A collective exhibition entitled “Moussem Belgique - Histoires à travers les frontiers” kicked off at the “Galerie d'art contemporain Mohamed Drissi” in Tangiers centre on Friday 4 October 2024, marking a series of cultural and artistic events commemorating the 60th anniversary to the signing of the Morocco-Belgium bilateral labour agreement.
The exhibition, organised by the Brussels art centre Moussem in partnership with artists, writers and filmmakers from the Moroccan community, celebrates the strong ties between Belgium and Morocco through an exploration of migration and cultural creation.
The President of the Council for the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME), Mr. Driss El Yazami, told the Moroccan Press Agency (MAP) that the Council pays special attention to cultural issues in its relationship with Moroccan communities living abroad, saying culture is a key element in strengthening ties with Moroccans abroad and in helping to renew and enrich them.
Mr El Yazami, added that the Moroccan novels written in several languages and the works of young creators contribute to enriching the literature of their host countries and expanding the cultural horizon of Morocco, adding that the event's celebration of this literary diversity helps to recall the history of Moroccan migration, while at the same time looking to the future.
After emphasizing the opportunities for young people in Morocco and the diaspora, he underlined the diversity within the migration, explaining that each migrant has a unique story, and that is exactly what this exhibition is all about, because the creations of Moroccans the world, are a mixture of many personal stories, each of which is a real treasure.
Mohamed Elkuban, director of the Centre nomade des Arts and co-curator of the exhibition, told MAP that the main aim of the Belgium Season is to highlight the stages in the development of the Moroccan community abroad, particularly in Belgium, and the important cultural and artistic roles played by immigrants, not only in the host country, but also in Morocco.
“These artists are taking part in the making of another, broader Moroccan scene, by drawing inspiration not only from their own origins but also from the contexts of their host countries, creating a new art and identity that is Belgian-Moroccan”. Mr El Yazami also pointed out that this event shows the importance of translating the literature of Moroccan writers throughout the world by contributing to it and making it available to Moroccan readers, He added that these artists are helping to enrich the Moroccan cultural scene by giving it the opportunity to open up to new influences, mixing their roots with inspiration drawn from the host countries, thus creating a new art form with a new Belgian-Moroccan identity.
Organised with the support of the Government of Flanders, the Flemish Community Committee (VGC), the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME), the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, and the Forum of Belgian Alumni in Morocco, the event will be moving from Tangiers to the city of Oujda the 25th October 2024.
On February 17, 1964, Belgium and Morocco signed an agreement on the recruitment of Moroccan workers. This was an important event as Moroccan immigrants arrived in Belgium to contribute to the country's economic prosperity.
(with MAP)
