Algerian Radio
Fourteen Andalusian music associations representing seven wilayas (provinces) will participate in the 12th edition of the National Cultural Festival of Andalusian Music "Sanaa." Organized from July 4 to 9 in Algiers, the festival is held under the theme "In our feast... God gathered our ranks," coinciding with the 64th anniversary of Algérie's Independence and Youth Day.
During a press conference held on Monday at the Palais de la Culture Moufdi Zakaria, the Festival Governor, Ahcène Guida, explained that this national cultural event "is part of the efforts to safeguard the Andalusian musical heritage and preserve its authentic legacy." The program focuses on three main pillars: artistic performances, intellectual activities, and the promotion of the Andalusian musical tradition.
The festival's opening this year coincides with the 64th anniversary of Independence and Youth Day. The opening night will feature a massive artistic performance by the "Grand Orchestre d'Alger de la musique Sanaa," led by Maestro El Hadi Boukoura. This performance will bring together nearly 400 musicians from forty different associations across the country, presenting a diverse program ranging from Nouba and Hawzi to national songs, celebrating national memory and Algerian cultural heritage.
According to the Governor, this edition carries a "symbolic character that bridges the memory of liberation and the memory of creativity," reaffirming the prestigious status of Andalusian music as a core component of Algerian cultural identity.
The artistic evenings at the Palais de la Culture Moufdi Zakaria will feature 14 associations representing seven provinces, including: "El Ouidadia" from Blida, "El Motribia" from Biskra, "El Fekhardjia" from Alger, "Erraunaq El Annabi" from Annaba, "El Kaissaria" from Tipaza, "Naghma" from Béjaïa, "El Kalaa" from Jijel, and "Art et Activité" from Mostaganem. Additionally, eleven artistic figures will be honored for their contributions to preserving this musical genre.
A key highlight of this edition is a study day on July 6 titled "Project for a National Symposium on Algerian Classical Music" (Musique Savante). Supervised by Abdelkader Bendamèche, the session will involve specialists and researchers discussing ways to unify references and improve the mechanisms for safeguarding Algeria's classical musical heritage for future generations.
