- Metadata standards aligned with the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
- Community‑based archiving methods that respect local custodianship
According to a post‑event survey conducted by the Rabat Cultural Foundation, 78 % of participants reported feeling more confident in applying documentation practices to their own storytelling projects (Foundation Survey, 2024).
Looking Forward: The Festival’s 30‑Year Legacy
Marking three decades since its inception in 1996, the festival’s anniversary was celebrated with a special gala that featured a retrospective exhibition of photographs, recordings, and manuscripts from past editions. Organizers highlighted milestones such as the inclusion of storytelling in Morocco’s national school curriculum (2018) and the designation of several Moroccan oral traditions to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (2021).
As the festival moves toward its 24th edition, planners aim to expand virtual participation, develop multilingual subtitles for recorded performances, and deepen partnerships with academic institutions to foster research on oral narrative dynamics in diaspora communities.
Through its blend of artistic performance, scholarly exchange, and capacity‑building initiatives, the 23rd Morocco International Storytelling Festival reaffirmed the enduring power of spoken word to shape identities, transmit values, and imagine safer, more cohesive homelands.
