Marrakech – The cool mountain air of Ifrane turned electric on the evening of July 23, as the 7th edition of the Ifrane International Festival kicked off in spectacular fashion. 

Thousands gathered at Place Al Taj to witness a breathtaking opening performance: “Symphony Ahidous,” a cultural odyssey led by none other than Sanaa Jedoubi.

Draped in traditional Amazigh regalia and radiating quiet authority, Jedoubi conducted a 300-strong ensemble of performers from across Morocco in a reimagined take on Ahidous; the Amazigh art form that fuses rhythmic poetry, music, and dance into a communal heartbeat.

Under the spotlight, Jedoubi turned tradition into theater. Chant after chant pulsed through the square like ancestral echoes, while synchronized movements rippled across the stage in waves of hypnotic unity. 

It was heritage reborn, rooted in authenticity but soaring with modern theatricality.

Held under the theme “Water, Source of Life and Driver of Development,” this year’s festival doesn’t just entertain; it advocates. 

Through art and performance, it’s delivering a timely message: protect nature, particularly water, in the face of escalating climate challenges.

Beyond the music, the festival is an ecosystem of its own, merging art, activism, and economic uplift.

Daily programming includes sports tournaments (football, badminton), artisan showcases featuring crafts from Ifrane and beyond, and workshops on forest and water conservation.

Festival-goers are also in for a musical treat, with Moroccan superstars Rajae and Omar Belmir, Zina Daoudia, Badr Oubi, and Hoba Hoba Spirit lighting up the main stage. 

Local artists from the Fez-Meknes region round out the lineup, ensuring that the spotlight shines as brightly on grassroots talent as it does on household names.