On May 17, the city of Fez will once again host its annual Forum, held in parallel with the World Sacred Music Festival. This year’s event is centered around a bold and timely theme: “Renaissances.” The goal is to explore how tradition, contemporary creativity, and cutting-edge technology intersect to shape new cultural and spiritual paradigms.
Now in its 28th edition, the Forum has become a hub for intellectual dialogue, bringing together scholars, academics, and public officials to reflect on issues that sit at the crossroads of science and culture. The program will unfold in two main parts, each offering a unique perspective on the concept of renewal.
The first segment will focus on how African and Mediterranean societies are reimagining their cultural heritage to inspire a modern revival. Esteemed academics Jillali El Adnani and Youssef Bokbot, both experts in African civilizations, will lead discussions on how these regions are drawing from the past to forge new cultural and spiritual paths.
The second session will delve into the impact of digital innovation, with a spotlight on artificial intelligence and its potential contributions to the cultural sector. Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, who oversees the government’s digital transition efforts, will speak alongside Mohammed Benlahsen, president of the University of Picardy Jules Verne, about the promises and challenges of integrating AI into cultural development.
For Driss Khrouz, the Forum’s director, the event is more than an intellectual gathering—it’s a way to echo and deepen the themes of the broader festival. This year’s focus, he explains, is an invitation to reexamine our cultural roots in order to imagine more inclusive and sustainable societies.
With this year’s edition, Fez continues to assert its unique identity as a city where spirituality, critical thinking, and innovation are not only preserved but also pushed forward in bold new ways.
