Brahim El Mazned (born December 31, 1967, in Essaouira, Morocco) is a renowned Moroccan cultural manager, festival director, and champion of African and Amazigh music and heritage. A visionary in the world music scene, he has dedicated his career to promoting Moroccan and African cultures globally. El Mazned is the founding director
From Local Cultural Promoter to Global Champion
A passionate advocate for African music and intangible heritage, Brahim El Mazned’s roots run deep in the cultural traditions of his Amazigh identity. His dedication to preserving local musical traditions—especially Aïta and Rrways—led to the founding of the Atlas Azawan Association and the production of numerous musical recordings through Anya.
In 2004, he launched the Timitar Festival, which has since grown into one of Morocco’s largest cultural events, drawing more than 300,000 attendees annually and serving as a global showcase for Moroccan music.
El Mazned’s influence extends far beyond Morocco. He has worked on cultural development projects in France, Spain, Lebanon, and Brazil, among others, and has been recognized in Les Aventuriers de la Culture as one of the top 100 leaders in sustainable cultural development. He was also listed among the “100 people who move and promote Morocco” by TelQuel magazine and profiled in the book Those Who Inspire—Morocco as an influential figure in the Moroccan cultural sector.
From 2019 to 2022, he was part of the EU/UNESCO Expertise Bank, promoting the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. He is currently a member of leading cultural networks including AFRIMA, Arts Connect Africa (ACA), and the Global Music Market Network (GloMMNet). In 2016, he established MoMEx—Morocco’s official music export office—to further promote Moroccan artists on the global stage.
