Morocco opened the 46th edition of the Assilah International Cultural Moussem on Friday under the High Royal Patronage, paying homage to the late Mohamed Benaïssa, the founder of the festival and a former minister and diplomat.
The ceremony, held at the Prince Bandar Ben Sultan Library in the northern coastal city of Assilah, was marked by an atmosphere of reflection and respect for Benaïssa’s enduring legacy.
The inaugural session, Khaimatu Al Ibdae (Tent of Creativity), included the reading of a royal message of condolences to Benaïssa’s family, highlighting the King’s recognition of his contributions to Moroccan cultural diplomacy.
Hatim Betioui, the new Secretary General of the Assilah Forum Foundation, described Benaïssa as “a Moroccan and an Arab with a humanist outlook,” whose vision had grown into “a fruitful tree, whose branches extend to the East, West, North, and South.”
Betioui assured that the Foundation would continue the 2025 program as planned, honoring Benaïssa’s foresight and enduring influence.
The Moussem brings together more than 350 figures from diplomacy, the arts, media, and intellectual circles.
Tarik Ghailan, Benaïssa’s successor as head of the Assilah Municipal Council, lauded the late founder for transforming Assilah into “a window open to the world,” emphasizing his commitment to dialogue, tolerance, and cultural openness.
International tributes included a video message from former Senegalese President Macky Sall, who described Benaïssa as “a tireless servant of culture” and a diplomat fostering links between peoples and civilizations.
Former Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio highlighted his ability to embody “continuity and modernity, tradition and openness,” while Moroccan Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi praised Benaïssa’s teachings, noting that “justice is also a culture.”
The 46th Moussem, running until October 12, features conferences on the Moroccan Atlantic Initiative, symposia on visual arts, tributes to pioneering Moroccan artists, and the presentation of the Félix Tchicaya U’Tamsi Prize for African Poetry. Workshops in painting, engraving, and lithography, along with exhibitions and a publications fair, reinforce Assilah’s role as a crossroads of culture and creativity.
By honoring its founder while presenting a forward-looking program, the Moussem continues to serve as a hub for universal dialogue and a beacon of Morocco’s cultural heritage.
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