Upon her arrival in the historic square of Bab Makina, the location of the ceremony, HRH Princess Lalla Salma was greeted by Mohamed Hassad, interior minister, Mohamed Amine Sbihi, culture minister, and Mohamed Derdouri, Wali of the Fes-Boulmane region and governor of the province of Fes.

   Her Royal Highness was also welcomed by president of the Regional Council of Fès-Boulemane, the vice president of the Council of the city of Fes, the president of the Prefectural Council of Fes, the chairman of the Mechouar-Fes-Jdid Council, the president of "Esprit de Fès" Foundation, the honorary president of the Foundation, the director general of the Foundation, as well as the members of the organizing committee of the 20th edition of the Festival, which runs until June 21.

   HRH Princess Lalla Salma joined the official stand where Her Royal Highness chaired the opening show of the festival, an original composition of traditional songs and dance entitled "Conference of Birds".

    A true masterpiece of performing and visual arts, this show is inspired by the "Song Bird", a tale of 13th century-Persian mystic poet Farid ud-Din Attar.

   Like previous editions, the Festival of World Sacred Music offers a selection of musical expressions of different traditions and cultures of the world, free concerts, and Sufi nights, and other educational activities.

   The festival has brought together artists from across the world, notably Rokia Traoré (Mali-June 14), Roberto Alagna (France-June14 ), Youssou Indour (Senegal-June 15), Johnny Clegg (South Africa- June 15), Luzmila Carpio (Bolivia- June 15) Bardic Divas (Kazakhstan-June 16), Kadim Al Sahir (Iraq-June 20), and Buddy Guy Legend (USA-June 21).

   Since its creation in 1994, the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music aims to harness the arts and spirituality in the service of human and social development, and the relationship between peoples and cultures.