Brazilian artist minister, Gil, a major attraction at fez festival

Some 3,000 music-lovers flocked Saturday to the Bab Al-Makina square in Fez, driven by their curiosity to discover the talent of a unique Brazilian singer and... minister, Gilberto Gil.

All along 90 minutes, Gil, the composer, singer and also Brazil's minister of culture, captivated the audience with chants inspired from a rich spiritual heritage of Latin America.

Gil likes to describe himself as an artist of faith. He sees the melodies he plays as a perfect blend of body and soul.

Born in 1942 in San Salvador de Bahia, the very African area of Brazil, Gil makes of his country's have-nots' daily struggle against inequalities a theme of his spiritual songs.

He presents himself as the evangelical and ironical expression against oppression in all its form, a cause that made Brazil's military junta of the 1960's send him to exile.

Gil's songs and melodies transformed the Bab al-Makina square, a former weapons arsenal and factory, into a genuine scene for the transmission of the values of peace amongst souls imbued by this noble value.

However, Gil, the artist, did not overshadow Gil, the politician and minister. As of Monday, he will put his guitar aside, time for business with Moroccan officials on means to upgrade cooperation between the two nations.

He is scheduled to meet Moroccan Premier, Driss Jettou, and culture minister, Mohamed Achaari.