“Africa has promising artistic and creative talents in which we must invest to lay the foundations for a flourishing cultural and creative industry,” said the Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, opening Friday of the 8th edition of the MOCA festival, at the Villa des Arts in Rabat.
“This event will allow us to discuss several important subjects, including respect for copyright, on which Morocco has worked enormously, today having an entity such as the Moroccan Copyright Office and Neighboring Rights (BDA) and a wealth of experience that he is ready to share with other African countries”, underlined Bensaid.
Furthermore, the Minister noted the need to support all initiatives aimed at protecting and promoting respect for authors’ and creators’ rights.
Art and creativity contribute to the GDP and the influence of countries in the world, as a real lever of regional and international influence, he added, explaining that working on the development of the cultural economy will have a tangible impact on per capita income in African countries and on the social conditions of their inhabitants.
For his part, the founder of the MOCA festival, Alain Bidjeck, said that this festival was born in Paris with the aim of “questioning, exchanging and promoting African culture” by establishing a bridge with the continent and by weaving links with the heads of festivals, institutions and artists.
“African and Afro-descendant creators have the particularity of being entrepreneurs”, he observed, attesting that the challenges posed by the African cultural scene call them to excel and innovate.
“During these two days, we will see how we can protect the + Made in Africa +, how it is defended from the political and institutional point of view and how it is articulated from the point of view of the creators”, he added. .
The director of the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Abdelaziz El Idrissi, for his part, noted the prominent place given to Africa in the programming of the Mohammed VI Museum and other museum establishments, underlining at the same time the Morocco’s interest in promoting the continent and its influence.
For his part, Jean-Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General of UCLG Africa (United Cities and Local Governments of Africa) and President of the African Capitals of Culture, lamented that “culture was the great forgotten in the development of our territories”. , noting that culture must be recognized as “the fourth pillar of sustainable development”.
In addition, Mbassi pleaded for “a renewal of African culture”, noting that Morocco is the best standard bearer for this initiative, given the commitment of King Mohammed VI to the promotion of culture and culture. ‘Africa.
Organized from May 18 to 21 in Rabat, the 8th edition of the MOCA festival is held under the High Patronage of King Mohammed VI, in partnership with the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA), the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the city of Rabat as well as the Federation of Cultural and Creative Industries of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), the Hiba and Al Mada Foundations, with the support of the President of the National Museums Foundation, Mehdi Qutbi.
