It was one of the first festivals I “stumbed” upon when I moved to Morocco back in 2011. Street performers, musicians and marionettes shut down Marrakech’s busy Avenue Mohamed V as they danced and paraded through the streets to launch Awaln’Art, a festival that features international artists performing in public places. Since then I’ve stumbled upon and looked forward to the consecutive editions.

What I love about the festival is that all performances seem spontaneous, yet engage the local audiences. As the international artists take to the streets, expect the unexpected.

Tonight Mafia Urbain kicked off the four-day long festival in Marrakech with drumming through Jemaa el Fna, engaging the locals along the way, including some of the regular performers in the famous square.

Other events to check out:
Thursday 23 April
Fine, street performance at 5:30 p.m. in Jemaa el Fna
La Rencontre, a circus featuring an acrobatic troupe, 6 p.m. in Jemaa el Fna
Hakanai, performance art at 9:30 p.m. at the Institute Francais

Friday 24 April
Incognito, contemporary dance in the Marrakech Plaza (where Zara and McDonald’s are located) at 6 p.m.
M’appelle Mohamed Ali, theatre piece telling the reality of Africans – the victories and the defeats, resistance. Sounds intriguing. Starts at 20h30 at the Institute Francais

Saturday 25 April
Incognito, contemporary dance performance at 12 p.m. in the Parc Moulay Abdeslam (also known as the Cyber Park)
Heures seculaires, circus performance at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Taxi conteur et Abdon Kaf featuring storytellers from the Ivory Coast, Congo and Morocco at 4 p.m. in front of the Banque al Maghreb
£-Kala, bicycle theatre at 6 p.m. in front of the Banque al Maghreb

Sunday 26 April
Le Braquemard #1, circus in the magical setting of Agafay Desert at Terres des etoiles.  Starts at 5 p.m. and sounds fabulous!

Programmes are available around town and more information is available at awalnart.com.