Casablanca – The 19th edition of the Tan-Tan Moussem marked its official opening on October 31 with a ceremony celebrating the region’s cultural heritage.
Tbourida performances, camel displays, and activities celebrating Hassani culture and Saharan heritage gave visitors a closer look at the customs that have been passed down through generations in the region.
Organized by the Almouggar Foundation and its partners, this year’s edition also coincides with Morocco’s Unity Day. The occasion adds another dimension to the Moussem, connecting the celebration of Saharan heritage with a wider reflection on national unity.
A program rooted in Hassani heritage
For Abdellah El Alaoui, a member of the Almouggar Foundation, this combination gives the 19th edition its particular character.
In an interview with Lifestyle Magazine, he explained that the program brings together two main strands: the preservation of Hassani intangible cultural heritage and activities marking Unity Day.
“This year, we have a program dedicated to celebrating Hassani heritage, alongside a second program marking the national celebration of Unity Day,” El Alaoui told Lifestyle Magazine.
Visitors can also find spaces dedicated to children and young poets, traditional games, Tbourida, and both modern and traditional Hassani music.
That focus on heritage goes beyond performances and displays. It also depends on the people who keep traditions alive and find ways to share them with new generations.
Artists keep the stories and traditions alive
Moroccan actress Khadija Zaroual, who grew up in Tan-Tan, spoke about her personal connection to Hassani culture, even though she does not have Hassani roots.
Zaroual described representing the culture as a responsibility, emphasizing that its depth and richness deserve to be presented with care and understanding.
“Representing this culture is a great responsibility, more than an honor, because it is a rich and deeply rooted culture that deserves to be presented in the best possible way,” she told Lifestyle Magazine.
The Moussem also creates room for artists to revisit the history of Tan-Tan and tell its stories through different forms of expression.
This year, the opening ceremony featured “The Call of the Well and Memory,” an artistic performance directed by Moroccan filmmaker Taoufik Charaf Eddine.
The production brought together a group of artists to explore the history of the city and the Moussem, alongside the customs and traditions that the event has preserved since its first edition in 2004.
Charaf Eddine told Lifestyle Magazine that the performance aimed to convey what the Moussem offers while showcasing the richness of Hassani culture. The performance was also a chance for local artists to interpret their heritage and share it with audiences.
For Tan-Tan, the Moussem is more than an annual gathering. It offers a space where traditions can be practiced, remembered, and passed on, while giving the region’s cultural life a place in the national conversation.
As Zaroual noted, Morocco’s southern provinces need greater attention to their cultural sector. Events like the Tan-Tan Moussem help create that space, bringing communities, artists, and visitors together around a heritage that continues to shape the region’s identity.
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