Fez — For Moroccan producer RedOne, music has always been more than sound. It is memory, identity, and belonging. In a recent interview, the Tetouan-born artist said he carries Morocco “in his heart, everywhere he goes,” a bond that shapes both his life and his latest musical project created for AFCON 2025.

Designed specifically to accompany the Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Morocco, RedOne’s new album goes beyond the scope of a standard sports soundtrack. 

He describes it as a heartfelt homage to his country, its plural culture, and its people, crafted to showcase Moroccan identity on an international stage.

More than an album: a cultural tribute

RedOne explained that a single track could not capture the emotional and cultural richness he wanted to convey. Each song, he said, was conceived as a journey through Morocco’s traditions, emotions, and collective memory.

Every instrument and rhythm was chosen deliberately to reflect the Kingdom’s diversity. The album prominently features traditional Moroccan instruments such as the guembri and the rebab, weaving ancestral sounds into contemporary production. Linguistic diversity also plays a central role, including Amazigh language elements, notably in the track “Achkid,” underscoring the cultural plurality that defines Morocco.

According to RedOne, even a double album would not have been enough to fully express the depth of Moroccan musical heritage. Instead, the 12-track project offers multiple entry points into the country’s soundscape, blending tradition with modernity while remaining rooted in core values.

Patriotism and unity through music

Among the album’s most symbolic tracks is “Allah, Al Watan, Al Malik,” which RedOne describes as an emotional tribute to Moroccans’ deep attachment to their homeland and to His Majesty King Mohammed VI. The song, he said, speaks to all generations and carries a message of unity, pride, and shared values.

For the producer, once the music is released, it no longer belongs solely to him. “It becomes the music of the Moroccan people,” he said, emphasizing the collective spirit that guided the project from start to finish.

RedOne also reflected on how love for Morocco, its culture, and its national symbols remains deeply embedded in Moroccan upbringing and collective memory, including among those living in the diaspora. Traditional clothing, cuisine, music, and the national motto all form part of a shared emotional landscape that continues to resonate far beyond the country’s borders.

AFCON as a continental stage

Releasing the album during AFCON 2025 carries particular significance for RedOne. He described the tournament as a unique opportunity to celebrate African football while sharing Moroccan sounds, rhythms, and traditions with a continental and global audience.

He also highlighted the importance of collaboration, noting that many of the African and international artists involved in the project share a genuine affection for Morocco, with several drawing from their own African roots. These exchanges, he said, allowed cultures and musical heritages to intersect naturally, creating a project that transcends borders.

With this album, RedOne is not simply producing music. He is telling Morocco’s story — its history, diversity, and identity — through sound. In doing so, he reinforces music’s power as a vehicle for culture, pride, and connection, carrying Moroccan heritage onto the global stage at a moment when the continent’s eyes are firmly fixed on the Kingdom.