MAWSSIM AL HIKAYAT
The Marrakech International Storytelling Festival Under The High Patronage Of His Majesty
King Mohammed Vi
The MISF was founded in 2022 as a result of a collaboration between The storytellers Union for Cultural innovation and Art of storytelling, and
World Storytelling Cafe (add their link to the name : https://worldstorytellingcafe.com/). It is a one week (Mawssim) celebration of theuniversality of storytelling art (Hikayat) in the city of Marrakech.
The festival aims to foster collaboration between Moroccan and international storytelling artists as well as promote the art of storytelling both locally and globally: it also gives an opportunity for artists to discover the rich traditional heritage of the Kingdom of Morocco.
Our philosophy comes from the recommendations of the late king to Morocco Hassan the Second about storytelling as an intangible heritage for humanity and the sustainable development strategy of the current king Mohamed the 6th.
The Marrakech international storytelling festival is based all around the city of Marrakech with expansions towards the whole region of
Marrakech-Safi with no official language: It encourages diversity and inclusivity, by being a platform for a wide range of artists to perform to a
Moroccan and international audiences, and accessibility, by being TOTALLY FREE to attend all the events of the festival.
In only 2 editions the Marrakech International Storytelling Festival ranks as one of the best and most important storytelling events around the
globe in regard of its artistic capacity and impact: The festival is not only an entertainment event but a future-shaping confluence. The festival’s foundation is built on four main pillars:
Workshops: in schools, universities, cultural and language centers: to promote the art of storytelling.
Panel discussions and conferences: Emphasizing the importance of scientific research in what we do.
Hal’qa: Preserving the traditional and most important format of storytelling in Morocco, in Jamaa EL Fna Square
Curated Shows: Contemporary Storytelling Art Shows.
ACHIEVEMENTS IN NUMBERS FOR BOTH EDITIONS:
. Artists engagement: 220 + artists
. Workshops: 117 workshop in Public schools (2700+ students direct impact)
. Conferences and Panel discussions: 40 hours, 100 participants
. Curated shows: 50, 110 hours of live performances
. Global Number of Audience: 20 000 (60% locals, 40% international)
. Hikayathon (2nd edition): world record attempt of 50 hours non stop of storytelling in the square
. Acknowledgment: The festival is acknowledged by the Regional counsel of tourism as an impactful and important
festival for the year 2023.
