Fez — El Jadida has wrapped up the 13th edition of “El Jadida du Rire” (El Jadida of Laughter), closing four days of comedy, street performances, artistic training, and public celebration in the Doukkala capital.
The festival ran from May 14 to 17 at the Théâtre Said Afifi and the Cité Portugaise.
The program opened with street performances outside the Théâtre Said Afifi, bringing acrobatics, outdoor comedy, and popular entertainment to families and visitors before the main indoor shows began.
Honoring Mustapha Bouassria
This year’s edition placed recognition at the heart of its program by honoring Moroccan artist and director Mustapha Bouassria, a figure known for his long contribution to theater and cinema.
The tribute reflected the festival’s stated focus on strengthening a “culture of recognition” for Moroccan artists who shaped the country’s performing arts scene over several decades. Earlier festival communications also described Bouassria as the central figure of this edition, praising his mark on theater stages and cinema screens.
For the audience in El Jadida, the tribute added an emotional note to a festival built around laughter, and reminded spectators that comedy is also a memory, a craft, and a shared cultural inheritance.
Big names and popular laughter
The artistic program brought together several prominent names from Morocco’s comedy scene, mixing stage humor, satire, music, and popular entertainment.
Among the highlights was “L’Mhib” by comedian Yassare, who performed at the Théâtre Said Afifi with a show built around social observation and sharp comic timing.
The festival also featured “Gha Dahkin,” with Dounia Boutazout, Loubna Chaklat, and Ahmed Chergui, combining theatrical comedy with satirical singing.
The closing night moved toward a more festive register, blending humor with Moroccan chaâbi rhythms and featuring artist Omar El Jadidi. The format gave the final evening a popular atmosphere, linking stage performance to music familiar to Moroccan audiences.
Training the next generation
Beyond headline shows, the festival also served as a platform for young talent. Workshops at the Cité Portugaise focused on comedy writing techniques and dramatic performance, giving emerging artists practical tools to develop their stage presence.
The “Mazagan du Rire” (Mazagan of Laughter) competition opened space for local stand-up comedians to perform before a specialized jury. The initiative aimed to identify young talent in El Jadida and support a new generation of performers.
The festival also included intellectual discussions around this year’s theme, “Philosophy and spectacle: When laughter becomes an existential question,” linking comedy to reflection, criticism, and public debate.
