Moroccan identity as reflected in folk songs and dances

Al Kabir Al Dadisi
Morocco

Identity includes all the features that distinguish one group from another. These features - which are mutable and specific to a particular time and place - include land, language, history, civilisation, culture, customs and traditions.

Folk songs and dances are a key part of Moroccan identity; Morocco’s diversity and musical heritage distinguish it from other Arab, Islamic and African countries. Moroccan folk art is like a mosaic that combines African, Arab, Berber, Islamic, Jewish and Andalusian traditions and adds the flavour of the desert.
 Every region in Morocco has its own style of singing, dancing and artistic expression, which reflects the Moroccans’ joy at weddings, parties and celebrations.
In recent years, people have attempted to revive the traditional forms of expression by organising festivals and encouraging young people to preserve Moroccan heritage, which attracts tourists to different parts of the country.
Heritage organisations have performed Moroccan music and songs in theatres and at festivals around the world.