Where: Koninklijke Schouwburg
Den Haag
2511 VA
Netherlands
Amsterdam
What: Marmoucha Orchestra @ Koninklijke Schouwburg
When:
On Saturday, 17 January, we celebrate the Amazigh New Year – Yennayer 2976 – at the Royal Theatre (Koninklijke Schouwburg) in The Hague. A festive gathering for everyone who wants to experience, feel and share the richness of Amazigh traditions. Music, stories, rituals and humor come together as we welcome the new year, honour our history and celebrate the future. Yennayer is a new beginning!
This year we welcome artists who are not only major names in the Amazigh world, but who each bring their own distinctive voice. Together, they tell the story of a people whose lives stretch across the Atlas Mountains, the Mediterranean coast and the vast plains of Souss.
Arrive early—because the celebration starts the moment you step inside! Meet one another on the Amazigh square, filled with traditional jewelry and crafts, books in Tamazight and about Amazigh history, authentic dishes and snacks, live music and moments of connection.
Aziz Ozouss & Marmoucha Orchestra: a magical encounter
When Aziz Ozouss and the Marmoucha Orchestra come together, something special happens. From his hometown Biougra in southern Morocco, Ozouss brings the music and poetry of Amazigh tradition: the ribab, the rhythms and the melodies that echo between villages and mountains. The Marmoucha Orchestra receives these sounds and gently transforms them into new musical landscapes, with love and deep respect for tradition. Their collaboration feels like a dialogue between old and new, memory and renewal. The result is a sound that feels familiar yet continually surprising—honouring traditions while opening new pathways.
In celebration of Yennayer 2976, the Amazigh New Year, Aziz Ozouss and the Marmoucha Orchestra take the audience on a journey through southern Morocco, full of rhythm, emotion and freedom.
Izedine Al Hoceima – Rif
Izedine Al Hoceima, also known as Izzedine El Hoceima, comes from the city of Al Hoceima in the Rif. He brings izran, a traditional form of Riffian poetry and song, to life. His music centres on emotions and stories from everyday life. During his performance, Izedine is accompanied by several musicians from the Marmoucha Orchestra, giving the izran an even greater expressive power.
This appearance marks his first journey to Europe, where he will share his music with the Amazigh diaspora and new listeners eager to discover the rich traditions of the Rif.
Mohamed Mabrouk – melodies from Aknoul
Mabrouk embodies the calm, warmth and melancholy of Rif music. In 2026, he will take to a European stage for the first time—right here in The Hague.
Badr Ouabi – Atlas region (closing act)
Badr Ouabi is a Moroccan singer from the Atlas region, known for his masterful command of traditional Atlas music and his energetic performances. He is widely regarded as one of Morocco’s greatest talents.
For this Dutch debut, he will be accompanied by members of the Marmoucha Orchestra. As the final act of this concert series, Badr offers the audience a powerful live experience in which the rich musical traditions of the Atlas truly shine.
Mimoun & Mimouna – Humor everyone recognizes
Their sketches and stories connect generations—with humor, nostalgia and familiar moments drawn from everyday Amazigh family life.
The Amazigh New Year’s Concert is supported by the AFK (Amsterdam Fund for the Arts) and by FPK (Fonds Podiumkunsten).
How Much:
www.bandsintown.com InStockDen Haag
2511 VA
Netherlands
Who: Marmoucha Orchestra
Classical
Marmoucha Orchestra is een powerhouse in muzikale diversiteit: een ensemble van topmuzikanten die moderne stijlen combineren met een veelvoud aan muzikale tradities uit Zuidwest-Azie en Noord-Afrika (de SWANA-regio). Onder leiding van artistiek leider Arin Keshishi brengen zij composities die traditie zowel respecteert als vernieuwt. Met talloze succesvolle projecten heeft het orkest een eigen, herkenbare klank ontwikkeld die wereldwijd de aandacht trekt.