Thijs Borsten & Ahmed El Maai
A musical journey through Northern Morocco with live music, film, and storytelling. Musician Ahmed El Maai and theater maker Thijs Borsten explore centuries-old traditions through encounters with local musicians and communities. Spontaneous, curious, and full of respect. An ode to the power of music to connect people.
In this theatrical performance, musician Ahmed El Maai and pianist and theatre maker Thijs Borsten take the audience on a musical expedition through Northern Morocco. Live music and film footage combine to form one continuous performance. From the narrow alleys of Tangier to the centuries-old medina of Fez, the journey leads past Sufi singers, Andalusian communal singing, ancient rituals, and urban folk culture. In Chefchaouen, they meet singer Khira Afzaz of the Hadra Chaounia. In Larache, they sing with young performers of madih and Sufi sama : spiritual music in which incantation and collective rhythms come together.
