Khouribga: Rues Art street festival honours breakdance champion Bilal Mallakh

The 8th edition of the Rues Art festival closed on Sunday, October 25, in Khouribga, after two days of performances. It had opened on Saturday at Place des Moudjahidine, turning the city’s public spaces into open-air stages.

Three figures were honoured during the opening ceremony: the artists “El Massih El Marrakchi” and Abdelilah Amal, along with Bilal Mallakh, known as Billy, a Khouribga-born breakdance world champion. The tributes recognised their careers and their contribution to the cultural scene, both locally and abroad.

The festival was organised by the Association “Ibdaa pour le théâtre d’expression corporelle et les arts de la rue” under the slogan “Nos rues, source d’art” (“Our streets, a source of art”). According to the organisers, the main goal is to bring culture closer to residents and turn public space into a meeting point for artistic exchange.

Moroccan and foreign artists took part in a programme that placed contemporary urban expression alongside popular heritage. The organisers described this mix as a way to encourage dialogue between generations and promote intangible heritage.

Open meetings with guest artists were also held, giving audiences a chance to discuss their experiences and the current state and future of street arts.

This year’s edition received support from the culture department, the OCP Group and the municipal council, in partnership with the Act4Community programme.