Appendix 6 - International Music Council

Rabab” ceremonies to charities fighting against poverty and helping needy
handicapped people.
10. The links between musical diversity and the promotion of peace
- Morocco is known for its option for peace in the world, in particular between
the monotheistic religions (Islam, Judaism and Christianity). Proof of this are a
number of artistic and cultural events where musicians or singers of the three
religions are frequently grouped together in one piece.
- Cohabitation between Berbers and Arabs might have created social conflicts on
a linguistic or cultural level, if there had not been this spirit of nationalism,
solidarity and respect strengthened by Islam.
11. The standards regulating musical diversity
- There are neither legal texts nor regulations favouring or penalizing certain
musical forms. However there are three kinds of specific national satellite radio
broadcasts which are centralized in Rabat with regional stations spread all over
the country:
a. Arab-language broadcasts (Arab music, Moroccan or Andalusian songs, melhun,
gharnati, Arab folklore etc.
b. Berber-language broadcasts (Berber music, songs and folklore in the Tachelhit,
Tarifit, Tamazight dialects). Tassani (Saharawi) is tolerated by these stations.
c. French, Spanish and English language broadcasts (Western, classical, jazz
music, international varieties, Arab world music)
There is however a listening commission for “Arabity” (created in March 1965);
consisting of members of the Authors Association acting on behalf of the BMDA (BMDA:
Bureau Marocain des Droits d’Auteurs). Its role is to monitor plagiarism or pirating in
new compositions.
But if these national radio stations were created in order to promote Moroccan
music in all its diversity, it must be said that they are “too” open to other musics and that
they favour Egyptian and Western styles. This sometimes obstructs the national production
claimed by Morocco’s musicians unions, without apparent result however as written rules
have never existed in Morocco’s entire history; there is a kind of “mafia” managing music
programmes according to their own wishes, humour, tastes and preference for one kind of
music or another. Luckily, there is a local music distribution industry which allows creative
artists of all styles to communicate with their public.
- As far as the Internet is concerned, Morocco is practically absent. This
opportunity is not much or badly used. Therefore the Moroccan artist is limited
as far as worldwide promotion is concerned, except if he or she is attached to a
big company (Philips, Barclay or Polydor), as was the case for the Megri and
the Nass El Ghiwane.
- As for the teaching of local music traditions or different genres of music, it must
be noted that music and dance schools were created by the Ministry of Culture
(in Rabat and Salé) or by City Councils (Tetuan, El Jeddida, Casablanca,
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