Fes Festival of World Sacred Music

The festival was founded in 1994 by Faouzi Skali, an anthropologist from Fes, with an explicit premise: that religious traditions could be presented alongside one another rather than in opposition, and the programme has followed that - Sufi brotherhoods, Gregorian and Byzantine chant, qawwali, Andalusian orchestras, gospel, Jewish liturgical singing, Indian classical, Amazigh and West African forms, over about a week each June. Large evening concerts are held in the open air at Bab Al Makina, the gate of the imperial palace, with smaller afternoon performances in the Batha museum garden and other courtyards, and Sufi nights in the Dar Tazi gardens which are free and are what many people rate highest. It carries UN recognition for its dialogue aims. Dates shift and the programme is announced a few months ahead.

History

Faouzi Skali, president of the Spirit of Fez Foundation, founded the festival in 1994 to bring people of all faiths together through spiritual values inspired by Andalusian traditions, believing music could speak to everyone; it was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic (Wikipedia, Fez Festival of World Sacred Music).

What to look for

• A 1994 foundation - conceived to bring faiths together through music.
• Traditions side by side - Sufi, Christian, Jewish, Hindu and West African forms in one week.
• Bab Al Makina concerts - large evening performances at the palace gate.
• Free Sufi nights - in the Dar Tazi gardens, and often the best of it.

When to go

June; dates vary and are announced a few months ahead. Several days.

Practical notes

June in Fes is hot. Main concerts are ticketed and the good seats sell early. Accommodation prices rise substantially that week. Programmes are published late and change.

Nearby

Bab Al Makina is at Fes el-Jdid; the Batha garden is by Bab Boujloud.

Key facts