The Minister of Culture and Sports, Patricia del Pozo, inaugurated the third edition of the ‘Soul of Cultures’ Festival in the Moroccan city of Essaouira. The event is organized by the Three Cultures of the Mediterranean Foundation and the Kadiriya Brotherhood of Essaouira (Association Jeunes de l’Art Authentique), in collaboration with the Machado Foundation and with the support of the Spanish Embassy in Morocco.
During her speech, the Minister and co-president of the Three Cultures Foundation emphasized the power of culture to create spaces for meeting, dialogue, understanding, and peaceful coexistence, stating that it is essential for future generations and those facing a confusing and extremely complex present.
Del Pozo highlighted the importance of these spaces in building on what unites us rather than what separates us, drawing from the centuries of cultural blending and universal values in Andalusia. She explained that Andalusia has been a result of mixing cultures and carrying universal values that are never exclusive.
She emphasized the significance of this gathering, which offers «a journey to the heart of our traditions, guided by the best spiritual leaders from Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities, as well as numerous experts in craftsmanship and academics, in a celebration of diversity through dialogue and harmony.»
In a similar vein, André Azoulay, advisor to the King of Morocco and co-president of the Three Cultures Foundation, highlighted the necessity of this festival and the message it conveys to the world in favor of peaceful coexistence. He encouraged all attendees to spread this powerful message beyond Essaouira to educate others. «We are confident in what we have achieved, and the world needs to know,» he stated regarding the moments of unity and shared spirituality among people of different backgrounds and religions at the festival.
The Spanish Ambassador to Morocco, Enrique Ojeda, explained that «this festival reminds us that spiritual and artistic traditions can and should be an antidote to conflicts.» He expressed gratitude for «the extraordinary role of the Andalusian Regional Government, for all that Andalusia does and builds in the relationship between Spain and Morocco.»
Panel dedicated to craftsmanship
Following this, an insightful panel of experts focused on craftsmanship as a living legacy and a vehicle for knowledge transmission. The panel included experts in traditional crafts and heritage from Andalusia and Essaouira, moderated by Moha Er Rich, Director of Heritage Conservation, Innovation, and Promotion at the Ministry of Crafts in Morocco.
The first speaker was Sevillian José de León, an expert in sumptuary arts, curator, disseminator, and creator of the podcasts ‘Sacra Conversazione’ and ‘This Is Macarena’, who highlighted the similarities and common roots among different artisanal traditions.
He pointed out that «Holy Week in Seville, and Andalusia in general, is different from the rest of Spain due to the refinement and sumptuousness of its processions and artifacts. This authenticity stems from the Andalusian legacy that still defines the idiosyncrasy of the people, satisfying their aesthetic sense with sophisticated, complex, and luxurious works.» He added, «Just like in Muslim buildings, the decoration for Holy Week is not an accessory but the essence that completes the work, providing it with vision, identity, and meaning.»
Regarding the confraternity crafts, he noted that they constitute «a transversal heritage that connects us with the entire Mediterranean culture, which the Islam brought and introduced to the peninsula for over five centuries. Many of the works treasured by the brotherhoods owe their philosophical foundation, morphological motifs, and composition to the sumptuous arts cultivated by the Umayyads, consolidated during the taifas period, and remained prominent until the Almohads. We also owe their techniques, such as gold embroidery and silversmithing.»
Francisco Carrera ‘Paquili’, President of the Sevillian Guild Association of Sacred Art, argued that «craftsmanship is a hallmark of identity and a fundamental culture for understanding a country.» He emphasized that «artists and artisans pass on a centuries-old legacy, creating art, wealth, culture, identity, and heritage,» adding that «Seville is an artistic reference because it has managed to maintain these traditions and project them towards new horizons. Seville is the capital of the world of sacred art.»
From the Moroccan side, participants included Youssef Jeddi, a designer and creator in Moroccan artistic craftsmanship, specializing in thuya wood and serving as the chairman of the board of the union of marquetry cooperatives in thuya wood from Essaouira; Abdelhafid Essabi, a master jeweler and president of the union of cooperatives of the integrated craft complex ARGANA; and Abdeljalil Bassis, a master jeweler and bearer of the torch for the ‘Treasures of traditional Moroccan arts’.
Subsequently, participants had the opportunity to witness the work of Essaouira artisans up close during visits to several workshops. Additionally, on the previous day, the Panda de Verdiales Santo Pitar de Málaga paraded through the streets of the Moroccan city on Friday afternoon, joining the groups representing various zaouias in an atmosphere of shared spirituality and celebration.