Asilah Murals | Asilah

The Asilah Murals are a defining feature of the coastal town of Asilah, Morocco, and one of its most celebrated artistic and cultural elements. These murals transform the town’s whitewashed medina walls into a living canvas, attracting artists, travelers, and art lovers from around the world. Here's a detailed exploration of this unique phenomenon:

1. Origin and Historical Context

The mural tradition in Asilah began in 1978 as part of the Asilah International Cultural Moussem, a festival created by Mohamed Benaïssa (a native of Asilah and former Moroccan Minister of Culture) and Mehdi Qotbi, a prominent Moroccan artist.

The town had fallen into disrepair, and the idea was to use art and culture as a tool for urban renewal, economic development, and international engagement.

The first festival invited artists from around the world to paint murals directly onto the walls of the medina, revitalizing the space with color and imagination.

2. What Makes the Murals Unique

Temporary by design: One of the most distinctive aspects of the Asilah murals is that they are not permanent. Each year, many of the previous murals are whitewashed, and new ones are created. This cyclical process ensures the medina remains a living, evolving gallery.

Global and local fusion: Artists from Morocco, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Asia participate. Their works reflect a wide range of styles—abstract, figurative, symbolic, geometric, and more—while often incorporating elements of Moroccan culture, calligraphy, and folklore.

Public engagement: The murals are created in public view, making the act of painting itself a performance. Residents and visitors watch and interact with the artists, turning the whole medina into a dynamic, open-air workshop.

3. Visual and Cultural Impact

The murals bring an incredible burst of color and creativity to the white-and-blue walls of the old town. Narrow streets become gallery corridors, and every turn offers a surprise—a surreal portrait, a poetic calligraphic inscription, or a dreamy landscape.

These murals have transformed Asilah into one of the most visually unique towns in North Africa.

Many of the murals include Arabic calligraphy, Amazigh motifs, or references to Sufi poetry, blending tradition with contemporary vision.

4. Asilah International Cultural Moussem

The murals are part of a broader month-long festival held annually in July and August.

In addition to mural painting, the Moussem features:

Art exhibitions

Music concerts (classical, jazz, Moroccan, African, and more)

Literary and philosophical symposia

Workshops for children

Urban design and restoration projects

The festival has helped make Asilah a model for how culture can lead urban revitalization and foster international exchange.

5. Art and Preservation

Though murals are often replaced annually, some are preserved longer depending on public demand and the work’s significance.

The program also supports restoration of the medina’s architecture, maintaining the integrity of Asilah’s historic environment even as it evolves artistically.

Through cultural investment, Asilah avoided the fate of many decaying medinas, becoming instead a hub for cultural tourism and creative collaboration.

6. Visitor Experience

Walking through the medina feels like exploring a curated outdoor museum, but with the added intimacy of local life—children playing, vendors selling mint tea, cats lounging in alleyways.

Photography is welcomed and encouraged, and the murals change from year to year, so returning visitors always find something new.

Art lovers often time their visits to coincide with the Moussem to watch artists at work or participate in events.

7. Legacy and Influence

Asilah’s success has inspired similar cultural initiatives in other parts of Morocco and the Arab world.

It shows how art can create economic opportunity, enhance civic pride, and build international bridges—all without compromising local identity.

Many participating artists have gone on to become internationally known, and the festival itself has gained a reputation as one of the most important cultural gatherings in Africa and the Arab world.

The Asilah Murals are more than just paintings on walls—they represent a vision of how a small town can use art to reclaim its space, tell its stories, and open its arms to the world.