The international music star, Youssef Akdim, alias “Lartiste” brilliantly provided an anthology show on Friday evening, providing the public at the Imintanout National Festival for Art, Creativity and Heritage, long-awaited moments of relaxation and jubilation.
For almost two hours, this icon of Moroccan rap, who has enjoyed resounding success in recent years, managed to gather around him several hundred festival-goers from all over Morocco to reconnect with their favorite artist, in an illustration of “reunions” among the most exhilarating and intense in particular, after more than two years of cessation of artistic shows and cultural activities, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
As soon as the time for the kick-off of this eclectic evening was announced, a crowd of big days, coming from all over, converged in complete fluidity thanks to the quality of the organization and the exemplary mobilization of the forces of order, towards the festival stage to live in conviviality, fraternity, and joy, these memorable moments, dancing and singing in communion, young and old, until late in the evening.
In a festive and enchanting atmosphere and facing the assured exaltation of aficionados of synchronized songs and rhythms, “Lartiste” who proudly displayed the national flag, could not find better to offer to the public present than to gratify it with an anthology the most emblematic and well-known titles drawn from his repertoire with various influences.
Once musical notes begin to ring out on the Festival stage, they are recognized and choruses of Lartiste’s great hits, such as “Chocolat”, “Clandestina”, “Vai and come” or “Polygame”, ” La Chanson”, “Catchu”, “Une deux” or even “Haraga”, “Gonzales”, “Mafiosa”, “Li Fat Mat”…, are quickly taken up and repeated, before finally giving way to a electric atmosphere in a crowd delirious and already, “honed” and “ready” to engage inexorably in the game of the recovery of the classics of this young icon of 100% young music.
Thanks to a high sense of patriotism and pride in belonging to Morocco and a constant attachment to his origins, Lartiste, in an incredible ease in surfing between French, Arabic and Amazigh, never stopped throughout his show to encourage young people in search of a bright future, to perseverance, commitment, collective work and adherence to all the efforts led by the Kingdom on the path of progress , development and prosperity.
In a word of circumstance as if to catch his breath after a beautiful and long and amply successful performance, the artist expressed all his joy and his great pride in finding himself in Morocco, “this great nation, this great and beautiful country so dear to his heart. “, and in Imintanout, this city rich in its history, its authenticity, its culture, and its traditions, saying it is very honored to participate in this festival. This festival, he continued, offers the opportunity to highlight all the riches that “this land of peace, love, conviviality and hospitality” conceals.
Previously, festival-goers among fans of Amazigh and popular rhythms and songs were invited to follow and enjoy a show by the musical and artistic troupe of “Fatima Tamanart”. A real journey, the time to discover and taste the beauty and synchronized rhythms of Amazigh and popular music, symbol of the diversity, richness and uniqueness of the cultural legacy of united Morocco.
In a statement to M24, MAP’s continuous news television channel, Tah Hcine Bouroua, president of the Imintanout Association for Cultural and Artistic Dialogue, said he was very proud to see the Imintanout festival return. on stage after more than two years of rupture due to the pandemic, underlining, in passing, the careful choice of the theme of this new edition, namely: “Imintanout, land symbolizing the Morocco of living together and freedom”. And to continue that this festival which knows, this year, a rich and varied program is designed to celebrate all artistic forms and to satisfy the different musical tastes, noting that to do this, the organizing committee has taken care to invite a host of stars of Moroccan Amazigh and Hassanian song, popular styles, rap, including some of the most emblematic folk songs and dances.
After highlighting the importance of this festival in terms of promoting the city of Imintanout on the social, economic and tourist levels, Mr. Bouroua sent his heartfelt thanks to the provincial authorities, security services, local elected officials and to all the partners for their mobilization so that this festival is a success on all levels.
Organized by the Imintanout Association for cultural and artistic dialogue and the Municipal Council of the city, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Communication and that of the Interior, the Festival is an opportunity for aficionados of rich and varied music to come and meet their favorite stars, among others, “Saida Charaf”, “Saïd Senhaji”, “Ikram Alabdia”, and “Muslim”.
Festival-goers will also have the chance to reconnect and appreciate some of the most authentic and original songs and rhythms of local song, notably the maestro of Amazigh song in the province of Chichaoua Outaleb Mzoudi and the artists Houcine Taouss and Said Asamghour.
The organizers and the services concerned have mobilized all the logistical and human resources for the success of this event, the objective of which is to breathe new cultural and artistic dynamics into this city and its region.