The historic Bahia Palace in Marrakech, Morocco, hosted the closing ceremony of the year-long celebration of Marrakech as a Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2024. Held under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, the Celebration featured numerous cultural programs and activities organized in cooperation between ICESCO, the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, and various other Moroccan institutions. This initiative was part of ICESCO’s Capitals of Culture in the Islamic World program.

The Event, organized by the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication in collaboration with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and Barid Al-Maghrib (Morocco Post Group), took place on Sunday evening, 8 December 2024, and included the launch of a commemorative stamp to honor this occasion.

The Ceremony, attended by several Moroccan high-ranking officials and cultural figures, opened with an address by Mr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication. He emphasized that the designation of Marrakech as a Culture Capital in the Islamic World underscores the City’s cultural prominence both nationally and internationally, attributing the Event’s success to the collective efforts of all stakeholders.

In his remarks, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, affirmed that although the celebrations had concluded, Marrakech would remain a beacon of culture in the Islamic world. Over the past year, the City had captivated all with its cultural vibrancy through the organization of more than 250 diverse and meticulously executed activities. These events began with the distillation of orange blossom water in the “Zahriyet Marrakech” (Marrakech Orange Blossom Festival) and concluded with the issuance of a commemorative stamp marking ICESCO’s celebration of the city as a Culture Capital in the Islamic world.

Dr. AlMalik expressed gratitude to all institutions and stakeholders who contributed to the success of the festivities, particularly the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, the Marrakech Municipality, the Marrakech-Safi Region, and ICESCO’s dedicated team. He concluded his remarks by reciting a poem he composed for the occasion, titled “Marrakech: The Balm of Memory.”

Mr. Amine Benjelloun Touimi, Director-General of Barid Al-Maghrib, highlighted the significance of the commemorative stamp in showcasing Marrakech’s pioneering role in preserving Moroccan cultural heritage. He noted that the stamp’s design reflects the city’s status as a symbol of cultural and civilizational diversity and detailed its artistic elements, which encapsulate the essence of Marrakech.

Following the speeches, Dr. AlMalik, accompanied by Mr. Bensaid and Mr. Touimi, unveiled the design of the commemorative stamp. The Ceremony concluded with a tour of the art exhibitions currently hosted at Bahia Palace.