The President of the 42nd session of UNESCO’s General Conference, Ambassador Simona-Mirela Miculescu, visited Tangier late April to participate in the 13th annual International Jazz Day, as the festival returned to the African continent for the first time in 13 years, UNESCO’s official website announced on Monday.
Featuring an All-Star Global Concert, the celebration highlighted jazz as a tool for peace, diversity, and intercultural dialogue.
In her opening remarks at the concert, Ambassador Miculescu recognized the role of jazz in fostering global cooperation and mutual understanding. “Jazz is more than music. It is a universal language that connects people from all backgrounds, promoting peace and equality,” she said.
Since UNESCO’s declaration in 2011, International Jazz Day has grown to be a global event. Under the direction of UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, the occasion celebrates jazz and its rich history while gathering communities, educational institutions, and musicians from more than 190 nations.
Renowned jazz pianist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock and Music Director John Beasley led the all-star roster, which featured performances by well-known musicians such as guitarist Romero Lubambo, bassist Marcus Miller, singer Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Moroccan Gnawa maestro Abdellah El Gourd.
Highlights included Dee Dee Bridgewater’s stirring performance of Chick Corea’s “Spain” and Jazzmeia Horn’s dynamic rendition of “Free Your Mind.”
Renowned actor Jeremy Irons gave a stunning performance at Tangier’s recently opened Palace of Arts and Culture to close out this year’s festivities.
The concert also paid tribute to the cultural connections between Morocco and Spain, with a special performance of Randy Weston’s “Blue Moses” by TK Blue and Abdellah El Gourd.
On other stops during her visit, Ambassador Miculescu met with Eric Falt, Director of UNESCO’s multi-country office in Rabat, to discuss ongoing initiatives in the Maghreb region. She commended UNESCO’s work in Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, and Tunisia, particularly in the areas of education, cultural preservation, and intercultural dialogue.
The ambassador also attended a Zellige (traditional tilework) workshop given by master artisan El Messal Mohammed during her visit to Tetouan city in northern Morocco.
Morocco’s Ministry of Tourism, Crafts, and Social Economy collaborated with UNESCO on the tour as part of a project to preserve traditional handicrafts and guarantee that such artisanal skills be handed down to future generations.