Visa For Music kicks off in Morocco

11 Nov 2015 - 13:05

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

Recently selected as one the leading music industry conferences in Africa, Visa For Music kicks off this week from 11 to 14 November in Rabat, Morocco. The premier market for African and Middle-Eastern music, this year's programme includes more than 40 showcases, five conference panels, four film screenings and plenty more.

Egyptian band Cairokee will showcase at VFM in Rabat, Morocco. Photo: Facebook

Panel topics this year include ‘Are artists and cultural operators supported to reconcile communities?’ (in partnership with the International Music Council); ‘Celebrating 10 years of UNESCO’s 2005 Convention’, ‘Migrant artists: citizens participating in Africa’s development’, ‘New territories for copyrights’, ‘Focus on crowdfunding’ and ‘The politics and culture of hip-hop in Morocco’. The panels will take place at Club Renaissance and Villa des Arts.

With more than 40 artists expected to showcase their talents this year, VFM’s line-up includes; Al-Mu'tamid, the king of the Al-Andalus (Portugal/Spain/ Morocco); Ali Faiq & Amarg Experience (Morocco); Alsarah & The Nubatones (Sudan); Autostrad (Jordan); Cairokee (Egypt); Dizzy Dross (Morocco); Djmawi Africa (Algeria); 7 Estrelo (Brazil); Egyptian Project (France/Egypt); Elcontainer Band (Palestine); Elida Almeida (Cape Verde); Gabacho Maroconnection (France/Spain); Ilhan Ersahin (Turkey); Jamal Nouman Sextet (Morocco); Jemimah Sanyu and Unit 446 (Uganda); Malika Zarra (Morocco/USA); Maya Kamaty (Reunion Island); Mazagan & Hamid El Hadri (Morocco); Moh! Kouyate (France/Guinea); Monza (Mauritania); Nadia Khaless Trio (Tunisia/ Morocco); Oum (Morocco) and Smockey (Burkina Faso). The showcases will take place at three different venues in Rabat: Théâtre National Mohammed V; Salle de La Renaissance (Renassaince Hall) and Le Grand Comptoir.

There will also be a special speed-meeting session for musicians, managers and other music industry professionals to network.

This year, four music-related films have been selected to be projected during Visa For Music. They are Gangbé ! by Arnaud Robert;Segtaab Rap au pays des hommes intègres by La Fleuj; Bom Dia Inhambane by Daniel Jarosch and Falko Purner; and La nuit de la possession by Frank Cassenti.

Arabic music magazine Ma3azef.com is offering a special music writing workshop for emerging writers and journalists during the conference. Visa for Music, in collaboration with Ma3azef, will provide opportunities for some of the candidates’ writing to be published, and the prospect for promising candidates to join Ma3azef’steam of writers. Participation in the music writing lab is free and includes a media pass, which gives the candidate access to most Visa for Music events.

For more details vist the VFM website or watch the video below.