Rap Festival Chaos: L’Boulevard Organizers Address Security Concerns After Overflow

In a statement, the organizers of this artistic event attributed these excesses to the number of spectators, which would have exceeded the forecasts. "Last night, L’Boulevard experienced an unprecedented influx: the public who came to attend the rap/hip-hop concerts scheduled for the 20th edition of the festival was much more numerous than what the RUC stadium can accommodate," the note states.

The committee also explained that "faced with this overflow and for safety reasons, the doors were closed as of 8 p.m., in order to allow the authorities and agents to do their work and guarantee the safety of the public present and the scheduled artists. For all these reasons, many spectators, journalists, partners and music professionals were unable to access the RUC enclosure. Inside the stadium, crowd movements, caused by part of the public, resulted in damage."

To avoid such a situation, new practical arrangements have been made by the organizers. As a result, "the program planned in the souk area will be maintained, in a lighter version: the DJ sets will be suspended, and the parallel activities (stands, circus, dance, etc.) will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.," they indicated, adding that "the concerts scheduled on the festival’s main stage will also be maintained. As for the opening of the doors, it will take place at 5 p.m. instead of 4 p.m."