Morocco’s Rabat turns open-air gallery at Jidar street art festival
A burst of creativity lit up Rabat as towering walls across the Moroccan capital were transformed into bold, colourful murals at the 10th annual Jidar street art festival 2025. Since its launch in 2015, Jidar (Arabic for “wall”) has grown into a celebrated fixture on the city’s cultural calendar, bringing public art directly to the people and turning the urban landscape into an evolving open-air museum.
Now in its tenth year, the festival welcomed more than 30 artists from eight countries, each contributing to the city’s vibrant works that explored themes of identity, memory, community, and transformation. The artists, hoisted high on cherry pickers and scaffolding, turned blank walls into colossal canvases, some stretching several stories high.
“Even though the festival has official dates, its real impact begins afterwards,” said Jidar director Salaheddine Malouli. “That’s when the public begins engaging with the murals, interpreting them, and making them part of daily life.”
Among the standout participants was Moroccan street artist Oussama Moussaoui, known as Masawi. His mural, splashed in radiant reds and deep purples, paid tribute to Rabat’s nickname, the City of Lights. “From a distance, the letters seem scattered, but if you bring them together, they spell ‘Rabat,’” he explained. “It’s a metaphor for unity in diversity.”
Jidar is more than just a visual spectacle, it’s a platform for community engagement and cultural dialogue. The year’s ten-day festival, which concluded on May 18, included guided walking tours designed to deepen the public’s connection to the art. Participants had the chance to learn about the artists’ backgrounds, techniques, and the deeper meanings behind their work.
Over the past decade, Jidar has left a lasting imprint on Rabat, with more than 100 murals now adorning its neighbourhoods. These pieces have become part of the city’s identity, adding colour and character to everyday commutes and quiet corners.
As Rabat continues to grow as a modern capital, festivals like Jidar are helping to bridge cultures, connect communities, and bring art out of the galleries and onto the streets.
Written by Kweku Sampson
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