Moroccan Political Leader Condemns Rapper ElGrandeToto’s Influence on Youth

On Thursday, Abdelilah Benkirane described ElGrandeToto as "scum" during the opening of the 18th national congress of the youth of the Party of Justice and Development (PJD). He blames the rapper and some of his colleagues for having corrupted the morals within the Moroccan youth in order to facilitate "the control of our country now and in the future". According to him, Toto does not have a good influence on young people as some claim. He challenges Moroccan parents to prove the contrary: "If Toto is so good, take him home, make sure your children learn from him and bring them the drugs he takes!" He then calls on them: "Moroccan youth, fathers, mothers, do you have all your reason to go see these clowns in concert? These scum should go to the beach with the drug addicts and indulge in their activities. They have no connection with the Moroccan people or the Moroccan family."

The head of the Islamist party has also criticized the government: "I will now say it to our State and our people. These political parties that bring us people like Toto and the like, what is their intention? Their goal is to corrupt our Moroccan youth so that it is easier to control our country now and in the future." For Benkirane, the growing popularity of public figures like Toto is "unacceptable". "These are scum who are preparing scum for the Moroccan youth," he added. He believes that ElGrandeToto and public figures like him have no place in Moroccan society. "The day Hassan II did the Green March, he did not call on scum like Toto!"

Benkirane continues: "The day Hassan II did the Green March, he said that God, the Prophet and the Quran were with us. He distributed the Quran to the people and ordered the application of sharia. If a couple committed indecencies, they would be whipped. God brought this moment while [Justice Minister] Ouahbi was still young..." According to him, ElGrandeToto is the opposite of the "righteous people" like Youssef Ibn Tashfin, the "great kings" and various past leaders who have preserved Morocco throughout its history. His wish is that the young Moroccan be made up of "righteous people". He therefore called on the young people of the PJD to be the "righteous of today, tomorrow and the future" to face the challenges "that only God knows". And to warn: "God does not make the work of the corrupt righteous."