In a region celebrated for its vibrant diaspora, the Al Hoceïma Cultural Days are poised to become an annual tradition. This festival aims to pay tribute to a diverse community across generations, while shedding light on a migratory story deeply entwined with its roots. With a mission to forge connections between citizens both locally and globally, the inaugural event is set for September 22 and 23, under the theme «When Culture Becomes the Memory of Diasporas». Organized by the Miramar Association for Culture and Sustainable Development, this year's spotlight is on Belgium, commemorating six decades of Moroccan immigration (1964–2024). The organizers explained to Yabiladi that the event seeks to honor «the journeys, struggles, and contributions of Moroccans living in Europe». A key feature will be the exhibition «Belgica Biladi: A Belgian-Moroccan Story», which aims to celebrate «the journeys, stories, and contributions of Moroccans worldwide», while providing «a platform for sharing, creativity, and reflection on migration, identity, and memory». Ultimately, the event aims to highlight the host region. The first day will include a guided tour of the mausoleum of Sidi Chaïb Ouneftah (Temsamane), a significant site of collective memory, closely tied to the oral, musical, and ritual traditions of the eastern Rif. This site is also linked to women's singing traditions and community gatherings, serving as a vital space for the intergenerational transmission of Izran. Following the opening of the «Belgica Biladi: A Belgian-Moroccan Story» exhibition at Mohamed VI Square, a conference-debate titled «Rif and Migrations» will merge academic research with collective experiences. Esteemed scholars such as Mustapha Azizi, Mimoun Aziza, Hassan Bousetta, Abdellatif Maaroufi, and Latif Mortajine, president of the Khamsa Solidaire Association, will contribute to the discussion. On Tuesday, September 23, literary meetings will seek to «commemorate immigration» through «a moment of sharing around the stories, collective memory, and writing journeys» of authors from the Belgian diaspora. Participants include Hassan Bousetta, author of «Between Two Shores», Souad Fila, a contributor to the short story collection «J'ai deux amours», Mohamed Ikoubaan, director of the Moussem Nomadic Arts Center, and Ahmed Medhoune, general curator of the Belgica Biladi exhibition and department director at the Free University of Brussels (ULB). In the panel «Women's Literature: Living the World and Writing the Rif», Souad Fila will join authors Laila Karrouch and Rachida Lamrabet. The management committee includes Fatiha Saïdi as general coordinator, Mustafa Boulharrak, president of the Al Maghreb Association of Moroccan Migrants in the Balearic Islands, Samir El Mokaddam, president of the Rif Association for Press and Media, and Ahmed L'Mourabiti, president of the Miramar Association. The event receives financial and logistical support from Moroccan institutional and cultural partners, including the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME), the province of Al Hoceïma, the commune of Al Hoceïma, the provincial direction of culture of Al Hoceïma, and the Miramar Association.
