On a Journey

By Sarah Touahri, "Sufi festival in Fez promotes religious tolerance with music, dance" - Magharebia - USA
Friday, April 24, 2009

Buoyed by past successes, the Fez Festival of Sufi Culture offers visitors to Morocco's spiritual capital a positive look at Islam through art and discussion

Rabat: The third annual Fez Festival of Sufi Culture, running through Saturday (April 25th), brings together artists and researchers from across the Maghreb and beyond. The organisers, encouraged by successful events in the past two years, say the week-long event provides a platform for expression by artists committed to the spiritual pursuit of artistic and intellectual creativity.

Artists pay homage to Sufism through poetry, music, and dance. Participants also demonstrate new art forms and cultural projects that foster intercultural dialogue and enhance human lives.

The primary objective of the event is to spread a positive image of Islam internationally, using the universal language of openness and peace advocated by Sufism. Organisers hope that the festival confirms Morocco's place in building a bridge between the East and the West.

"Every day gives us a chance to explore a particular country, its spiritual practices, the masters who have lived there, the words which have nurtured it and the arts and culture which express the very essence of its being," said event director Faouzi Skelli, "So we shall go on a journey through Egypt, Syria, Palestine, France, Turkey, the countries of Africa and Spain."

As the years go by, the festival attracts more and more visitors, both national and international, keen to experience and learn more about Sufi culture first-hand.

In one unique feature, public forums allow young people to discover a new world vision based on values of tolerance and community.

Discussion revolve around the interactions between spiritual values and society or, more broadly, spiritual values and globalisation.

Audiences also enjoy performances of Sufi chant at the religious soirées. Hamida Nidal, a teacher, said that music lovers are drawn into a universe of spirituality and calm, where peace and serenity reign.

"Our world needs such a culture to reject all the obscurantist ideas and to teach our young people about the benefits of tolerance and openness towards other people's cultures. We need a rebirth of this culture which once flourished in Morocco," she said.

Kaddour Kamini, a teacher of Islamic education, says that this kind of event enables Morocco to establish itself internationally as a place for dialogue between cultures and home to a rich Islam which is open to other religions.

"It is impossible to engage in dialogue with others unless one is at peace,' said French singer Abdel Malik. Spirituality has the resources needed to change things in a world which is becoming more and more dehumanised, he added.

Picture: French singer Ingrid Panquine performs holy songs at the Sufi Cultural Festival in Fez. Photo: Getty Images.