Fez — Held from November 6 to 8, the 2025 edition was organized by the Safir Association for Culture and Development with the province of Taounate and the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication.
The theme — “Fifty Years of a March of Development and Prosperity” — framed activities revisiting the legacy of 1975 while highlighting mountain traditions and the province’s cultural assets.
Interactive sessions in public schools focused on the Green March’s history and explained implications of a recent United Nations Security Council resolution on the Moroccan Sahara.
Festival director Younes Faïz called this 18th edition “exceptional,” noting its overlap with nationwide celebrations tied to the Security Council’s Resolution 2797 (2025).
He said the measure was viewed domestically as a diplomatic milestone, and the timing helped channel national commemoration into local programming.
The closing evening, attended by Taounate’s governor Abdelkrim El Ghannami, spotlighted the mobilizing role of national song and honored a cross-section of Moroccan talent.
Honorees included actor Mohamed Khyi, singer Hayat Idrissi, Andalusian maestro Abdelouahed Tetouani, and vocalist Fouad Zbadi.
Khyi expressed “joy and gratitude” for the distinction, emphasizing the public’s steady engagement with Moroccan cinema and television.
The lineup also featured the Moultaqa Salam ensemble led by maestro Ali Alaoui, alongside Egyptian singer Randa Radwan, underscoring the festival’s mix of local heritage and regional collaboration.
Beyond performances, a “Main au henné” gathering promoted mountain customs and Taounate’s artisanal know-how.
Public talks and informal meet-and-greets connected visiting artists with residents, extending the festival’s reach beyond the stage.
Organizers described the event as a platform to showcase Taounate’s cultural, historical, and tourism potential.
Support came from the Fez-Meknes Regional Council, Taounate’s provincial and communal councils, and the Agency for the Promotion and Development of the North.
By bringing screenings, concerts, and classroom conversations under one umbrella, the festival translated national commemoration into local civic pride and youth engagement.
As Morocco marks the Green March’s half-century, Taounate’s Mountain Peaks Festival shows how national milestones are filtering into regional cultural calendars.
Organizers say they plan to build on 2025’s momentum, deepening school outreach and artist-community exchanges ahead of the next festival cycle.
