Artists brought vibrancy to Rabat, Morocco, by adorning several of its walls with murals as part of a street art festival.
The yearly festival that took place earlier this month is called Jidar, which means “wall” in Arabic.
Over thirty artists hailing from eight different nations brought their artwork to life in the heart of Marrakech, Morocco. Since its inception in 2015, the Jidar festival has sought to make art more accessible to everyone by incorporating it directly into communal areas around the city.
“Even after the official end date, the festival remains alive. In fact, once the event concludes, genuine engagement starts between individuals and the art pieces,” stated Salaheddine Malouli, who leads the Jidar festival.
The artists were raised using cherry picker lifts alongside their materials to access the tops of the walls, serving as their empty canvases.
The Moroccan street artist known as Masawi, whose real name is Oussama Moussaoui, created a mural featuring hues of red and vivid purples.
“Moussaoui explained that this mural represents Rabat, known as the City of Lights. From a distance, the letters seem randomly placed, yet when collected and organized, they spell out ‘Rabat,’ ” he stated.
Over 100 murals have been created on the walls of Rabat throughout the decade that the city has held the festival this year. The event, which ran for ten days concluding on May 18, included guided tours allowing visitors to explore these artworks and learn about the artists’ creations.
