Visit the souk, sample tantalizing dishes, enjoy traditional songs, and take a special tour of artworks that express the interfaith themes and traditions of the Mimouna festival — a special time when Moroccan Jews and Muslims break bread together! The festival marks the end of Passover and the advent of spring, and is based on Moroccan narratives of unity, commemoration, goodwill, and friendship.
Join musicians: NOAM YEKUTIEL SIBONY and ISMAIL BOUZIDOUNE, for this year’s interfaith musical collaboration focused on Chaabi, Andalusi, and Gnawa music styles that reflect some of Morocco’s cultural diversity. Both artists hail from musical families of Casablanca, Morocco.
Chaabi music comes from the Berber-speaking tribes of northern Morrocco, and true to its name meaning “of the people,” it is enjoyed by diverse communities across the country. Gnawa music originates with the Gnawi people who have ancient roots in sub-Saharan Africa, while Andalusi music was originally developed in al-Andalus/Muslim Spain and is exemplified by traditional Sephardic/Moroccan Jewish music.
Presented in partnership with the Sephardic Heritage International DC (SHIN DC), the Multicultural Jewish Arts Museum (MJAM, a project of SHIN-DC), and the DC Commission of the Arts and Humanities.
The Global Religions of Africa Initiative at the National Museum of African Art is generously supported by Lilly Endowment Inc.
