With an ever-growing fan base, Moroccan youths are also caught in the whirlwind of K-pop culture.

Ateez Rocks the Sahara From Morocco to Coachella

Seoul – With an ever-growing fan base, Moroccan youths are also caught in the whirlwind of K-pop culture.

However, Morocco’s admiration for the bright music genre has largely flown under the radar, despite K-pop-related topics frequently dominating social media trends in Morocco and the region.

For many young Moroccans, K-pop offers more than just catchy tunes and flashy choreographies; it serves as a gateway to the Korean language and culture.

Eager to delve deeper into the world of this genre, fans are enrolling in Korean language classes, exploring traditional Korean cuisine, and participating in cultural exchanges.

In recent years, the popularity of K-pop has not gone unnoticed internationally. Korean music labels and entertainment companies are increasingly acknowledging Morocco as a promising market. Korean artists and groups such as Eric Nam, Seven O’Clock, and Trendz, have previously held performances in the North African country.

Morocco has also hosted a number of small Korean festivals for K-pop enthusiasts, including the Changwon K-pop World Festival in 2015. The renowned boy group Ateez, in particular, has garnered significant attraction from many Moroccan K-pop fans, capturing their hearts with their performances and music.

It all started in Morocco’s desert sands

ATEEZ(에이티즈) – ‘해적왕(Pirate King)’ Official MV

Known for being electrifying showstoppers, Ateez first captured global attention with their debut music videos filmed amidst Morocco’s breathtaking desert landscapes.

The group’s connection with Morocco, rooted in their concept of “pirates of the desert,” was evident in their choice to film “Treasure” and “Pirate King” in the Moroccan Sahara in 2018.

With their chart-topping hits, Ateez made history once again by gracing the stage at Coachella’s Sahara stage, marking an unforgettable evolution from their desert-themed debut in the North African country to international acclaim.

Being the first K-pop boy group to ever perform at the festival on April 12, Ateez has garnered praise from the festive crowd for their powerful vocals, choreography, and energetic stage presence. This acclaim fills their dedicated fandom, known as “Atinys,” with immense pride.

Rim Bennani, a huge fan since 2023, told MWN: “Receiving this recognition from neutral listeners and outsiders of the K-pop sphere gives a lot more legitimacy to Ateez as great live performers which will undoubtedly bring around so many more fans and casual listeners across all continents.”

Ahead of another stage performance by the group on April 19, Moroccan fans flooded social media platforms with expressions of pride in Ateez’s accomplishments.

Mrabet Temsamani Anas, an avid fan since 2019, shared his sentiments with MWN, expressing joy at witnessing the group’s rise to the world stage. “Their talent, diligence, and unwavering dedication have led them to this remarkable moment, and I couldn’t be more delighted for them. From the Moroccan Sahara to Coachella, it’s an unforgettable milestone for both Ateez and us, Atinys,” Mrabet said.

Excitement to bring Ateez to Mawazine

With the country’s biggest music festival, Mawazine, returning this June after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 outbreak, K-pop enthusiasts have united in a fervent campaign over the past few months, urging the festival’s organizers to bring Ateez to the stage.

Moroccan fans are actively using social media campaigns and petitions to amplify their voices. According to Ateez’s main Moroccan fan page, hashtags such as #ATEEZchartinginMOROCCO and #ATEEZforMorocco have ranked 5th on X (formerly Twitter).

With Ateez being the most requested artists for Mawazine on various platforms, the fan page recently revealed their ongoing efforts to highlight the importance of having K-pop artists performing in Morocco. This includes launching an online petition advocating for Ateez’s presence in this year’s festival lineup.

Fans from around the globe have also expressed their readiness to visit Morocco if Ateez is invited to take the Mawazine stage, drawn by the unique opportunity to explore the country where the artistic journey of their beloved group began.

Regarding Ateez’s growing prominence in Morocco and the Arab World, Wiam Abouharia, who has been a fan since 2020, highlighted that the group’s popularity can be seen through their sold-out concert in Saudi Arabia for “The Fellowship: Break The Wall” World Tour.

The group has also paid two visits to the Gulf country in the past, one for the KCON 2022 in October last year, and another during “K-pop festival” in June 2023.

“With their recent performances at Coachella, their popularity will increase even more and more. This exposure not only enhances their global visibility but also paves the way for future opportunities for other K-pop artists,” Abouharia added.

Given the genre’s growing appeal among young people in Morocco and around the globe, fans believe that the announcement of the first major K-pop concert in Morocco is a matter of when, not if. But could that announcement be for this year’s Mawazine?