In Western Sahara, art is not decoration but defiance. From refugee camps where film festivals replace embassies, to occupied cities where poems and cameras lead to prison, Sahrawi culture has become a frontline of resistance. Through music, poetry, cinema, and the bodies of activists themselves, a stateless people wages a powerful struggle for visibility, memory, and self-determination. Against walls, prisons, and exile, culture becomes both shield and weapon in a war fought with words, images, and sound.
Moroccan rapper Pause Flow is facing criminal prosecution in Sefrou over lyrics from nearly ten songs accused of insulting public officials and an organized body. After arrest and pre-trial detention, his potential release now depends on a high bail. The case has triggered national debate on artistic freedom, with fellow rappers and rights groups warning of rising pressure on critical voices in Morocco’s music scene.
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A young singer in Tangier faced legal consequences after his Eid al-Fitr performance went viral, drawing criticism for content viewed as inappropriate for minors. The Tangier Court of First Instance imposed a suspended prison sentence and a fine. The case demonstrates how social media and local public-morals laws intersect with neighborhood celebrations in Morocco.
Moroccan rapper Hamza Raid became a central figure in the Gen Z protests that swept Morocco in September 2025, demanding education and healthcare reforms. Raid was detained and charged with unauthorized assembly and incitement to protest, drawing wide attention from youth and rights groups. His case highlights the risks artist-activists face and Morocco's tense climate for artistic freedom while authorities pledge order and due process.
Visa For Music 2025 returns to Rabat, Morocco, from November 19–22, celebrating its 12th edition as a premier music market and festival for Africa and the Middle East. Over four days, artists, producers, and industry professionals will connect through live showcases, electro-night performances, and professional forums, fostering collaboration, discovery, and innovation while spotlighting underrepresented talent on a global stage.
Morocco’s Gen Z protests, ignited on September 27, 2025, have become the country’s largest youth-led uprising since the Arab Spring. Sparked by deaths linked to hospital failures, thousands have taken to the streets demanding healthcare, education, and job reforms. Facing violent crackdowns and arrests, young Moroccans are joined by artists and activists, turning creativity into resistance and calling for a new social contract.
Visa For Music (VFM), the premier platform for African and Middle Eastern music, invites professionals to contribute to its 2025 Professional Forum in Rabat, Morocco, from November 19–22. Hosted by ANYA Culture, the forum features showcases, panels, and networking opportunities. Submit proposals for conferences, workshops, or masterclasses by May 25, 2025. Engage with 20,000+ attendees, share expertise, and empower underrepresented music communities
Hoba Hoba Spirit's Rabat concert was indefinitely postponed after backlash from AS FAR football club supporters over frontman Reda Allali’s critical comments. The incident reveals Morocco’s ongoing struggle between artistic freedom and institutional sensitivities. As fans demand accountability, the postponement underscores how cultural expression remains entangled with political red lines—especially when the military or national identity is involved.
In February 2025, Moroccan artist Khadija Tanana became the latest target of state censorship when her artwork, Hand of Fatima, was forcibly removed from the Tetouan Centre of Modern Art.
A first of its kind in the Arab region, the Master’s in Cultural Policy and Cultural Management is a two-year program taught in both Arabic and English. It is hosted by the Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Ben M’sik, at the Hassan II University in Casablanca, Morocco. Culture Resource established this program with Hassan II University and the University of Hildesheim in Germany and its UNESCO Chair for Cultural Policies for Arts in Development as a cooperating partner. The program is supported by the Ford Foundation and the British Council.
