Taroudant Celebrates the Art of Tassehquin with a New Edition of the National Festival
The city of Taroudant is alive with the rhythms of authentic Amazigh art, as the fifth edition of the “Tassehquin” festival kicked off yesterday evening at the city’s cultural center, in an artistic celebration that blends creativity, memory, and identity.
The festival, organized under the theme “Tassehquin and the Challenge of Ensuring Continuity,” serves as an artistic platform aimed at preserving this Moroccan intangible cultural heritage, which UNESCO inscribed in 2019 on its list of intangible cultural heritage that requires urgent safeguarding.
In a vibrant atmosphere filled with colors and rhythms, the opening ceremony honored pioneers who have contributed to the preservation and transmission of the Tassehquin dance to young generations, including Ibrahim Oulal and Hussein Ait Agentane, recognizing their artistic contributions and career in serving this Amazigh heritage.
Artistic teams from various regions of Morocco presented folkloric performances that reflected the richness and diversity of Tassehquin schools, from Chichaoua and Al Haouz to M’Goun and Taroudant, showcasing a blend of tradition and modernity.
Hicham Abkari, Director of Arts at the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, emphasized that the festival is an occasion to celebrate one of the cultural symbols of Morocco’s deep roots. He noted that Tassehquin is not merely a traditional dance but a collective memory that embodies values of harmony, identity, and belonging.
The program for this three-day edition includes training workshops for participating teams, led by experts in cultural heritage, to enhance practitioners’ skills and ensure the authentic transmission of this art form. Additionally, 25 artistic groups representing various Tassehquin-practicing regions are participating, making the event a space for exchanging experiences and highlighting the richness of local heritage.
The Tassehquin festival is an annual occasion to raise awareness about the importance of intangible heritage as a driver for cultural and tourism development, serving as an opportunity to rediscover this authentic art that embodies the depth and diversity of Moroccan identity.
