Mawazine 2011 – a shiny shindig

9 03 2011

Mawazine 2011, the 20th to the 28th of May, hosts its 10th edition of what is now the biggest popular music festival in Morocco. Aimed at looking bright and shiny this years program hosts many a rock and pop star from Morocco and further far a field.

Mawazine

Le Grand Festival is organized by l’Association Maroc Cultures and supported by non other than the King himself, Mohammed IV aim at being a  big bang event held across Rabat with stars and celebs known to hit the Rabati night life post-gig o’clock.

Maroc Cultures- the organizers

On stage this year is the muslim idol himself, Cat Stevens, Nelly Furtado, Nass el Ghiwan, (what’s left of the original crew) Joe Cocker,  Shakira and the megastar Roger Hodgson from Supertramp who will perform with the Royal Symphonic Orchestra.  Now there’s a hookanany!!

A complete program is not yet released but the main acts are posted on the festival’s website at . http://www.festivalmawazine.ma





Divas Dinner: Celebrating 100 years of International Womens Day

3 03 2011

International Women’s Day was officially honoured for the first time in 1911. The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women’s and society’s thoughts about women’s equality and emancipation. And so the tone and nature of IWD has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives. Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements.

In Fes, two expat women, Vanessa Bonnin and Rebecca Eve, decided to use the opportunity to highlight the work of the IPDF (Initiatives for the Protection of Rights of Women) in Fes and raise money for the Centre in Batha. Founded in 1998, the IPDF is a female advocacy group, independent, and non-profit. Its strategic mission is the implementation of gender equality in law and in practice, via the universal rights of women. In this sense, IPDF is committed to fight against all violence against women and all forms of discrimination against them in accordance with international conventions and charters. In addition a percentage of the profits will go towards a contemporary exhibition also commemorating the 100th year of IWD, to be held later in the year. Culture Vultures is organizing this sustainable culture event. More news on this event to come.

Divas Dinner

At the Divas Dinner music is provided by DJ Shivvy from Barcelona with equipment loaned by the French Institute, wine has been donated by Volubilia, transport is being offered by Chrif Trans, and each Diva will get a goodie-bag of sweet treats from Secrets Sucres. The tombola also has an impressive list of prizes donated by local companies, restaurants and guesthouses.

Diva’s Dinner Details:
Majestic Restaurant, Sunday March 6th, 7.30pm – 1am
Dinner: Three-course buffet
Drinks: Volubilia wine, water and soft drinks included
Dancing: DJ Shivvy from Barcelona

Price: 250dh. Tickets available from Vanessa (06 75 00 67 88)





Contemporary Jewelry Collection from Morocco

1 03 2011

Blowing my own trumpet

Moroccan Bling, the mascot!

Fez based visual artist and culture coordinator Jess Stephens time and again seeks materials from her immediate surroundings to use in her artwork. This time the raw Moroccan materials are transformed into a contemporary jewelry collection under the brand name Moroccan Bling.

The current Bling collection is an accumulation of jalaba buttons (common in her home town of Sefrou), metal beads from the south of Morocco, glass beads, wooden pieces, and other random findings from around Morocco. Bringing into play crafts techniques and materials in her new collection, Jess is fired and inspired to work alongside traditional craft-makers and bring the best of Morocco to the rest of the world.  Works incorporating weaving from the middle atlas and ceramic work from the Fez region are on the cusp of being launched.

Beach Bling

Jess has always been drawn to trinkets as a form of expression and so it is that Moroccan Bling takes its natural cause and now is available to others on –line. The shop can be found under www.jessiculture.etsy.com and in addition Jess is blogging findings and tit-bits on Moroccan jewelry and adornment under http://moroccanbling.wordpress.com.








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