Agadir's festival of popular, nomadic music starts; US jazz musician to join

The first festival of Popular and Nomads Music of the region of Souss (southern Morocco) opened in Agadir (southern Morocco Atlantic city) on Thursday with the participation of some 600 musicians, artists and dancers from Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, America and Europe.

The festival's opening ceremony was followed by a parade of women wearing traditional outfits and carrying huge dolls and 500 musicians and artists that formed diverse musical groups, all walking through the different roads of the city.

The four-day cultural event will offer a unique atmosphere as it will gather for the first time artists from various regions of the world who will make improvised performances the way they have been performing in their villages of origin for decades to highlight a rich and spirited heritage.

Renowned US jazzmen like Arthur Blythe, Chico Freeman and Corey Harris will also take part in the event along with Berber and nomad musicians and a French street show group.

The festival also features sculpture workshops and conferences by Moroccan and European researchers and academics.