The 18th edition of the Casablanca music festival offered a night of acoustic soul and contemporary reinvention.
Rabat – The 2025 Jazzablanca Festival delivered an outstanding evening on Sunday at Anfa Park, spotlighting the richness and diversity of African musical traditions.
The lineup featured Malian icon Salif Keïta and Moroccan duo Aïta Mon Amour, offering the public a memorable journey from acoustic Mandingue melodies to electrified local sounds.
Opening the night was Salif Keïta, often referred to as “the golden voice of Africa,” who captivated the crowd with a raw and emotional set drawn from his recent acoustic album, “So Kono”.
Performing with minimal instrumentation, Keïta placed voice and guitar at the forefront, allowing his signature timbre and his lyrical depth to shine.
Speaking to the press, Keïta discussed the cultural affinities between Morocco and Mali, particularly the kinship between traditional instruments such as Morocco’s guembri and Mali’s n’goni.
He reaffirmed music’s role as a force for unity: “Where there is music, there is no hate,” he said.
Later in the evening, Moroccan duo Aïta Mon Amour, composed of vocalist Widad Mjama and producer-musician Khalil Epi, took over the festival’s Scene 21.
Their performance blended electronic textures with the traditional Moroccan vocal art form Aïta, reimagining a cultural composition through a modern lens.
Accompanied by guest musicians, the set created an atmospheric fusion that resonated with a receptive audience.
Together, the two performances offered a powerful expression of the continent’s sonic heritage; one rooted in tradition but unafraid of innovation. The evening was a celebration of cross-generational artistry and shared African identity.
