Moroccan Artists Sidelined at Mawazine Festival, Sparking Boycott Calls

Contrary to previous editions of the Mawazine festival, Moroccan artists have not been given their due this year, observe Moroccan activists who blame the event organizers for favoring Arab and foreign artists, to whom exorbitant fees are allocated, to the detriment of Moroccans.

Moroccan internet users denounce the weak presence of Moroccan artists among those invited to perform on the Nahda stage in Rabat or in Salé. Many Moroccans have called for a boycott of the festival, in solidarity with Palestine. They launched a campaign on social networks with the hashtag "Don’t dance on the wound of your brothers", inviting to use the festival funds to provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The 19th edition of the Mawazine festival will take place from June 21 to 29. Arab celebrities like Lebanese singer Haifa Wehbe, Najwa Karam, Ramy Ayach, Ahmad Saad, Marwan Khoury, Carole Samaha, or foreign stars like American star Nicki Minaj, will take part