Morocco hosts Azerbaijani cultural showcase at historic Chellah site PHOTO

On April 23 — World Book and Copyright Day — a presentation of the Azerbaijani cultural project Əlifba (“Alphabet”) was held at the Chellah archaeological site in Rabat, the capital of the Kingdom of Morocco.

Chellah, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Morocco’s most significant historical landmarks, served as the evocative venue for the event organised by NARGIS magazine, one of Azerbaijan’s leading media platforms, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

Supported by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture and Azercell Telecom, and facilitated by the Azerbaijani Embassy in Morocco, the event was attended by NARGIS editor-in-chief Ulviyya Mahmud and the magazine’s team.

The ceremony brought together a distinguished audience of around 150 guests, including Moroccan Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family Naima Ben Yahya, Head of the High Authority of Audiovisual Communication Latifa Akharbash, as well as government officials, diplomats, media representatives, NGOs, and members of the Azerbaijani diaspora.

Attendees were introduced to the broad cultural, artistic, and environmental initiatives carried out by NARGIS since 2012 in various countries. Special emphasis was placed on the significance of the Əlifba book project, launched in 2019 on the initiative of Ulviyya Mahmud, which plays a vital role in preserving and promoting Azerbaijan’s rich cultural heritage for future generations.

It was noted that Əlifba has been translated into Arabic and French and has previously been presented in Istanbul, Berlin, and Doha before arriving in Rabat.

The event also featured a vibrant cultural program: Azerbaijani-American pianist and composer Ruslan Agababayev, along with Moroccan musician Mustafa Antari, performed pieces from Azerbaijani and international repertoires. A visual installation titled Welcome to Azerbaijan by artist Rashad Alakbarov was unveiled, and a fashion show of 14 traditional Azerbaijani women’s costumes representing various regions of the country was presented to the sounds of jazz compositions by renowned Azerbaijani pianist Aziza Mustafa Zadeh.

Additionally, the short animated documentary The Story in Letters by Azerbaijani director Mehran Ismayilsoy and screenwriter Agamehdi Abidov was screened, portraying Azerbaijan’s rich culture and history through the lens of its alphabet.

The evening concluded with a tasting of traditional Azerbaijani cuisine.