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Morocco World
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Morocco World
FNAP 2025 Opens Doors to Celebration of Morocco's Musical Soul
Marrakech – As the first rhythms echoed across the ancient stones of El Badi Palace this Friday night, it became immediately clear that this wasn't just another festival , it was the heartbeat keeping Moroccan musical heritage alive. The opening night of the 54th Festival National des Arts Populaires (FNAP) marked the beginning of a five-day celebration of Moroccan heritage and a revival of the soul of the nation. Under the theme 'Patrimoines immatériels en mouvement' (Intangible cultural heritage in motion), this year's edition bridges ancestral memory with modern-times. Organized by Association Le Grand Atlas in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, FNAP 2025 brings together over 750 artists from across Morocco and beyond, including a special performance by a visiting troupe from China. In a show of cross-cultural appreciation, the night included a visiting musical group from China. The night began with Arabic poetry. As the Moroccan national anthem played, the audience rose in unison, then softly broke into 'Sla wa slam A'la Rassol Allah,' echoing like a sacred refrain across the historic palace. Soon after, the Chinese dragon dance swept across the stage, a gesture of friendship and intercultural dialogue. But when the Moroccan troupes took over; Ahidous, Ahouach, Reggada, Guedra, Mizane, Gnaoua , the palace trembled with life. Each performance brought more than dance or music. They told stories of love, loss, war, harvest, resistance, migration, and rebirth. Each performance was a ship taking us to the region that music came from. It was the Reggada (traditional dance troupe) of Oujda that sent feet flying. An Ahwash (traditional Amazigh music) group from Tafraoute followed as a unified moving body of rhythm and chants, followed by a local Gnaoua group from Marrakech that shook the ground with chants and the sound of krakebs that felt like spells. From the melodic yells of Amazigh group Aouad Ait Baamrane to the romantic ballads of Tisset Tata, every performance was a window into a distinct cultural world. The Aabidat R'ma of Oued Zem group had the crowd clapping and laughing uncontrollably, mixing music with comic relief and audience participation in a way only they know how. The night also included heartfelt tributes. Cultural icons such as Rokiya Al Gadir, Abdessamad Leguessiss, and the leader of Ahwash Tissent Tata were honored on stage. The applause that followed felt less like celebration and more like collective gratitude. From the seats of El Badi, one could see the past and present collide in real time. Young people danced beside elders, tourists smiled in awe, famous figures such as singer Fouad Zbadi and Actor Abdellah Farkouss witnessed their culture prevail in front of their eyes, and artists stood tall in their traditional garb. Their heritage on full display, not in a museum, but in motion. As the night unfolded, the opening ceremony of FNAP 54th edition revealed itself as a living, breathing portrait of Morocco – a celebration of rhythm, memory, and rich culture. Tags: Ahwashcultural musicFNAP 2025GnaouaMarrakechOujda ReggadaTafroute
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Signs of hearing loss experts say you might not know — free tests available in March
BLAIR COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — March 3 is recognized as World Hearing Day, and if you didn't know, hearing is considered the fastest sense — helping you stay aware of your surroundings and connect to the world around you. 'There are just as many people under 50 with hearing loss, that there are over 50 with hearing loss,' Dr. Tom Tedeschi, Au.D.,FNAP, and Chief Audiology Officer of Miracle-Ear said. The Miracle-Ear Foundation provides hearing aids for free, for people who would otherwise not be able to afford them. Tedeschi said there are several signs of hearing loss that people should be aware of. Some of them include: Frequently Asking Others to Repeat Themselves Turning Up the Volume Withdrawal from Social Situations 'Probably one of the most common ones is difficulty hearing in restaurants or in crowded places. You'll start to notice that you have these issues in these situations. Also ringing in the ears. You know, if you go to a concert or you go to a loud place with a lot of noise, if you notice that your ears start to ring or your ears are ringing after that exposure, that means you're doing damage to your ears,' he said. However, loud noise isn't the only contributing factor to hearing loss. Overall health also has a stake in it. 'Individuals who have diabetes, they are more susceptible to hearing loss, heart disease, circulatory problems. These are all issues that can affect hearing. The inner ear is the smallest blood supply organ in our bodies. And so as we have these circulatory issues we have, you know, heart disease or diabetes, these things affect the inner ear and cause hearing loss,' Tedeschi noted. Approximately 15% of American adults (37.5 million) ages 18 and over report some trouble hearing, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. The CDC also has tips for preventing noise-induced hearing loss. 'Hearing is a precious sense that we have. And it's one of the few senses that as we lose it, we can't replace it. Only with a hearing aid can help it. So guard your hearing very carefully, because once you lose it, it doesn't come back.' Throughout March, Miracle-Ear is also working to test the nation with its free hearing evaluation. The organization offers free hearing evaluations online and in-store for anyone who thinks they may be experiencing hearing loss. There are over 1,500 Miracle-Ear locations nationwide. Click here to find one near you. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
