At a spectacular event held at the Mohammed V Theatre, RABAT was formally introduced as the Capital of African Culture.
This was the formal celebration of the Committee of African Capitals of Culture's selection of Rabat as the African Cultural Capital for the years 2022–2023, which was made in February 2020.
Under the strong sponsorship of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication organised a packed schedule that was capped by a sizable concert.
Several politicians, diplomats, and representatives attended the opulent inauguration ceremony, which was sponsored by organisations including United Cities and Local Governments United of Africa, the wilaya of Rabat-Salé-Kenitra region, the prefecture of Rabat, and the City Council of Rabat.
Leading Moroccan performers included Douzi, the very popular Oum, African Vision, the Andalusian music choir Al-Amarti, Amar Mansouri, and the dance group "Ashtah."
The announcement that Rabat will serve as the capital of African culture under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI was warmly received in the inaugural statement made on his behalf by Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid.
According to him, it "reflects the unique interest that His Majesty pays to the African character of the Kingdom and the significance of fostering links between our nation and our African brothers."
The Minister continued by stating that Rabat's designation as the capital of African culture is a unique opportunity to showcase the vibrant side of ancient African civilization and to draw attention to the close relationships between Africans and Moroccans.
With a worldwide renaissance that blends the most attractive characteristics of uniqueness, modernity, and African cultural variety, Bensaid said it further illuminates the wonderful progress that the city of lights is experiencing as one of the key African and global capitals.
The Minister claims that the celebration of Rabat as the capital of African culture is also a chance to showcase the richness and diversity of African culture, with its tangible and intangible components, through a varied cultural, artistic, and heritage programme that reflects the value of all of Africa.
The Mayor of Rabat, Ms. Asmae Rhlalou, stated that the capital of the Kingdom would be a year-long cultural and artistic destination for Africans, as the celebration's events will last until May 2023 and feature the exhibition of the greatest works in a variety of creative mediums.
The city of Rabat, Rhlalou said, is rich in its varied tangible and intangible cultural legacy, emphasising the significance of the trailblazing royal initiative "Rabat, the capital of lights." The city now has cutting-edge infrastructure thanks to this great initiative, and it is prepared to host important international cultural events.
Fatimou Abdel-Malik, president of United Cities and Local Governments of Africa, claimed that her group is in the forefront of honouring African cultural capitals.
She said that they are working even harder to use culture in African cities as a means of reinforcing a feeling of identity and self-respect.
According to the president of the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa, the organisation takes delight in showcasing the beauty and creativity of Africa, as well as merging the creative industries and artistic pursuits on a global scale to have a good impact on the continent.
Abdel-Malik emphasised that the decision to designate Rabat as the first city to commemorate African culture as the capital is an acknowledgment by the organization's leaders of the efforts it has made to blend authenticity and modernity with openness to the rest of the world. It serves as a platform for everything accomplished in Africa in the areas of creativity, culture, and arts.